{"id":101,"date":"2026-05-30T17:48:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T17:48:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/?page_id=101"},"modified":"2026-06-15T08:06:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T08:06:24","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-row-layout-id101_40cacf-86 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id101_40cacf-86 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id101_40cacf-86 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id101_40cacf-86 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id101_40cacf-86 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id101_40cacf-86 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id101_40cacf-86 alignnone has-theme-palette7-background-color kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column101_ab213c-94 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column101_ab213c-94 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column101_ab213c-94 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column101_ab213c-94 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column101_ab213c-94 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column101_ab213c-94 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column101_ab213c-94{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column101_ab213c-94 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column101_ab213c-94 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column101_ab213c-94\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>You don&#8217;t need another writer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-theme-palette-9-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-54fb928d7ad8044f7c3f28329117d408 wp-block-paragraph\">You need someone safe enough to untangle the thinking with \u2014 who also happens to write.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id101_bc571f-08 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id101_bc571f-08 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id101_bc571f-08 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id101_bc571f-08 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id101_bc571f-08 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id101_bc571f-08 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id101_bc571f-08 alignnone has-theme-palette7-background-color kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column101_6a9ce9-6e > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column101_6a9ce9-6e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column101_6a9ce9-6e > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column101_6a9ce9-6e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column101_6a9ce9-6e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column101_6a9ce9-6e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column101_6a9ce9-6e{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column101_6a9ce9-6e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column101_6a9ce9-6e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column101_6a9ce9-6e\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Every project begins in the same place<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-theme-palette-9-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bff15e3a75597b7575616bccf301312a wp-block-paragraph\">Someone stuck, overwhelmed, or sitting on something important they can&#8217;t yet articulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes it&#8217;s a leader with a book in them. Sometimes it&#8217;s a founder navigating a transformation that doesn&#8217;t yet have language. Sometimes it&#8217;s a CSR or impact team doing remarkable work nobody outside the building has heard about. Sometimes it&#8217;s a social enterprise leader changing lives and struggling to make it visible to the people who decide whether it continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Different problems, same pattern. The proof is there. What&#8217;s missing is the way in. I find it using a values-based story compass. This method&#8217;s evolution began with a local community finance newsletter and a phone call from Microsoft UK.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id101_7e3d84-b9 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id101_7e3d84-b9 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id101_7e3d84-b9 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id101_7e3d84-b9 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id101_7e3d84-b9 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id101_7e3d84-b9 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id101_7e3d84-b9 alignnone has-theme-palette7-background-color kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column101_8297d7-de > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column101_8297d7-de > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column101_8297d7-de > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column101_8297d7-de > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column101_8297d7-de > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column101_8297d7-de > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column101_8297d7-de{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column101_8297d7-de > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column101_8297d7-de > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column101_8297d7-de\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Where this began<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2006, on the walk home from playgroup, a neighbour asked if I could write a newsletter for a small community development finance initiative. I said yes without thinking much of it. What I didn&#8217;t realise was that I&#8217;d stumbled into what would become my life&#8217;s work: finding stories that move minds \u2014 and shaping them so they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone at Microsoft UK picked up that newsletter and asked who&#8217;d written the stories. At the time, I was working as a European technology correspondent \u2014 not someone you&#8217;d expect Microsoft&#8217;s director of citizenship to call. But call me she did. She wanted someone who could find examples of how the company lived its societal values, and shape them into a book of thirty one-minute stories. What I discovered, buried across teams and projects, were stories that nobody had thought to tell, because nobody had recognised their impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That project led to a two-year retainer as Microsoft&#8217;s CSR newshound, and it crystallised something I&#8217;ve carried through every piece of work since:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-border-color has-theme-palette-5-border-color has-theme-palette-6-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-theme-palette-3-color has-theme-palette-6-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-83ec21927968674654e9a6cf1f79eabe wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Organisations doing remarkable work almost always have everything they need to prove it. They just haven&#8217;t found the whole story yet \u2014 the version that makes people believe, care, and act.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id101_cf1ad1-18 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id101_cf1ad1-18 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id101_cf1ad1-18 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id101_cf1ad1-18 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id101_cf1ad1-18 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id101_cf1ad1-18 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id101_cf1ad1-18 alignnone has-theme-palette9-background-color kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column101_700c24-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column101_700c24-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column101_700c24-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column101_700c24-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column101_700c24-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column101_700c24-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column101_700c24-bf{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column101_700c24-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column101_700c24-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column101_700c24-bf\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote has-text-align-left has-theme-palette-1-color has-theme-palette-6-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-cbe3df8d9f6927fd3f2c65d05571b075\"><blockquote><p>Finding the whole story isn&#8217;t something you can automate. It takes a person who is curious enough to ask and empathetic enough to be trusted with the answer.