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I have worked with Annette on numerous occasions in my role within Sun and now Oracle. I have found her coaching not only crucial for myself, but I have also seen the impact and difference it has made for C-level people within the business community within which we work.
Annette has inspired business owners and managers to drive to increase sales. She's also helped them become significant spokespeople for their organisations.
Without reservation, I would whole-heartedly recommend Annette to coach and train executives, managers, and companies.
— Stewart Townsend, Business Development, Enterprise 2.0 EMEA, Oracle Corporation
Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!
We have had tremendous feedback from the startups in Tech City Entrepreneurs Festival, so huge thank you for taking the time, energy, and awesomeness to come put on an unforgettably valuable pitching workshop.
We also couldn't have found better prize for the winner than two hours of your time, thank you for being tremendously flexible — and so wonderful at what you do. It's a long list of things to thank you for.
The startups were really happy with Bootcamp + Investor Day and we could not have done it without you!
— Jess Williamson, Associate Director, Springboard, Organizers of Tech Start-Up Development for UKTI Tech City First Entrepreneurs' Festival
Annette has talent and style. We combined in providing advice to a leading consultancy firm on how to build performance management systems which properly engage staff and stakeholders.
I used my recent data experience at the heart of government, but Annette made the project come alive by giving the work a strong people dimension too. Not many people can combine the two realms, but that's just one of Annette's strengths. She's up-to-date, she's smart as hell and she works hard to get things right.
Add to that, the fact that she's honest and straight-talking, but diplomatic when she needs to be, and you've just about got her.
What surprised me was that she was also, quietly but very effectively, coaching me so that we got more out of the consultancy, both for our customer and for ourselves. I have never met a coach who could touch her for her insights into people and situations. And work was fun, which matters a lot more than people ever think.
— Ralph Tabberer, former Head of Schools, UK Department of Children, Families and Schools; currently Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Schools at GEMS MENASA, Dubai, UAE
Watching Annette at work with our Masters students in Enterprise Development was a real treat! She creates a challenging and stimulating atmosphere in which workshop participants thrive. She makes them learn amazing skills in an incredibly supportive manner and they progress really fast. She is a great success with our students, and staff, and we are planning for her to come a lot more next year!
— Dr Nathalie Mitev, Senior Lecturer, Department of Management, London School of Economics
Annette is a true expert in her field, and I recommend her if you are considering entering the UK or US markets. Thanks to the work with Annette, the panel at our conference delivered something that was thought to be impossible to make clear for a mixed audience in 45 minutes.
Seeing the difference between the original presentations and their final talks was truly amazing. Annette is very good at seeing information and the way it's delivered from the audience's perspective. She helped our panel coordinate three separate messages into a single engaging story with effective body language and storytelling style. The audience listened intently.
Annette is also excellent at correcting presenters in their English to get the message across in a brief but clear way. She tells it like it is, and she's fun to work with.
— Annely Lautre, Head of Inward Investment (Baltics), United Kingdom Trade and Investment
Performance is not all about the dramatics of the liberal arts. It is the very heart and soul of designing business communications to win the game. Thanks to Annette Kramer, business and performance coach.
— Emma Gilding, President, In:site DAS Omnicom
Annette is an excellent coach and someone who I would thoroughly recommend. She has the ability to work across a wide range of abilities and deliver fantastic results with everyone.
— Jonathan Bradford, CEO, The Difference Engine
Just a quick note to say thanks so much for your support in helping the start-ups hone and perfect their pitches during the BizSpark Summit last week. Look forward to working together with you again!
— Bindi Karia, VC/Emerging Business Lead, Microsoft
Thank you so much for your help this week.
It is so helpful to practice a pitch to someone who is not focusing on the content but rather on the overall quality of the presentation and the presenter. After all, winning presentations are all about self-marketing. It's why my pitch went so smoothly — it will be even better next time.
— Microsoft BizSpark Winner, Christian Steiner, Siondo
Thank you, Annette. You encouraged me to do a pitch when I felt that I wasn't up for the task. During the training session you were enthusiastic and made alterations that gave me confidence and made me better able engage with the audience.
— Microsoft BizSpark Contestant, Tom Kinniburgh, Pock.it Ltd
Annette gave me fantastic coaching advice and support when I had to give the graduation speech at my old school's speech day. As a result, I ended up with compliments from both pupils and parents.
