Jonny de Mallet Morgan
I am the Chief Vision Officer and co-founder of The Speakers Gym, a specialist change management consultancy. We help businesses create cultures and environments where diverse minds can contribute and thrive; because companies that embrace inclusive cultures think better, work smarter and ultimately make more money.
As a leader, I am deeply committed to purpose and authenticity and am lucky enough to have surrounded myself with brilliant people who are equally passionate about change.
I would like to say that creating The Speakers Gym was always the master plan, but it wasn’t. Prior to founding the business with my partner Chris I was an actor and travelled the world performing for around 15 years. It was this experience, and the lessons learnt both good and bad, that are so influential in the work we do today. The acting industry is tough, people are frequently disrespected and lack support. There is a lot of ‘difficult’ behaviour which is, unfortunately, accepted by too many. When leaving the industry I was sad to see that I recognised many of the same attitudes and behaviours within other industries and I thought, it’s time to try and do something about it.
Our mission is to enable people to communicate effectively, to connect with their intrinsic confidence and empower them to share their thoughts and talents in any given environment. I am passionate about helping leaders become people centred, constantly seeking to create environments where people can excel.
Chris Wickenden
I’m the Chief Creative Officer and Co Founder of The Speakers’ Gym. I’m a great believer that everyone has the potential to feel and be incredibly expressive, engaging, confident, and inspiring every day – at home and at work.
I also believe in the ability to experience all of these things whilst being unapologetically yourself. In fact we insist on it. It’s why we’re so passionate about nurturing working environments where people feel supported and inclined to bring more of themselves to work – not conforming, hiding, imitating, going through the motions, pushing too hard or pulling back. So we seek to nurture cultures where people simply “flow.”
After gaining a First in History at Oxford, I graduated with an MA in acting from Drama Centre in 2011 and worked for a number of years as a professional actor. I soon realised that the skills and emotional intelligence I had acquired as an actor were not only transferable, but are extremely important across a vast number of industries and professions.
Business cries out for great communication, yet so often it falls short.
I enjoy the challenge of creating, developing and delivering change programmes that harness my training as an actor, behavioural science and a good dose of intuition to resonate with constantly changing audiences – our clients – achieving lasting, practical change in the way that people and teams communicate. Ultimately, we want everyone to fulfil their huge potential and be the very best that they can be.
Neusha Milanian
I am a hugely passionate learning specialist, public speaking trainer, leadership coach, facilitator and business role-player (to name a few of my many hats!). In my most recent senior role at a leading global financial services provider, I led a range of first line manager programmes, focusing primarily on core leadership skills, coaching and DE&I.
As an EMCC-qualified leadership coach, I have worked with a broad range of clients from diverse backgrounds and aim to create a safe, non-judgemental space for people to explore their challenges and uncover what might be getting in the way of personal and or professional growth. I am also a qualified NLP Master Practitioner and have undergone extensive training in advanced facilitation skills and corporate role-play.
Alongside my work in the people development space, I am a classically trained actor, a keen improviser and a budding comedy screenwriter, bringing with me a unique set of skills to the table, namely an ability to communicate with impact and to engage, inspire and influence key stake-holders; I am passionate about helping others do the same.
David Richmond CBE MA FRSA
I am an experienced senior leader who, following a long and successful military career, has worked as an interim executive, senior civil servant, director in the 3rd sector, and an independent government advisor. I also chair Boccia UK, the National Governing Body for the Paralympic sport of Boccia, and was on the board of the London Irish Women bid to enter the top tier of women’s professional rugby.
My leadership experience covers a wide range of sectors and environments and I am highly motivated by helping others to succeed. I believe that great leadership is at the heart of every great organisation and that today’s leaders have a duty to encourage, support and nurture the leaders of tomorrow.
Leadership can be tough, but my coaching supports current and aspiring leaders to understand their personal values, how these will influence their leadership style, all the while supporting and holding them accountable in finding their own solutions to the challenges they face in their workplace.
How can we help?
