Testimonials, Feedback and Results
Strategic and cultural change projects are commercially sensitive, so identifying details have been disguised or anonymised here. I’m authorised to share originals in private, and happy to do so as requested, so please ask.
Senior Executive & Project Owner Testimonials
Project: A strategy and leadership workshop for the Top 50 team of a $1.8bn turnover asset operations business
“I would recommend Andrew Bayly to any company who wants an experienced facilitator for a leadership or strategy workshop. His expertise was invaluable in designing and facilitating our 2 day offsite leadership summit.
“His skills as a facilitator are excellent, managing the expectations, energy and participation of our large extended leadership group (50+) over the course of a 2 day Summit. What made the workshop so valuable was the combination of psychology, storytelling, improvisation and the ability to understand our industry all whilst helping us focus and answer key questions regarding our strategic challenges. Not only did our team learn, we also had lots of fun at the same time.”
Executive General Manager (direct report to MD); $1.8bn turnover asset operations firm
Project: A series of conferences bringing disparate teams together around strategy implementation
“Andrew brings a totally fresh and effective take on facilitation. He is supremely organised, energetic, articulate and gets to the core issues quickly. But what sets him apart from your typical Joe are two things: he has the business smarts to be able to get the picture up and out from the group and shape what’s important as the group sees it; and a unique ability to use humour and other techniques, such as presenting solid evidence, to shape the atmosphere and motivate people to input and feel good about getting an outcome.”
Sustainability Manager (Senior Leadership Team), ASX Top 50 Firm
Project: Strategic change offsite for a 200 person division
“Andrew, a quick but genuine huge thanks for your efforts last weekend. Feedback from our staff has been tremendous on all of what you delivered and made conference the huge success that it was. I appreciate you efforts in tailoring the qtns to senior staff – which was a big hit, and the timely activities which kept the momentum going. Your ability to quickly understand our business and then provide solutions some of which we were looking for, others your iniative, was outstanding and not simple – in my eyes anyway. Again thank you so much for helping us celebrate and personally providing us with takeouts, learnings and excellent performance.”
Division Head, ASX Top 20 Firm
Project: Government forum re highly sensitive social issues
“As you are well aware, this was an important event for [our Department] and I am pleased to say it surpassed our expectations. Your contribution to the success of the day cannot be overstated. Convening a large group of government and community stakeholders to guide them toward a common purpose is a complex task. Your attendance at preparatory meetings was invaluable for the steering committee in helping us shape the program to achieve our aims. You were excellent at negotiating the sometimes passionate discussion between a diverse range of people. Your style of facilitation meant that everyone felt heard and respected, within the constraints of the time and program structure. It was a pleasure working with you Andrew.”
Deputy Department Head, State Government Organisation (> 10,000 employees)
Project: Strategy implementation and cultural change workshop / roadshow
“Andrew Bayly was professional and driven throughout all of our corporate conferences. He has an amazing ability to think quickly, improvise and engage an audience. We had many last minutes changes in our agenda and times when internal company speakers failed to turn up. Andrew was able to keep the conference running smoothly by filling these spaces with relevant and interesting material keeping the delegates well engaged. Some of the sessions in the conferences got rather heated, with delegates voicing opinions surrounding issues and internal politics. Andrew stepped up to manage the crowd. He allowed them to express their concerns, but skillfully manipulated the room, resulting in a positive session with valuable feedback. I have no hesitation at all in recommending Andrew as a conference facilitator and I look forward to working with him again in the future.”
Communications Director, Strategy implementation / Leadership engagement roadshow, Aus/NZ for ASX Top 50 firm
Project: Annual conference with emphasis on cultural change
“This was the best presentation of this sort I have seen in a long time… very real, immediately applicable, and grounded in research. I know the team was highly complimentary and motivated.”
Vice-President, Human Resources, Global Manufacturing, Marketing and Distribution Firm (>$10bn p.a.; 50k employees)
Project: Highly sensitive industry association stakeholder engagement meeting
“There is not enough superlatives to describe Andrew Bayly’s engaging style, professionalism and interactive methods to deliver a result.
[We] engaged Andrew to facilitate a forum that focused on the challenging topic of [environmental] quality impacts from [various operations]. The issue was complex, underpinned by differing points of view, opinions, policy and beliefs on the science and the approach to tackle the issue. The differing views had created tension between stakeholders on what was the best solution and how it should be implemented. Collaboration was important. Ideas were needed.
With over 100 delegates, Andrew confidently guided a difficult conversation to a point of resolution and collaboration. Not only did he bring these people together in a positive way, they had fun getting there. Ideas were gathered, views were heard and a way forward identified. The doubt from people asking how “100 people could be effectively managed in a meaningful way” soon evaporated after the first session. The positive feedback I received about Andrew from the forum delegates was extensive. I enjoyed the process and was pleased with the outcome.
