Our Story
Since its founding in 2008, MSB Executive has transformed
communications in the workplace by combining professional
performance skills with deep business knowledge.
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The MSB Story
MSB Executive are communication skills specialists.
Since its founding in 2008, MSB Executive has delivered pitching, presenting and communication support one-to-one, in groups of all sizes, and at events and conferences. We have an excellent track record of helping our clients to overcome challenges, such as handling difficult questions, speaking with authority and gravitas, and using storytelling techniques to engage an audience.
At MSB Executive we are experts in online communications. We work with our clients to maximise their impact when speaking to camera.
Below is brief outline of our history.
2008
March
Martyn Barmby founds MSB Executive. He uses his background as an actor alongside a successful business career to offer workshops and one-on-one coaching,
April
Martyn delivers MSB Executive’s first workshop: Making the Best Use of Your Voice and Body in Business, for the University of Southampton. Projector bulb blows on the second slide reminding Martyn of the need never to rely on PowerPoint for a workshop.
September
First one-on-one session with client who was a technical expert but hated presenting and, in particular, sales presentations.
2011
March
First programme of one-on-one presentation skills support provided to an entire team. They remain a valued client of MSB Executive to this day.
2012
February
First associate joins the team offering written communication skills support.
November
First Storytelling workshop delivered.
2015
July
Run first workshop for CFA Society of the UK: Communicating Brilliantly Under Pressure. MSB Executive continues to be the communication skills partner of the CFA UK and run online and in person events.
2016
April
MSB Executive runs first of many workshops for Women in Banking and Finance.
2018
April
MSB Executive expands to 10, a mixture of employees and associates.
2020
March
MSB Executive moves entire coaching and workshop operation online as lockdown starts in the UK.
May
Deliver the first of many workshops on Communicating Effectively at Online Meetings.
June
First online masterclass launched.
2021
February
MSB Executive starts work with 100th business client. Biggest sectors are Financial Services, Law, Technology, Energy, Media and Property.
2024
Anniversary Year
We celebrate our 15th birthday by launching the MSB Executive Club. Members receive our brand new quarterly newsletter and benefit from exclusive member events.
Communications partners of the
Recent Blogs
How (Not) to Ask a Great Question
We work with our clients on questioning skills for various scenarios, including interviews, panels and fact-finding conversations. One of our top pieces of advice is to ask a single question at a time. This takes discipline. It is surprising how prevalent stacked...
The Rise of Body Doubling
When a colleague asked me a few weeks ago if I’d heard of ‘body doubling’, I replied that I was an actor, of course I had. In the film business, a body double is someone who stands in on set for one of the leads. They are used to perform a dangerous stunt or special...
The Importance of Uncertainty Part 2: Be Realistic, Win Trust
In a post earlier this month, I reflected on the dangers of communicating over-certainty about the future. Naturally, if we are selling our services or asserting our credentials, we want to gain an edge over our competitors. One way of doing so is to envisage the...
The Importance of Uncertainty Part 1: Admit What You Do Not Know
“My clients expect a degree of certainty from me that I am not always able to give.” If you work in an advisory role – for example, as a consultant, lawyer or investment professional – that probably sounds familiar. The future is by its nature uncertain. Yet many...
Accents
“The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Plain” Once upon a time, a voice coach might have asked you to repeat this sentence over and over until you were placing your vowels in exactly the right region of the soft palate. Thank goodness the days of elocution lessons,...
Three Top Tips for Inspiring Presentations
A couple of weeks ago I was at the Institute of Physics. There I watched an excellent presentation given by Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society. The audience were hanging on his every word. What did he do to achieve that? Here are the three...
Dive In
Presenting to Camera
Stay Connected As a Team With Online Video Tools
During these uncertain times where the majority of us are now working from home, it's so important to keep that sense of connection with our teams...
Online Meetings
Natural, Virtual or Blurred Backgrounds?
‘We can’t decide what to do about our backgrounds.' This question arose recently during an online communication workshop I was running for the...
Powerpoint
Dealing with Nerves when Speaking in Public – according to ChatGPT (Part 1)
At MSB Executive we love writing our blogs. An interesting topic comes up in the office, and someone dashes off to write a blog to share with the...
Body Language
Top Tips for Great Communication: When Presenting, Always Have a Glass of Water to Hand
When presenting, always have a glass of water to hand. The most obvious benefit is hydration. A moist mouth and throat are vital when we are...