— Robert Sansom, Founder, Cambridge Angels
As a mentor on The Difference Engine's start up programme I met and assessed all the ventures soon after they had arrived in the North East to work with Jon Bradford and his team. Twelve weeks later I was able to see them again at the completion of their accelerator programme at the demo day in London to potential investors.
The progress the entrepreneurs made during that short time impressed me. One thing that was evident was the clarity and focus of the communication of their proposition, and without exception for both the UK and also foreign companies (from Lithuania and Estonia) I witnessed dramatic improvement.
I spoke with several of these companies and they explained that their coaching with Annette Kramer had been a great asset to them and had helped them craft their message and give them positivity and confidence in presenting their ventures to investors.
Based on these tangible results Annette is clearly someone who can add tremendous value to early stage ventures and entrepreneurs both UK and especially cross-culturally.
— Tony Kypreos, UK Digital & Mobile Entrepreneur
I will not forget Annette's training for companies at The Estonian Development Fund earlier this year. In particular, I was amazed at the way she helped executives understand how to engage and persuade business listeners with just the right story. The companies will also remember Annette as being very helpful in the fundraising effort that came directly after.
— Andrus Oks, Arengufond Estonian Development Fund
I delivered a Springboard 2011 tech demo and pitch to ovations. Many people congratulated me on a great presentation, and some even compared me to Steve Jobs.
I was smiling through it all, knowing that 4 weeks earlier, my presentation was a total mess.
Annette was critical in turning my pitch around into a publicly digestible, succinct, impactful presentation. She found great punch lines, changed the structure, and helped me view my presentation with the eyes of my audience.
Whenever I can, I will try to work with Annette again. So should you!
— Springboard (Cambridge Angels Incubator at Cambridge University) Participant, Jakub Nesetril, Founder, apiary.io
I worked with Annette while at Springboard, where she was brought in as a fabulous pitching coach for our startup companies. Annette has a terrific ability to explain complex concepts in plain English, an invaluable skill for our tech companies struggling to be understood. She transforms facts into stories, nervous energy into enthusiasm, and has a magical way of making things more interesting/compelling.
Annette is great at working with a variety of individuals to draw out their own personal strengths, not expecting anyone to fit a template, and bringing their presentations to life with the right mix of confidence and story-teling. I was actually so impressed with her I wrote a blog all about our first day with Annette and would absolutely recommend her for key presentations. Looking forward to working together again!
— Jessica Williamson, Manager, Springboard Incubator
Great results, personable, high integrity — what else can I say? I had the pleasure of dealing with Annette as my presentation coach during the Springboard Accelerator programme. With just a few sessions she completely transformed my presentation style and instilled me with confidence leading to a successful presentation in front of 100+ people. Thanks Annette!
— Springboard (Cambridge Angels Incubator at Cambridge University) Participant, Julian Keenaghan, Co-Founder, Tastebuds.fm
Annette worked with the ten startup companies on our Springboard venture accelerator program to prepare us for the final Pitch Day: a session in front of well over 100 investors, mentors, and entrepreneurs. Although I wasn't the member of our team who actually gave the pitch, I had a unique vantage point from which to watch her transform our wobbly, wandering, waffling presentations into the final result: pitches that were powerful, clear, concise, and to the point. Many of the attendees of the day said it was the best collection of start-up pitches they had ever heard, and I know this was in no small measure due to Annette's superb coaching of the presenters.
— Springboard (Cambridge Angels Incubator at Cambridge University) Participant, Kaila Colbin, Co-Founder at Falcon Training and Chief Marketing Officer at MiniMonos.com
Annette worked with me to shape up my presenting skills for an investor/demo day as part of Springboard. She managed to completely turn my presenting around in 4 weeks and not only for the day, but helped me realise how I could make a bigger impact and do a stronger presentation, which I will use every time I need to prep for a presentation again. I cannot recommend Annette more and would definitely work with her again in the future!
— Springboard (Cambridge Angels Incubator at Cambridge University) Participant, Jude Ower, CEO, The Play Mob
It was a tremendous pleasure working with Annette and the benefits will extend into future work I do in pitching.
— Springboard (Cambridge Angels Incubator at Cambridge University) Participant, Egidijus Jarašūnas, Co-founder & COO, Adwings
Wow, wow, wow — Can't say thank you enough to Annette. I worked with Annette as part of the start-up accelerator programme The Difference Engine where she helped me prepare our pitches to the Venture Capitalists.