Andrew also provided great insight into the strategies and tools he used to guide the discussion. These tools are gems which I am now applying in my work and personal endeavours.
If you are looking for a creative, energetic and engaging facilitator to get to an outcome – make Andrew your first call.”
Senior Manager and Project Head, Industry Association
Project: Regional strategy roadshow, global hospitality group
“Andrew provided a much-needed shake up to our usual approach to the company Roadshow. He challenged both our thinking and that of the audience, effecting a higher degree of engagement and participation than expected. The feedback we have received following the events has been overwhelmingly positive, with much commentary around Andrew’s facilitation and a new level of empowerment felt as a result. We look forward to continuing to see positive change occur in our organisation, utilising Andrew’s framework. We would not hesitate to use him again.
“…it was great to work with you and I can tell you that I saw the presenters actually enjoy themselves on this Roadshow, something which doesn’t always/necessarily happen, but which I think translated to the audience. I think that’s due in no small part to you and I know they have high praise for you and your approach.”
General Manager (ANZ), Global Hospitality Group (>$10bn p.a.)
Project: Arts organisation board & management strategic planning day
“Thank you from all of the [organisation’s] staff team and Board for your facilitation of [our] strategic planning session. We all agree it was an extremely successful session and are delighted with the outcomes. There is much buzz in the office about our next steps. The opening exercise of establishing priorities and buy-in was extremely instructive! I think it helped keep the day very focused.”
GM, Arts Organisation
Project: Series of leadership and staff engagement conferences over 5 years
“I have worked with Andrew on many occasions now over a number of years, and expect to continue to do so moving forward. Andrew has a quite unique ability to both engage and manage an audience and also apply intuition and insight in coordinating discussion.”
GM (C-Suite), Utilities Firm (>$10b p.a.; >5,000 employees)
Project: Strategy implementation event for local ops of global scientific / marketing organisation
“‘thank you’ for all that you did for us at our … Conference. The feedback was overwhelming for your elements as well as the brand managers whose presentations were engaging, eliminated death via ppt and delegates left actually remembering things!
The communication session on Tuesday in itself has changed how the field sees head office and a little vice versa 😊. You are a great mentor, facilitator, coach and general good bloke. I’m very grateful for the time you spent with us and look forward to another opportunity. Thank you!”
Communications Head, Local Ops for Global Firm
Project: Financial services firm major annual engagement event
“Just want to say a big thank you for your work on [project name]… you were an absolute pleasure to work with – and the client has also sung your praises. So easy to work with someone who is not only reliable and flexible with timings etc, but you so easily grasped [the client’s complex] content – and really added value to presentations with your facilitation. I’ve seen those presenters in previous year – and their presentations were 1000% better with your support!”
Event Producer, Financial Services Firm re major annual engagement event
Project: Positive strategic communications program within a complex marketing network
“Andrew was outstanding from the outset – we discussed clear objectives for the program and I felt completely confident that he understood what we were trying to achieve. The delivery proved this and our customers said this was an extremely valuable opportunity for them to undertake, which would have impact on the way they will present in the future. Andrew was incredibly easy to talk to and his approach was down to earth and realistic – I am keen to explore opportunities to work with Andrew again”
Project Owner
Project: Expert panel on leadership and change
“Andrew Bayly was also excellent to work with. We believe he was of great value to this project, because of his work on the [separate program]. He was not only relevant, but brought a fresh perspective to the panel discussions and was able to comment from an external point of view. Andrew was nice to work with, punctual and very helpful.”
Project owner, Leadership development, global ICT organisation
Project: Story-telling workshop for a global leadership team conference
“Andrew recently did an awesome job coaching and stimulating over 150 executives in the art of story-telling. Through effective preparation and a pragmatic and engaging approach, Andrew top-scored [in feedback across all conference sessions] his way to leaving our executives inspired and with simple tools they could use to improve the effectiveness of their business communications.
I would heartily recommend Andrew for any similar such engagements.”
Director of Global Marketing with leadership responsibility for comms, ICT firm
Subjective and Objective Project Measures
Project: Strategy implementation / leadership workshop for extended leadership team with serious concerns about the commitment of the leaders themselves
Self-reported intention to actively lead change – among the leaders – measured at 28% pre-workshop and 71% post-workshop. Self-reported resistance to change among the leaders reduced from 23% to 2%.
Project: Positive Leadership program (3 x half day workshops) for global ICT firm within broader ongoing program
N (respondents) to program survey = 485 (a very, very high number)
To what extent do you understand the basic principles of positive leadership?
