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.
Communications partners of the
Recent Blogs
MSB Executive’s Filming Day: What We Learnt
.MSB Executive’s filming day was long in the planning. We had decided late last year to video the team talking about our work. We felt this would be an excellent way to showcase our special combination of expertise and passion. With the possibility of shooting...
How to Feel Comfortable Communicating Assertively
Assertive communication – some people want it, some people fear it, other people overdo it! Life is too short to not speak up and be heard or to be so focussed on exerting control that you damage relationships along the way. It’s important to speak up, but how can we...
Dealing with Nerves when Speaking in Public – according to Chat GPT (Part 2)
In Part 1 of this two-part series, we gave ChatGPT a chance to write one of our blogs. How did it get on? The task for ChatGPT: Write me a blog on 'How to Overcome Nerves when Speaking in Public' Grade: ChatGPT recently passed its MBA exam at the Wharton School,...
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 the world. But very occasionally this doesn't happen. Sometimes we are all simply too busy running workshops or coaching...
Has a Dragon’s Den Start-up Found the Solution to Eye Contact at Online Meetings?
Here at MSB Executive, we’re big fans of BBC TV’s Dragon’s Den. Usually we find ourselves looking at the pitchers’ performance, but in one recent episode it was the product being pitched that grabbed our attention. The View-You Cam Pitchers Dan Baker and Jonathan...
Book Review: Smart Brevity by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen and Roy Schwartz
Smart BrevityJim VandeHei, Mike Allen and Roy SchwartzLondon: Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2023. Overview The premise of Smart Brevity is that business writing has failed to move with the times. In the smartphone age, anyone can easily and freely send their every...
Dive In
Presenting to Camera
How to Look and Sound Your Best on Video
According to the standard model, when first meeting someone, we make a snap decision about them based on their appearance, the sound of their voice...
Online Meetings
Zoomed Out? Some Top Tips To Survive The Zoom Era
Among all the terms future dictionaries will inherit from COVID-19, ‘Zoom fatigue’ is certain to feature. (It applies to all video conferencing...
Powerpoint
How Can I Stop Myself From Blushing?
There’s nothing more off-putting when you’re presenting than the feeling of heat spreading across your neck and cheeks and then the ensuing...
Body Language
Dealing with Nerves when Speaking in Public – according to Chat GPT (Part 2)
In Part 1 of this two-part series, we gave ChatGPT a chance to write one of our blogs. How did it get on? The task for ChatGPT: Write me a blog on...