Annette's assistance and style was completely different to the other coaches and mentors who helped us on the programme. Rather than focusing on the technical details of our product or the actual content within our pitch, she focused on HOW were engaging with the audience and HOW we could emotionally connect with them. When written down it sounds so simple (tell a story, plant feet the floor, give eye contact etc...) but for a techie start-up founder these are the very points that you forget in the haste to talk about your "cool technology".
I'd have no hesitation in recommending Annette and I know that my company (CANDDi) wouldn't be where it is today without her help and assistance. Thank you!
— Tim Langley, CEO, CANDDi
Annette was coaching us for presentations at the Difference Engine and her help and direction was very valuable to us. She helped to focus on telling a compelling and engaging story (instead of giving a set of facts and industry buzzwords), communicating with the audience, and noting all non-verbal aspects of the delivery, which was extremely helpful in preparing for the final presentation. I would definitely recommend Annette for anyone planning to deliver a presentation – thank you!
— Dalia Lašaitė, Co-founder at Geogoer Ltd, UK
Annette is a presentation coach par excellence. As simply as that. I feel that thanks to her contribution we won the PitchSlam in Tallinn, Estonia and made it to the Innovate!100's list of 100 World's Most Promising Tech Startups. Highly recommended!
— Kalju Rüütli, Now Innovations
Annette can help you turn your current presentation (from simply narrating your Powerpoint slides) into engaging and unforgettable performance. Highly recommend
— Raoul Jarvis, Founder and CEO of TaxiPal, Founder and CEO of T+1 Solutions, Tallin, Estonia
Annette is an excellent teacher on how to perform in public. She is also great and working with her is a lot of fun.
— Tõnis Saag, CEO, OÜ Sportlyzer, Tallin, Estonia
Annette, it was my honor to meet you and to enjoy you training. It was very important for the Estonian entrepreneurs to participate as well, and they gained much valuable knowledge that will benefit them in the future.
There is no one like you in Estonia who can rock people into shape with their positive and enthusiastic attitude and know-how. I want to encourage you to keep coming back. You are so great at what you do!
— Pille Lodi, JCI ECM 2011, Director, Board Assistant at the Estonian Development Fund, Tallin, Estonia
Annette's coaching of this year's Seedcamp finalists prior to the start of Seedcamp week proved invaluable in focusing the presenters on how to make the most of their pitch. With 22 companies from all over Europe presenting on the first day of Seedcamp the need to engage and communicate their business proposition effectively with the investor audience was absolutely key. Annette was extremely insightful in her comments and advice and with her very supportive style she succeeded in achieving excellent results for the participating companies.
— Rosemary Forsyth, investor in The London SeedCamp and Founder of The Forsyth Group, UK
Having seen the excellent quality pitches at Microsoft Bizspark and TheNextWomen events, it's clear that Annette's reputation as a presentation–guru is well founded.
— Gregory Kris, Investor
I would like to thoroughly recommend Annette. She has real integrity and honesty that is rare in the market place. There is a strong dynamism, creativity and determination to succeed. Annette has a quality ethic and hence will actively wish to seek continual improvement in what she does. She also displays strong leadership and inspires those around her. I have joined Linkedin, as recommended by a number of colleagues, most notably Annette Kramer, who is a model for us all!
— Peter Frost, Educational Consultant, Frost Ed, UK
Annette is a person to whom I owe Fits.me's winning the recent Hottest European Web Technology Award, in Brussels, at Plugg.eu, and frankly, the person to whom I owe our two successful rounds of funding. Our background is biorobotics, but being hot is not enough for success — we needed great advice on how to engage client interest and investment. Annette is also why we won a spot to launch at The Next Web in Amsterdam. The Next Web and Plugg are both among the three largest web tech events. Last year we raised EUR 1.3M, and this year another 1.3M, and we couldn't have done it without Annette.
Annette also trained Fits.me people to do sales calls, how to handle those stonewalling front desks, how to get the message through. The calls after she had finished were amazing — instant success!
— Heikki Haldre, Fits.me
Annette is an excellent presentation coach. She is able to successfully engage you to bring out the best in you, whilst teaching you those vital tricks to stop those often unconscious and unhelpful habits we all possess that can have a negative affect on a pitch.
