I turn complex ideas into stories people believe, care about, and act on
Narrative strategy, positioning, and high-stakes writing for leaders and organisations with something important to say
30+ years | 6 published books | Microsoft | BT | Waterstones | Cambridge Judge Business School
Sound like you?
You’ve got something important to say. You just can’t quite see the story. You’d love for someone to find, test, and shape that story into something memorable. Something that sounds like you at your best. Something that moves your audience to act.
Pick a problem
- Need to make a complicated proposition make sense?
- Let’s find the narrative that makes your brand, website, sales deck, and internal story hold together.
- Got expertise trapped inside your head?
- Let’s turn it into thought leadership — case studies, white papers, presentations, blogs and books people actually want to read.
- Losing your voice through machine-generated slop?
- Let’s rehumanise your comms.
You’d normally hire three people
Writers write. Coaches create clarity. Consultants advise.
I do all three in one relationship. Thirty-plus years in strategic communications, a journalist’s nose, a perpendicular brain and the sheer determination to work out exactly what each project actually needs make it possible.
That’s what people buy — and why they tend to buy it more than once.
The bit where I prove it
ieso Digital Health
Four contracts. $56m raised. 47% → 98%.
ieso brought me in to position their first digital product against a very tight deadline. Then they held me hostage for six months as interim head of marketing, where I helped shape the marketing strategy behind a $56m raise.
They invited me back to guide the editorial direction of their second digital product. Then they invited me back again to lead comms on a full platform transformation.
Staff onboarding fell from 4 months to 3 weeks. Clinician training completion rose from 47% to 98%.
And when their chief innovation officer became a CEO elsewhere, she took me with her.
Aspuna Group
It started with a profile. It became a partnership.
I first met Aspuna’s founder when Judge Business School asked me to write her business’s profile for its Cambridge Social Ventures directory.
She was building what would become the world’s first social-impact commodities business. That first interview led to more than a profile: brand guidelines, a website and a repositioning strategy.
I became their communications partner. Then a non-executive director.
Now I’m writing the positioning for her next venture.
Cambridge Social Ventures, Judge Business School
One good story tends to find another.
Aspuna wasn’t the only relationship that grew from those early profiles. Other social entrepreneurs on the programme brought me in as a communications partner too.
And the work travelled further.
Pioneers Post commissioned me to write profiles for the Social Enterprise World Forum.
Every one started as a single project. None stayed that way.
“After witnessing the types of messages and stories Nicki unearthed in the research project I commissioned whilst director of citizenship for Microsoft UK, I knew we could trust her to find golden seeds in the most unlikely places, to plant them in a way which would engage our intended audience, and to do so quickly and consistently. So, we recommissioned her as our CSR newshound.” — Bronwyn Kunhardt, director of citizenship, Microsoft UK
Creative, credible
“The most credible and creative writer I have worked with. She brings new ideas and a fresh approach, which means you produce a piece of work that stands out and differentiates your organisation.”
Creative, collaborative
“Nicki has supported me on several book projects and publications. Her creativity, copywriting, and proofreading skills are exceptional — delivering outcomes that are clear, engaging, and memorable for our audience. Her positive energy, empathy, and collaborative approach complement her expertise and professionalism perfectly.”
Monumentally creative
“She basically makes me look fantastic. Incredibly wise, quick turnaround, monumentally creative, and a joy to work with.”
Amusing and insightful
“Nicki’s initial work with me was on uncovering some of the stars of the company — ‘Hidden Heroes.’ The team look forward to reading her amusing and insightful pieces. The stories have been so successful that we now use Nicki to write for our customer newsletters too.”
Thought-provoking, engaging, compelling
“Nicki demonstrated an exemplary use of storytelling techniques in creating a Citizenship brochure for us, which was thought-provoking, engaging, compelling and positive. I would not hesitate to recommend her. She is great to work with and delivers the results every time.”
Perpendicular thinker
“What I love about working with Nicki is her ability to do perpendicular thinking. She listens to what needs to be communicated and transforms it into readable, relatable communication. It’s like a superpower.”
Clear, engaging, consistent
“Her kindness, compassion, and unwavering encouragement have been fundamental in building my confidence. She crafted our style guide so our materials are clear, engaging, and consistent.”
Trusted, reliable
“Nicki was one of the most reliable and effective PR account directors who worked for me at Pipex / UUNET / Worldcom. Her prowess almost led to us handing our entire national account to her team. Only scale stopped us. A trusted and reliable asset at all times.”
Natural storyteller
“Well able to translate our random ramblings, and some pretty complex concepts, into accessible, reader-friendly language. She is also a highly effective and natural storyteller.”