A considerable extent or better: Pre-workshop 25%; Post-workshop 90%
Understanding of the content of the program: Before 15% After 87%
To what extent are you now confident in applying the principles of positive leadership?
Considerable extent or better: 72%; Reasonable extent or better: 95%
The content was well organised and well-structured: 98%
Overall effectiveness of the facilitator: 96% across three modules (a record high for this organisation)
Project: Cultural change program for iconic Australian membership brand with commercial operations
This organisation was implementing an urgent strategic and cultural change program in response to dismal financial performance and an engagement score of 29%. I was briefed to redevelop from scratch a failed cultural change program, which was then approved and delivered to every one of 800 employees over 12 separate workshops. The CEO regarded this kickoff as instrumental in the engagement turnaround, with the firm recording an engagement score of 66% just two years later, and new status as an engagement case-study.
Project: Market engagement program; Global auto manufacturer / distributor
My role was communications coach to the executive team across a five year period, in particular helping the team to engage the market with positive change in the organisation, and co-design / facilitation of all leadership and network conferences.
“Last year the market grew 9.2% but [our] sales jumped 20.2%… negative attitudes [towards the brand] had fallen 20%, while positive attitudes had improved 25%.” CEO quote in media
Spontaneous Workshop Participant Comments:
Story-Telling / Influential Training Workshop Feedback – spontaneous emails:
“Andrew just a brief note to thank you on insights provided by you yesterday @ [project name] Brisbane. This morning I held a meeting with 25 technicians. Although I did find myself waffling on and off point at times,what a pleasure it was for me to simply SPEAK TO PEOPLE and impart knowledge I had, to people who where responsive because it made their lives a little better.”
“Just a belated thank you for the above course. I saw an immediate benefit the day following the course. I had a presentation to the Group Directors and Senior Managers the day following the course and, through various reasons, had no time to prepare. However due the confidence I gained and tips / pointers from the course I was able to give the best presentation I have done in these meetings.”
Various “Open Response Box” Comments (verifyable / viewable):
All of the following are from “general comments” boxes at various workshops that I have (co-)designed and facilitated, and which can be viewed on request (i.e. these comments were not explicitly requested, and were administered not by me, but by third-parties):
“Excellent instructor, engaging and good ‘story-telling’ techniques. Open and honest, did not promise to solve all of [our] problems.”
“Andrew was a fantastic facilitator. Very engaging, managed the content and presentation organically / naturally.”
“Andrew was very impressive. Great facilitator, allowed the discussion to flow, managed any negativity very well. I was very impressed how well briefed he was, he obviously knew and understood how [our firm] works and was able to demonstrate this in interactions with managers”
“Excellent investment in time and effort”
“I thought facilitation was of a very high standard. The facilitator managed to tackle and engage with all manner of questions in a way that was credible and knitted seamlessly back to the content. Well done Andrew. The investment of the program is powerful and appreciated.”
“Great course, got a lot from it and helped the very next day and has continued to do so”
“An excellent course. Very inspiring and motivating.”
“I am fascinated by this topic in itself, but the way it was delivered was brilliant. High energy, engaging and well worth it. Andrew is fantastic as a facilitator.”
“I really appreciated Andrew’s attitude to questioning his data and allowing open discussion.”
“Andrew is an excellent educator. Not only does he know the subject well and is able to pass this knowledge on, he makes learning it loads of fun. I hope to see him teaching future manager education.”
“I have the confidence to apply this in my own life.”
“Andrew is a fabulous facilitator.”
“Andrew is a great facilitator, his acting skill are very useful in communicating he message. [Sic]”
“Best three hour education I have had in a long time. Thank you.”
“The instructure [sic], Andrew Bayley [sic], was clearly very knowledgeable and an excellent instructor. The material presented was extremely relevant.”
“Andrew is a wonderful presenter / facilitator of the course. His style is engaging and from what I can see he believes in and practices [sic] the principles taught in the course.”
“Andrew Bailey [sic] is a terrific facilitator.”
“Great facilitator and liked the exercises”
“Andrew B was a great facilitator — confident, articulate and engaging”
“Program was well structured with stakeholders being introduced at all levels”
“The structure and presentation of this session was really good, enabling open discussion and communication and improved the morale of the group”
“Good team building environment, venue and presentations / facilitator”
“It was good to get some inspiration and positiveness after the hard work and pressures of [project codename]”
“Having conducted conferences myself for 15 years I am generally hard to impress, Andrew certainly did that!”
“Andrew was entertaining and kept the conference on track. Well done!”
“I loved all the warm up exercises!”
“Excellent, motivational, engaging and enthusiastic”