With her drama background, Annette is able to bring out the best in your personality to put 'on show'.
I met Annette as she coached a group of 'pitching entrepreneurs' at TheNextWomen Pitching & Funding event, and without her help, I don't think any of us would have done so well.
Annette is such a pleasure to spend time with.
I highly recommend that you hire Annette. Should you be a 'large corporation' needing to take your key employees to the next level of presentation skills. Or be a 'recruitment agency' looking to give your candidates the edge in landing a role in these competitive times. Or be an 'individual' who wants to learn how to better improve your success rate with pitching tactics...Annette Kramer is your woman!
— TheNextWoman.com Pitching Contest Runner Up, Raquel Dobson, Digital and Broadcast Media Executive (Advisory Capacity) and Founder of iCreate–Style
Thank you very much again for your help during Seedcamp. Having never given a presentation like that it was great to have such sage feedback!
With your help, I changed the presentation again from Monday and I think it was more expressive, had to wait for the audience to stop laughing (!) and the end was more in line with my dramatic side!
Undoubtedly your feedback and encouragement helped me personally and I am very grateful for that.
— London SeedCamp Winner of trip to NY and Silicon Valley, Jonathan Shrago, Advertag
Annette is perceptive and fast both at media training and coaching for investors: she quickly pointed out improvements I needed to make and then patiently taught me how to make these improvements.
I could tell that she does this all the time with lots of professionals, but that she also gives tailored advice for each person. Winning teaching time with her was a brilliant part of the Seedcamp prize.
— London SeedCamp Contestant, Dr Mohammad Al–Ubaydli, CEO, Patients Know Best; Honorary Senior Research Associate, UCL Medical School
Wanted to give you a special "Thank you!" for your help on my presentation skills last week. You truly helped me and elevated my level!
— London SeedCamp Contestant, Dirk Stevens, Wondergraphs
The training sessions with Annette helped us a lot to improve our pitches and make them more professional. She furthermore gave brilliant advice with regards to content and strategy of our presentations. Annette, thank you for the brilliant help and support.
— London SeedCamp Contestant, Christoph Leva, Petsicon
I want to thank you for the coaching and your help during Seedcamp week. It was a great, insightful and fun.
— London SeedCamp Contestant, Itamar Lesuisse, Kukunu.com
Just wanted to personally thank you for the feedback you gave on my presentation the other day. It was very helpful and I've become much more aware of my presence on stage now!
— London SeedCamp Contestant, Ari Helgeson, World on a Hanger
Dealing with Annette was a refreshing change! She pushed, shaped and created in the most practical fashion; helping us to get right to the point of what was important and helping us translate that into a clear objectives that really can be achieved.
— Astia London Contestant, Fiona Hills, Head of Sales and Marketing, ItsACareerThing.com
Maelo has an interview this Friday. What you did with her raised her self-esteem and seemed to open a floodgate within her. Thank you so much.
— Jane Chelliah-Manning, Mother of an interviewing student
I have worked with Annette for several years in a variety of roles. I've never met anyone who so consistently strikes the right note in her business dealings. A natural communicator, she cuts through the waffle and presents important points clearly and accurately, and in a truly engaging way. When faced with difficult situations, she finds creative solutions with ease and enthusiasm.
Annette is an amazing business consultant, mentor and advisor, enabling colleagues to make the most of their own talents, as well as instilling confidence in potential clients. Personally, Annette is a pleasure to work with and an invaluable member of any team. I would be delighted to work with her whenever possible. I recommend Annette wholeheartedly and know she will excel at any project she's given, regardless of the industry or challenge.
— Pippa Salmon, Consultant at Fits.me
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Annette Kramer is a versatile and skilled, whip-smart professional. She can do marketing and any kind of writing at all, including specialized or genre writing. She is great at formulating the template or style guide, as well as composing it or collaborating to make it happen. Annette also excels at relationship development, and performance coaching; ie, when clients show Annette their planned presentations, she either fixes or enhances them beyond their original expectations.
With her "Big 6" experience as well as her academic and performance training, Annette brings to clients a keen mind that sees the core issues immediately and then can translate them for any audience. When I get stumped on how to express or relate an issue, I turn to Annette. There are few people more qualified than Annette Kramer to grasp the concept and turn it into an actionable document, presentation, or project.
