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
What Can The Odyssey Teach Us About Telling Stories In Business?
I thoroughly enjoyed rereading Emily Wilson’s landmark translation of The Odyssey during a recent holiday in Croatia. It felt appropriate as were just up the coast from Odysseus’s home island of Ithaca. It got me thinking about the story templates Christopher Booker...
What to Do If You Lose Your Voice (As Harry Kane Did Very Publicly During the World Cup!)
In leading his team to victory against Mexico on Sunday, England captain Harry Kane left everything out on the pitch. Including, it seemed, his voice. He squeaked his way through a post-match interview, much to his embarrassment and the pundits’ delight. What had...
What the Financial Services Sector Will Look Like in 2030, According to McKinsey
A major report on the future of work foresees a growing role for social and emotional skills in global banking and investment. As everyone in the sector builds out their AI infrastructure, great soft skills – our specialism at MSB Executive – will be even more of a...
If Soft Skills Were Taught At School, Would More Young People Be In Work?
According to a major report published last week, our failure to include soft skills training in the secondary school curriculum is a significant contributor to the record levels of worklessness among young Brits. We take this seriously at MSB Executive. Over the...
Hitting the Reset Button No. 3: Drop Your Elbows
I was chatting with a prospective client, a sustainable investment policy lead, about some presentation coaching I might do with him. I asked him what portion of his presenting happens online versus in-person. His answer – around 70% – is pretty typical. Online vs....
Hitting the Reset Button No. 2: Earth Yourself
Another client I was working with recently asked me for a ’10-second reset’. ‘Something strange happens at online meetings,’ he said. ‘I get incredibly restless in my chair. I feel trapped and I want to escape. My concentration wanders all over the place. It’s almost...
Dive In
AI
How I Prompted AI to Write a 5-Minute Speech
At very short notice I was asked to give a short speech on AI at a networking event, after the scheduled speaker had to pull out. With little time...
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...
Q&As
Preparing for High-Stakes Interviews Part 2: Kemi Badenoch
In Part 1, I discussed handling challenging questions. As an example, I used Boaz Weinstein’s interview with Investor’s Chronicle. This week, let's...
Presentation Skills
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...
