About

I’m a writer and digital communications consultant with a background in broadcast journalism. My book, Monkeys with Typewriters, (Triarchy Press, 2009) looks at the role of leaders in “bottom up” organisations – the exciting evolution of “social business”. I work with clients from the inside out, using social tools effectively to enhance creativity and productivity.

Previously…

Back in the last century, I was a television producer, working for the likes of ITV, Sky TV, Discovery, Planet 24 and MTV.

I was deputy editor on Trisha (ITV1), a senior producer on Vanessa (ITV) and an intake producer for Sky News. My work enabled me to pin some great places on Trip Advisor, including Cold Lake, Canada (Top Guns, ITV) and Barcelona, Spain (Olympic Triplecast, NBC). I picked up near-fluent Spanish (and very dodgy Catalan).

Outside of work, I was doing a bit of writing, and working as a party promoter in London with five friends (our sound system, ICS, is resting now, but the closing party in 2005 was Critics Choice and had a great write-up in Time Out).

In 2000 I escaped a season on Jerry Springer to study for an MBA in e-business at Cass Business School.

Dotcom baby

At Cass, I was lucky enough to get a distinction for my dissertation on interactive media AND meet the fabulous Alison Linskey, who agreed to do a start-up with me. Our obsessive conversations about the future of film and broadcasting are what kicked the whole thing off.

In March 2002, we set up iKnowHow® to provide consultancy and training in digital media to film & TV production companies.

Eight years down the line, the scope has matured and broadened a bit.

Through iKnowHow®, I’ve interviewed popstars for BT (BT/Music Industry Soccer Six), spoken about new media in places as diverse as Auckland (Women in Film & TV International Summit), Penzance (Cornwall Film) and Glasgow (Urban Learning Space), and negotiated work for tech-savvy women on the sets of The Golden Compass and The Edge of Love (for Women in Film & TV).

In 2004, I was selected by UK Trade & Industry to travel to New Zealand as part of a 15-strong delegation of women from the film, TV and new media sectors. Our task was to report back on New Zealand’s nascent production industry (flying high after nine Oscars for Lord of The Rings) and build contacts.

On the way out, I got interviewed by Media Guardian.

iKnowHow® now

Today iKnowHow® focuses on consultancy, with a particular emphasis on how digital technologies can aid innovation and collaboration. My real love is what the experts are calling social business design – how internal and external communications are being revolutionised through online social media.

To compliment this stuff, I co-founded the Cass Creatives network in 2003. I’m also a founder member of London’s club for creative entrepreneurs, The Hospital, and a Fellow of the The RSA.

In 2008, I picked up an award for running Technical Change, a ground-breaking mentoring programme for Women in Film & Television.

In July 2009 I was elected to the RSA’s brand new Fellowship Council, where I’m currently responsible for digital engagement strategy.

I’ve lectured on creative entrepreneurship and leadership at Kings College London and Cass Business School. At Kings, a couple of my students persuaded me to start up the Wikipedia entry on creative entrepreneurship.

To get more of a feel for what iKnowHow® does, please see the Clients page.

Postscript

A couple of years ago, Alison decided she’d rather not live a consultant’s lifestyle, and went back to do great things in personal finance (at Abbey).

That’s okay. We’re still friends. Our daughters were born within weeks of each other and, when we can, we all get to meet for tea and cake.