What Our Clients Say
U
Jonny’s expertise in communication and his personalised coaching approach has made a significant impact on me. It was so much more than public speaking coaching; it influenced numerous other aspects of my life. Under his mentorship, not only did my communication skills improve, but my confidence soared, leading to positive changes in my professional and personal relationships. I highly recommend The Speakers’ Gym for anyone looking to unlock their full potential.
Kate Bright, CEO & Founder, Umbra International Group
M
The Speakers’ Gym is like the iPhone. You don’t realise you need it until you have it, and then you can’t live without it.
Magda Gonzalez, Group CFO, Monex Europe
M
It was completely practical and the open-forum feedback was so valuable. You created a safe environment for everyone to learn. Thank you!
Nicola Koronka, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Missive
S
I was recommended by a friend who works in the same sector to contact The Speakers’ Gym to help me with my presentation delivery skills and I have not been disappointed with the results. Chris and Jonny work with you to provide bespoke training for your goals and needs. They are highly professional and make you feel at ease from the first minute the first session begins. I would highly recommend them to those who have a role which involves public speaking!
Julia Peake, Technical Development Manager, Sanlam
7
It has challenged both my thinking and approach and I will be sure to keep The Speakers’ Gym ‘fireworks’ readily available on my desk to refer to when not only presenting but also when needed through everyday management.
Liz Paradine – Chief Operations Manager - 7iM
T
Transact first engaged with The Speaker Gym late in 2018 where Chris & Jonny made a concerted effort to get under the skin of our business and understand how they could best help us hone our presentational and empathetic skills. The resulting sessions were hugely helpful giving my team plenty of opportunity to practice and also benefit from a great deal of feedback, not just from Chris & Jonny but by including the rest of the Transact team in the feedback and group learning too. I would highly recommend The Speakers Gym
Glen Sweet, Head of Sales, Transact
B
Working with The Speakers’ Gym has been fantastic. We knew what we wanted to say and who we wanted to speak to, so all we needed was technique. Or so we thought. Chris and Jonny helped us to understand the key elements of communication, through a structured process. We now think about communication in a completely different way. There’s a line they gave us that now resonates in my head, every time I write or talk to someone about what we do. We feel we’ve met two great guys and they’ve become an important part of us, our story and how we tell it to others.
Thomas Skinner, Founder, Barnaby Cecil Financial Planning
M
The impact of The Speakers’ Gym™ at Mako can only be described as transformational. Over a three month period, they helped transition a group of individuals into a highly collaborative and consultative leadership team. Chris and Jonny have a unique ability to connect individuals with their true purpose, driving them towards self-reflection and ultimately growth. Overall the entire experience of working with them has been a pleasure and I am deeply grateful for their impact. They more than surpassed my expectations and I look forward to working with them again in the future!
Trystan Morgan-Schauer, CEO, Mako
W
We engaged The Speakers’ Gym to provide us with clarity and direction in the look, feel and messaging of the Worldmaker brand in preparation for our official launch. From start to finish, the process has been truly collaborative. They worked with the expertise and experience in our team to create branding that truly represents who we are and what we represent, whilst moving us into a more modern, expressive space – which was our desire. We know that we’re in great hands with The Speakers’ Gym. We’ll certainly be continuing to work with them
Mollie Marti, CEO, Worldmaker International
N
They first took the time to understand our brief and delivered the programme incorporating our culture and brand throughout. They were thought provoking and their unique techniques very well received.
Mairi Cameron, Learning Manager, Nucleus Financial
V
The Speakers’ Gym gave me the skills and confidence to be my normal self whilst speaking and facilitating. They took the anxiety out of public speaking and gave me practical tools to prepare for and manage public engagements. They also helped me to engage more meaningfully with my clients, for which I am thankful. Highly recommend them.
Matthew Marais, Director, Vertus Capital
S
I found the sessions to be a revelation, and I wish I had known some of the techniques sooner. It has completely changed my mindset and focused me in on the needs of the audience. With that, the ability to achieve those aspirations has come more naturally. There is always room for improvement, and I will definitely be revisiting The Speakers’ Gym for a refresher from time to time.
Kelly Devlin, Wealth Management Consultant, St. James’s Place Wealth Management
