When people ask what I do, I usually say: I help people think and speak better. I make communication feel more enjoyable and more doable.

At school, I was the girl who never put her hand up, who stumbled through reading aloud and struggled to shape her thoughts into words. Speaking didn’t come easily. But in drama, I found a kind of fluency—a place where I could explore what I thought and feel confident expressing it. It didn’t just teach me to speak; it showed me that my voice mattered.

I co-founded theWholeStory with Josh to pass that on: to help others find clarity in their thinking, strength in their voice, and the skills to get heard and make things happen.

Whether I’m designing a workshop or coaching someone one-to-one, I look for the root of what’s getting in the way—what’s making it hard for them to think clearly, listen fully or speak freely. Then I find the simplest, most pragmatic way to move past it. That might be a technique, a process, an exercise, or just a shift in perspective—whatever helps them say what they mean, and mean what they say.

I’ve always been a bit of a talker, so it didn’t surprise many people when I became a storyteller, though it definitely surprised me.

The storyteller image I grew up with: velvet cape, mystical beard, a whiff of patchouli, didn’t quite match who I was. But I loved performing (in jeans and a hoodie), so I kept going. And I’m glad I did.

When Lily and I set up theWholeStory, the skills I’d sharpened on stage found a new focus: being fully present, tuning into your audience, adapting so your message lands, and making sure no one gets left behind. It turns out those same instincts make for powerful communication in everyday work and life.

I still get the same buzz facilitating as I did performing—but now it’s paired with a deeper sense of satisfaction. Seeing someone’s confidence grow, watching them find their voice and use it well—that’s what keeps me doing this work.

I began as a professional dancer, became an actor, and then a voice coach. Now, I bring those three elements together: body language, authentic behaviour, and vocal presence, to help people speak and present with impact.

Half my time is spent helping actors explore the full range of their expressive potential. The other half, I work with entrepreneurs, leaders and teams to help them communicate with clarity, confidence and meaning. I’ve coached film stars, TED speakers, models, politicians, poets, executives, teachers, teenagers and more.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: you don’t need a special gift or hidden talent to be a better communicator. Presence isn’t magic, it can be taught. And more often than not, it’s already in you. You just need a way to unlock it.