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id101_315aab-3e > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id101_315aab-3e > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id101_315aab-3e > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id101_315aab-3e > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id101_315aab-3e > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id101_315aab-3e > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id101_315aab-3e alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column101_265aae-bc > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column101_265aae-bc > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column101_265aae-bc > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column101_265aae-bc > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column101_265aae-bc > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column101_265aae-bc > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column101_265aae-bc{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column101_265aae-bc > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column101_265aae-bc > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column101_265aae-bc\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-theme-palette-5-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b558399710d14bd6002a77d054ddf974\"><strong>A values-led method<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-theme-palette-6-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0be0b637ed665dbab93661b2dd7434d3 wp-block-paragraph\">My method is values-led. Compassion, curiosity, creativity, and connectedness \u2014 four values, working together to guide every project toward one destination: a story that makes people believe, care, and act. Here&#8217;s how the work unfolds.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id101_3d99b3-bf > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id101_3d99b3-bf > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id101_3d99b3-bf > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kb-row-layout-id101_3d99b3-bf > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}.kb-row-layout-id101_3d99b3-bf > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-id101_3d99b3-bf > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id101_3d99b3-bf > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id101_3d99b3-bf > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id101_3d99b3-bf > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}.kb-row-layout-id101_3d99b3-bf > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id101_3d99b3-bf alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-3-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column101_9e4e58-17 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column101_9e4e58-17 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column101_9e4e58-17 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column101_9e4e58-17 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column101_9e4e58-17 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column101_9e4e58-17 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column101_9e4e58-17{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column101_9e4e58-17 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column101_9e4e58-17 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column101_9e4e58-17\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-theme-palette-5-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a376f9ed047a9e385738263be5182fa0\"><strong>1. Compassion: builds trust <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-theme-palette-6-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-adc60767dc94164fdb459c7b669b2223 wp-block-paragraph\">\u2192 People share their best thinking when they feel safe. You&#8217;ll be listened to, deeply, before we push for the whole story. Clarity emerges from trust, not pressure. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column101_a6dab9-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column101_a6dab9-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column101_a6dab9-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column101_a6dab9-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column101_a6dab9-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column101_a6dab9-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column101_a6dab9-dd{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column101_a6dab9-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column101_a6dab9-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column101_a6dab9-dd\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-theme-palette-5-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-337b9690cc9ee80eda0fff50e7dde5b0\"><strong>2. Curiosity: digs for what&#8217;s true<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-theme-palette-6-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-56aaceae4419a9a47419825ad0f64ea5 wp-block-paragraph\">\u2192 The whole story is usually hidden behind the safe one. I dig for it, then test what I find to ensure it&#8217;s true in the parts, honest in the frame, and complete in the picture.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column101_19fd0a-4b > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column101_19fd0a-4b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column101_19fd0a-4b > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column101_19fd0a-4b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column101_19fd0a-4b > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column101_19fd0a-4b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column101_19fd0a-4b{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column101_19fd0a-4b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column101_19fd0a-4b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column101_19fd0a-4b\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-theme-palette-5-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0b3981b652257a1b3b68a35f59a7f05c\"><strong>3. Creativity: shapes impact<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-theme-palette-6-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a5d9de1f96e013507770501b00d593fa wp-block-paragraph\">\u2192 I shape what emerges into something the world can act on  \u2014 a tangible asset that reaches those whose attention you need and moves them to act.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id101_47ae64-18 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id101_47ae64-18 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id101_47ae64-18 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id101_47ae64-18 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id101_47ae64-18 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id101_47ae64-18 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id101_47ae64-18 alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column101_a5f4c3-ae > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column101_a5f4c3-ae > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column101_a5f4c3-ae > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column101_a5f4c3-ae > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column101_a5f4c3-ae > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column101_a5f4c3-ae > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column101_a5f4c3-ae{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column101_a5f4c3-ae > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column101_a5f4c3-ae > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column101_a5f4c3-ae\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-theme-palette-5-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-394d5455f9655318038e3b3f81a4ce46\"><strong>4. Connectedness: follows the thread<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-theme-palette-6-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3801727f596938965efe1dcd47fcd2e0 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2192 Every project belongs inside a bigger story. Together, we find the throughline.