— Dean Landsman, Owner, Landsman Communications Group – worked with Annette at CAGSE Foundation
Annette is a very creative thinker, talented writer and a pleasure to collaborate with. We have enjoyed great results from Annette's work and look forward to our next project together.
— David Gibson, Warren Evans Beds
Life is too short not to spend as much of it as possible with people who add to your energy, increase your sense of possibility and make the world a better place. Annette Kramer is one of those people and I choose to spend time with her.
— Euan Semple, Director, euansemple.com
I have had the distinct pleasure of knowing Annette and her work for several years, and I am pleased to recommend her without hesitation. She is a truly creative thinker, and problem solver, and someone who will always make time for others when they need a good listener. Her counsel helped me on more occasions than I can possibly remember, and for that I will always be grateful. She is the genuine article - the sort of person we should all be so lucky to know during our lives.
— Jason Black, Manager, Content Editorial Operations, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Annette is one of those rare people who can not only envision a new way to work (and teach) in terms of process and practices, but she can actually show you how to make it a reality, and you'll actually enjoy the ride. Her visionary ideas on how to improve business through Thought Leadership (building brand and strategy though interaction and conversation) and education through a new approach to learning and acting will one day change how we all do our work.
— David HM Spector, Technology Consultant / Developer / Technology Due Diligence Expert, Self-employed
Annette was invaluable in getting Affect Labs' pilot project, FestBuzz, off the ground. By liaising with customers in London and further afield she quickly helped us establish a strong brand presence, make vital connections and present ourselves in a professional context within the theatrical sector. Annette's great communication and organisation really helped FestBuzz become a success.
— Colleague, Jennie Lees, Founder, Affect Labs
When you think about the ideal colleague and mentor, Annette is it.
Proactive as she is productive, Annette finds solutions before you've fully understood the problem. Annette is creative, in her sales approach, in her problem solving and most refreshingly, in her ability to actually get things done.
Annette has been able to candidly and constructively guide Fits.Me to a far evolved model in both technical features and design by always holding our company to the highest standard, and doing everything within her power to get us there, and she does.
Annette's network is also very large and cross-industry, and those who have worked with her are happy to do so again. She is a big asset to Fits.me in this regard.
It is for all these reasons, when you work with someone like Annette, if you're lucky they become far more than co-worker, as not taking advantage of learning everything you can from her would be a waste.
I could not be more grateful to have such a mentor. Annette is never selfish and has helped me to grow, and ultimately be a higher functioning employee, and a more professional person.
Annette is a team member who heads the team while still allowing others to be meaningfully involved; a dynamic no one minds when behind a driven, positive, solutions-oriented leader, such as Annette.
—Erika Wasser, Business Development, US, Fits.me Virtual Fitting Room
Consulting
Annette is a very creative and hard working professional. Her intelligence, combined with her drive, often enable her to approach issues in a non-conventional, yet highly effective manner.
Intellectually, Annette is a highly versatile thinker which serves her clients well in a diverse array on consulting settings.
— Steven Einstein, Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers,
Greater New York City Area Industry, Investment Banking
Affiliate Marketing
I had the very great pleasure of working with Annette for many years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and I have to say that I have never collaborated with a more talented, gifted, and truly professional individual. In addition to a superb educational background (Bryn Mawr, Brown University) Annette is a very creative and inventive thinker; her skills in such areas as marketing, business relationship management; and project oversight is second to none.
Not only did I learn a tremendous amount from Annette about fields that were unfamiliar to me, but she was also able to offer insights and observations into the workings of my own field that were very useful--and original. Annette seems to be capable of turning everything she touches into "gold", and her energy and focus are truly infectious. I only wish we were still colleagues. I recommend Annette unreservedly.
— Noel McCarthy, Editor-in-Chief, Executive Perspectives e-magazine, PricewaterhouseCoopers – worked directly with Annette at PricewaterhouseCoopers
I had an opportunity to pitch Annette while she was at PWC, and also to attend several conferences in which we participated in sessions and panels. She has always struck me as both highly intelligent and as a person who can really implement projects in unique ways. She takes her approach from both the arts and the business sides of the world, and molds them into unique offerings. Unexpected but unique things occur when Annette is around. I hope for another opportunity to work together in the near future.
— Howard Greenstein, President, The Harbrooke Group, Inc. – was with another company when working with Annette at PricewaterhouseCoopers
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