Credentials

Recent Projects

The Commercial Awareness programmes are derived from the programmes that I have designed and delivered for over 20 years for major corporations around the world. Here are a few our my recent projects. Click on the map image to view international locations.

 

general commercial awareness

• developed and currently delivering 5-day Commercial Awareness programme for Ericsson managers across Europe
• 5-day modular programme May Gurney encompassing strategy, business planning, finance and customer focus - run over 10 times and average course score over 9 out of 10 across all criteria
• 2-day workshop for managers of Rajawali, Indonesian conglomerate
• finance and marketing strategy programme for Ericsson senior leaders

strategy and business planning

• delivered courses in Malaysia and Singapore for Asia Business Forum on Developing Strategy
• 9-day strategic marketing programme for Oxford University Press
• strategic marketing course for senior management at Oando PLC, largest downstream oil company in Nigeria

finance

• finance for non-finance managers programmes for:
• Centrica
• Punch Taverns
• eDF
• Gulf News (Dubai)
• Ted Baker

branding

• global 'Living the Brand' workshop designed, developed and delivered for the British Council
• brand consultancy with comparethemarket.com

marketing

• developed and delivered senior executive digital marketing workshop for The Marketing Society
• measuring marketing programmes for:
• British Marine
• Unilever (Ukraine)
• British Gas
• marketing communications and effectiveness programmes for Cisco

consulting

• worked as a consultant managing the promotion of DTI iniatives, UK Online for Business and Best Practice, encompassing events, online resources, promotional merchandise, liaising across government departments and ensuring consistency and synergy
• developed the go-to-market strategy for London Electricity Business division, liaising with billing, procurement, demand management, metering and external agencies
• as an independent business consultant, developed over 200 business plans for SME sector companies

communication, influencing, negotiation and advanced procurement

• programmes designed and delivered for:
  • Maersk
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Philips
  
  • AkzoNobel
  • five tv
  • 3-day influence and negotiation skills programme for Equate Petrochemical, Kuwait

leadership

• an accredited facilitator on the Ericsson global leadership programme for over ten years, working in over 20 countries, including Egypt, UAE, Turkey, Malaysia, Japan, Nigeria, Spain and Greece. Programme covers:
  • personal effectiveness
  • leading change
  • leading individuals and teams
  • leadership communication
  • thought leadership
  
• currently the lead developer in updating the Ericsson programme and developing programmes for senior managers in organisations acquired by Ericsson
• designed, developed, delivered and trained trainers for multi-module middle and senior management programme for ntl:Telewest (now Virgin Media)
• development of leadership programmes for Bausch and Lomb, Punch Taverns, Freebridge Housing

Paul Taylor with Ken Blanchard, author of the One Minute Manager books, and Joselito Rivera, head of the Ericsson global leadership programme.

 

 

presentation skills

• courses designed, developed and delivered for Ericsson, Virgin Media, Barnett Waddingham LLC …

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Commercial Awareness Credentials

Bio

I gained my Masters in Law at Oxford University and then spent several years in major account sales, including a spell with Boeing.

Following my Marketing MBA at Cass Business School, City University in London, I had roles as a marketing manager with a FTSE-100 corporation and as a director of a consulting firm. I established Happy Atom Limited, the owner of Commercial Awareness, in 1999.

At the end of the '90s, I returned to consultancy and have worked with major corporations in 30 countries around the world providing leadership development. For over 10 years I have worked with Ericsson developing and delivering their global leadership programmes.

Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing

Accredited through Ericsson to deliver Situational Leadership II, DiSC Psychological Assessment and Profilor 360.

Away from work, I am currently failing to keep pace with my son in learning to play the guitar and console myself by cycling. Music, particularly the blues, is a shared passion with my wife Kathy, along with tennis.