Speaking and seminars

In summary

Strategy need not be complex, espouses Vaughan Evans in his keynote speech, KISSTRATEGY.  It should be simple, consistent and, above all, backable – to a potential investor.  Evans reveals the three key constituents of his straightforward strategy development process, KISSTRATEGY – understanding the micro-economic context, honing a competitive edge and managing risk. 

Author of a number of best selling business books, including the highly acclaimed strategy manual-cum-toolkit Key Strategy Tools, Evans is an independent strategy consultant.  He is also an award-winning speaker, with a trademark style of humour, vitality and pure Celtic passion. He is the author of the entertaining and innovative take on speaking and presenting, Stand, Speak, Deliver!

“I wish I had thought of the idea for this book. Or could have done it so well!”, Richard Koch, author of The 80/20 Principle, on Key Strategy Tools.

“Vaughan Evans is a hugely entertaining and thought-provoking speaker", Simon Bucknall, Britain and Ireland Champion of Public Speaking in 2006 & 2007

In detail

A former economist and corporate financier, business strategist Vaughan Evans has approached strategy from varied perspectives in his career, enabling him to zero in on the three key constituents of successful strategy development, what he terms KISSTRATEGY – appreciating the micro-economic context, creating a sustainable competitive advantage and fine-tuning the balance of risk and opportunity. 

There is more to it than that, of course, as he sets out in his highly acclaimed Key Strategy Tools: The 80+ Tools for Every Manager to Build a Winning Strategy.  There he divides 88 tools by whether they are essential or merely useful to the strategy process and slots each one into one of the nine building blocks which form his Strategy Pyramid.

But the essence of strategy, he believes, for the vast majority of firms, lies in the three constituents of KISSTRATEGY. Strategy need not be as complex as implied by esoteric business school academics or by gold-plated consultants. It can be kept simple and doable and made backable.  It can be done DIY by every manager or entrepreneur.

Vaughan Evans is an independent strategy consultant, specialising in strategy, business planning and strategic due diligence.  He worked for many years at management and technology consultants Arthur D. Little and investment bankers Bankers Trust.  An economics graduate from Downing College, Cambridge and a Sloan Fellow with distinction of London Business School, he is the author of numerous books, including the best-selling Key Strategy Tools, the Financial Times essential guides to Developing Business Strategy and Writing a Business Plan and The Standout Business Plan, co-authored with sucess guru Brian Tracy.

What he offers you

Vaughan Evans explains how KISSTRATEGY can be all that is needed in developing a winning strategy and shows how it is done. If yours is a highly complex, multi-business, multi-country firm, operating in technologically turbulent times, your staff will still benefit from focusing efforts on Evans’s three key components.  If yours is a less complex business, you will benefit from following the KISSTRATEGY approach from start to finish – and may well save yourselves huge consulting fees in the process!

How he presents

Vaughan Evans is an enthralling speaker and seminar leader. With his passionate, resonant, vibrant delivery, drawing on his rich Celtic heritage, he has been captivating audiences for over two decades.   He believes fervently that any message can best be communicated, whether in a one minute, one-on-one conversation or in a 40 minute keynote address, with energy, passion and humour.

Languages

He presents in English, with the occasional use of that wonderful Welsh word, hwyl!

Want to know more?  Want to book him?

Please contact us here.

Other speaking topics

Educational speeches or seminars:

• KISSTRATEGY: How Keeping It Simple Helps Build a Winning Strategy
• KEY STRATEGY TOOLS: The Essential Tools for Every Manager to Build a Winning Strategy
• BACKABLE BUSINESS PLANS: How to Win Backing to Start Up or Grow Your Business
• LET THE SUN SHINE!: How Strategic Due Diligence is Key to Acquisition Success
• BACKING YOU!: How Thinking of Yourself as a Business Can Advance or Transform Your Career

Edutainment speeches:

• KISSTRATEGY: How Keeping It Simple Helps Build a Winning Strategy (with more anecdotes than in the straight version!)
• FLOPs!: How NOT to Write a Business Plan!
• ADRIFT!: How NOT to Succeed in Your Career!

Each of these speeches can range in length from a 5-10 minute blast to a 40-45 minute keynote.

