About Swan People

Swan People provides a range of training services to prominent, influential companies nationally and internationally. Support is provided via online meeting platforms or in person.

It was established in 2004 by Karen Swan, a highly qualified trainer, HBDI® practitioner and Emotional Intelligence (EQ) specialist. Her strong background in the corporate world underpins the successful delivery of training solutions in the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Swan People work with organisations that genuinely value their employees, investing in a range of issues, from leadership training to diversity and inclusivity. The result? Purpose driven individuals making better decisions, building deeper relationships and committing to personal growth and that of their teams.

In essence, Swan People can make a positive difference to the approach and mind set of the individuals who are so critical to your organisation.

Approach

Long term relationships are central to Swan People – indeed some stretch back decades. Clients quickly understand that we want their business to succeed, so the relationship is nurtured from the outset.

We will take the time to understand your corporate culture and define clear deliverables for each project with reviews to ensure they have been achieved.

As training has moved on-line, we have mastered the art of creating a relaxed and open set-up by capping delegate numbers at 16. This enables a free flow of conversation and constructive debate using zoom break-out rooms. All sessions run for a maximum of 2 hours with an optional 60 minute 121 coaching session for delegates requiring further input and time.

“Karen is a dream to work with and makes every piece of work a real treat to partner on I could not recommend Karen highly enough.” – David Reay Global HR Director, Sony Music Entertainment

Training

Courses include:

Building resilience
Diversity and Inclusion
Overcoming our unconscious biases
Negotiation
Feedback (giving and receiving)
Pitch and present
Managing with confidence
Mindfulness
Collaboration and team building
Influencing relationships

We are agile in our delivery so that support can be a mix of group or individual online meetings or in person. Our training style is empathetic and pragmatic, balancing the realities of the business world with softer people skills. Every course is thoughtfully paced and challenging when required. We enjoy what we do and delegates benefit from our enthusiasm.

We can support and re-energise your employees.

“Karen is a good listener who makes it look easy to balance an open and flexible approach with strong insight and input.” – Laggy Diamandi, Partner at Foster and Partners

Coaching

Swan People has extensive experience of coaching mid to senior level executives, addressing a wide range of issues.

We establish objectives with the appropriate manager, leading to an initial meeting with the executive to confirm commitment. A profiling tool may then be used to focus on the coachee’s values, attitudes and behaviours and how they impact on their role and those around them. We range from three to six sessions of 90 minutes each as required. These can be delivered via online meeting platforms or in person.

The key to our success lies in establishing trust, enabling the coachee to open up to us in confidence as a neutral party.

The outcome to the coachee is a raised self knowledge – they are a better version of their authentic self with an understanding of the consequences of their behaviour and a marked improvement in internal and external relationships.

Our style is pragmatic, yet challenging, within a supportive framework, resulting in demonstrable positive change.

“Karen has been integral to my continued L&D over three years across various continents.Her knowledge and guidance has given me tangible insights and clear objectives for success, not just professionally but also personally.” – Therese Ryan, Senior Director, Artist Development, Asia

Sectors

We have delivered courses to leading companies in a wide range of vertical markets, more recently including:

Entertainment Business: Sony music, Sony Pictures, Sony ATV, Broadwick Live, Caprice Holdings, Coda

Media Industry: Dentsu Aegis Network, Daily Mail Group, Hive Healthcare

Architecture: Foster + Partners

This however, does not limit the scope of Swan People’s abilities, since the most important element in the delivery of good training is the commitment of the client.

We relish the challenge of exploring and understanding new markets and new companies and unlocking the potential of their talented employees.

“Karen has run several engaging and informative sessions and really understood the needs of our business. We have received great feedback from our delegates.” – Joanne Dyer, HR Business Partner, Dentsu Aegis Network

Lectures

Karen Swan is frequently invited to lecture final year and post graduate students at University of The Arts London and Middlesex University and is delighted to give her time to this enthusiastic audience.

Addressing the students at the time when they are about to transition to the workplace, she shares her insights on the media industry, covering issues such as self knowledge, development of a personal brand, setting realistic goals, interview technique and the reality of first jobs.

“Karen has been an invaluable asset to the students on the MSc Media Management course.” – Dr. Theresa Cronin, Middlesex University

Testimonials

“Highly informative and relevant for aspiring media professionals. Karen’s training methods led the students to think more insightfully abut their future careers. Her approach was empathetic to the different needs of the learners.”

Vivienne Francis, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Journalism at London College of Communication

“Karen has been an invaluable asset to the students on the MSc Media Management course, the range of skills and the depth of her expertise, especially in leadership and effective team building, has formed a cornerstone of our student’s personal and professional development.”

Dr. Theresa Cronin, Middlesex University

“Over the past 5 years, Karen has been a truly essential part of our L&D story at Sony Music. Her dedication and drive to do the absolute best for both the organisation and the individual has been unquestionable. Her work with us has included helping young talent develop those critical skills to be successful as they enter the workforce, to one on one coaching programs and most recently our emerging talent innovation program. On top of this, Karen is also a dream to work with and makes every piece of work a real treat to partner on. I could not recommend Karen highly enough.”

David Reay, VP Organisation Development, Sony Music Entertainment

“Karen has been integral to my continued L&D over three years across various continents. Her knowledge and guidance has given me tangible insights and clear objectives for success, not just professionally but also personally. I enjoyed every minute of it and am grateful for the critical skills in leadership and development that I implement daily.”

Therese Ryan, Senior Director, Artist Development, Asia

“Karen really understood the needs of our business. We have received great feedback from our delegates following a variety of courses Karen has run over the year.”

Joanne Dyer, HR Business Partner, Dentsu Aegis Network

“Karen’s services have always been top-notch. She knows her stuff, quickly picks up on and adjusts to the cultural nuances of the organisations she work with and acts as a partner in planning learning for our teams. She’s also a pleasure to work with on a personal level – a good listener and contributor who makes it look easy to balance an open and flexible approach with one of strong insight and input.”

Laggi Diamandi, Partner, Head of Learning + Development at Foster + Partners

“Karen’s workshops enable you to identify practical areas of development that can be put into practice with a flexible and guided approach.”

Antonia Fox, Talent and Learning Manager, Daily Mail Group Media