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id101_288cf5-c5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id101_288cf5-c5 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id101_288cf5-c5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id101_288cf5-c5 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id101_288cf5-c5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id101_288cf5-c5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id101_288cf5-c5 alignnone has-theme-palette8-background-color kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column101_f98cbf-d7 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column101_f98cbf-d7 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column101_f98cbf-d7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column101_f98cbf-d7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column101_f98cbf-d7 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column101_f98cbf-d7 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column101_f98cbf-d7{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column101_f98cbf-d7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column101_f98cbf-d7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column101_f98cbf-d7\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image101_967912-44 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image101_967912-44 size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/story-compass-final-1500-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"The Story Compass \u2014 Nicki Hayes Unlimited's values-led method for impact storytelling. Four values, each with its direction of travel: Compassion (build trust), Curiosity (dig for what's true), Creativity (shape impact), and Connectedness (follow the thread), together leading to stories that make people believe, care, and act.\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-363\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/story-compass-final-1500-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/story-compass-final-1500-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/story-compass-final-1500-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/story-compass-final-1500-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/story-compass-final-1500.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Principles<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My principles are non-negotiable. Persuasion not propaganda, whole stories that hold, and good work made visible \u2014 three things I will not compromise on, whatever the project. They&#8217;re what keep the storytelling honest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Persuasion, not propaganda: <\/strong>I make strong cases for organisations whose work deserves to be seen \u2014 that&#8217;s advocacy, and I&#8217;m proud of it. The line I won&#8217;t cross is fiction dressed as fact. Every claim I help make gets tested for truth before it gets shaped to move people to act \u2014 and that testing is human judgement, not something I hand to a machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Whole stories<\/strong><strong> that hold:<\/strong> Marketing&#8217;s easy temptation is to tell the bit that flatters and leave out the bit that complicates. The trouble is, real questions come \u2014 from journalists, funders, sceptics, competitors, customers. The way I work anticipates them. Every story I help shape is true in the details, honest about the framing, and complete enough that nothing important is hidden. The stories that last are the ones built to survive scrutiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Good work made visible: <\/strong>Everything I do serves this single aim: making good work impossible to miss.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id101_c423ee-f1 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id101_c423ee-f1 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id101_c423ee-f1 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id101_c423ee-f1 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id101_c423ee-f1 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id101_c423ee-f1 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id101_c423ee-f1 alignnone has-theme-palette9-background-color kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column101_19c57d-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column101_19c57d-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column101_19c57d-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column101_19c57d-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column101_19c57d-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column101_19c57d-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column101_19c57d-81{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column101_19c57d-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column101_19c57d-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column101_19c57d-81\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id101_4195a7-0c > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id101_4195a7-0c > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id101_4195a7-0c > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id101_4195a7-0c > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id101_4195a7-0c > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id101_4195a7-0c > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id101_4195a7-0c alignnone has-theme-palette9-background-color kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column101_bac781-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column101_bac781-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column101_bac781-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column101_bac781-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column101_bac781-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column101_bac781-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column101_bac781-2e{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column101_bac781-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column101_bac781-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column101_bac781-2e\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-theme-palette-5-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9916eab905ab6bd80599c7e174b5641c\"><strong>Got something important to say?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-theme-palette-6-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d72af5d48092cc66992ff030b81ce9da wp-block-paragraph\">Tell me where you&#8217;re stuck. A few sentences will do.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kb-btns101_579cec-8f{gap:var(--global-kb-gap-xs, 0.5rem );justify-content:center;align-items:center;}.kt-btns101_579cec-8f .kt-button{font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}.kt-btns101_579cec-8f .kt-btn-wrap-0{margin-right:5px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns101_579cec-8f .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button{color:#555555;border-color:#555555;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns101_579cec-8f .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns101_579cec-8f .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{color:#ffffff;border-color:#444444;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns101_579cec-8f .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button::before{display:none;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns101_579cec-8f .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns101_579cec-8f .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{background:#444444;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn kb-buttons-wrap kb-btns101_579cec-8f\"><style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn101_286a6c-f5.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn101_286a6c-f5.kb-button{color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);background:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn101_286a6c-f5 kt-btn-size-standard kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/contact\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">Start a conversation<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You don&#8217;t need another writer You need someone safe enough to untangle the thinking with \u2014 who also happens to write. Every project begins in the same place Someone stuck, overwhelmed, or sitting on something important they can&#8217;t yet articulate. Sometimes it&#8217;s a leader with a book in them. Sometimes it&#8217;s a founder navigating a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-101","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101"}],"version-history":[{"count":59,"href":"https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":368,"href":"https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/101\/revisions\/368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nickihayes.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}