Testimonials on speaking

“Vaughan Evans is a hugely entertaining and thought-provoking speaker. He offers a rare combination of terrific humour and practical insight – not to mention the fact that he is a splendid fellow to boot!” – Simon Bucknell, speaker on communication and leadership, Britain and Ireland Champion of Public Speaking in 2006 & 2007 (www.theartofconnection.co.uk)

“Quite simply, Vaughan Evans has the most beautiful voice I’ve heard in over fifteen years of international speaking.  He has power, resonance, and grace but it’s the melody that defines his voice and redefines envy for every other speaker.  I have learned so much from watching and listening to Vaughan’s speeches over the years about pacing, presence, humour and content.  He speaks from the heart with humility, possessing an innate and early understanding of his audience that makes him a great communicator.  Vaughan Evans is pure speaking gold.” – Bill Russell, speaker/coach/consultant/trainer and former Managing Director and Head of European Futures at Citigroup (future-options.co.uk)

“Vaughan Evans is one of the most enthusiastic, energetic and effective speakers on today’s international speaking circuit.  Blessed with a strong, outgoing and upbeat personality, he puts his whole being into a speech, using an astonishing array of body language and facial expressions that make him a truly unique performer.  All this, together with a voice and vocal technique that uplifts, inspires and motivates, in the tradition of great Welsh orators such as David Lloyd George and Aneurin Bevan, makes Vaughan Evans one of today’s outstanding international communicators. And his message of backing the passion that lies within you is one that anyone seeking career success needs to hear.” – Adrian Barrett, speaker/trainer/mentor/coach (adrianbarrett.co.uk)

“Vaughan Evans is a truly inspirational speaker. His speech delivery and presence are second to none” – Loxley McKenzie, Managing Director, Colordarcy Investment Properties (colordarcy.com)

“Vaughan Evans is not just an intelligent, numerate and literate man, but possessed of excellent public speaking skills, laced with humour, humility and warmth and powered by strong, mellifluous and vibrant vocal chords.” – George Jerjian, entrepreneur and author, Ecosystem: Living the 12 Principles of Networked Business (georgejerjian.co.uk)

“Like bolt of velvet gloved lightning, sharp and bold, yet eloquent and sophisticated, Vaughan Evans is guaranteed to entertain any audience. I’ve had the good fortune to hear him speak on a number of occassions and he has an enviable ability to keep a room tingling with intrepidation. Whether on the merits of the latest innovations in business, or the abstract peculiarities of modern life, this is a man who makes an impact. Make no mistake, hear him once, and you’ll never forget him!” – Paul Brannigan, Managing Director, Proactive (theproactiveaccountant.com)

“Vaughan Evans is a great guy… an inspirational character and brilliant orator!” – Cole McInnes

“I have heard Vaughan Evans speak many times and he never fails to impress. He has that magic combination of wit, humour and insightfulness. Combine that with an innate intelligence and a speaking voice to make even Richard Burton jealous, and you have someone who is always a delight to listen to and learn from. I can’t recommend him highly enough.” – Nigel Cutts, workplace designer, life coach and author, Love at Work (cuttsandcons.com)

“Vaughan Evans is an upbeat speaker with an amazing, unforgettable presence.” – Kim Crosby, Managing Director, Customer Clix (customerclix.com)

“Hearing Vaughan Evans speak is like listening to a friendly guru, who knows all about his subject and inspires and encourages the audience to find out more. Definitely worth a journey to go and listen to him.” – Celia Jones, Managing Director, Cameo Marketing (cameo.fsnet.co.uk)

“I have been blessed to have heard the rich voice of Vaughan Evans many times and can quite honestly say that his vocal skills have to be experienced to be believed! Notwithstanding his Welsh blood, the spoken word as well as his singing is strong enough to fill a stadium…..even when his voice drops to a whisper! Here is a speaker of many talents to fit any bill!” – Gilly Cons, life coach (cuttsandcons.com)

“There is a droleness of tone, a lightness of touch, but nevertheless a rare, raw power to the speaking ability of Vaughan Evans. He commands the room with a natural authority and aplomb and transfixes his audience with a wit that is both easygoing and generous.” – Jeremy Mitchell, property entrepreneur

Testimonials on seminars

“Combining passion with rational analysis and fit is really distinctive.” – a student at London Business School, May 2010

“A strategic framework to analyse your career is a novel idea.” – a student at London Business School, May 2010

“I think the Backing Your Passion part of the seminar is very useful for thinking about where to go next.” – a student at London Business School, May 2010

“I like these ideas on how to develop your thinking about career options.” – a student at London Business School, May 2010

“Making the link that strategic tools can be used for career planning is most illuminating.” – a student at London Business School, May 2010

“I think the job listing and screening process for choosing career paths is the part that I shall take away.” – a student at London Business School, May 2010

“The approach is very helpful – it can be used as a framework for changing my job, which I appreciate a lot” – a student at London Business School, May 2010

“I like the idea of finding your passion in work and this approach can help.” – a student at London Business School, May 2010

“Using strategic tools to help find your ideal job could be really useful.”- a student at London Business School, May 2010

Survey Results, London Business School, May 2010:

• “It helped with my career thinking.” – 64% of respondents

• “It helped a lot with my career thinking.” – 36% of respondents

• “It helped not at all with my career thinking.” – 0% of respondents