From Engineer to Industry Voice: MD’s Story Unlocked a £150M Exit
Profile: Introverted engineer to Managing Director, manufacturing sector.
Challenge: Technically strong but struggled to inspire investors and lead with presence; low confidence under pressure.
Intervention: 3-day Leader Speaker Retreat + targeted coaching.
Result: Featured live on BBC News 5 times in one day. Delivered with confidence and authority rather than hesitation. Core message clarified for investors, team, and self.
ROI: Led company through a £150M exit following a sharpened story and enhanced leadership presence.
The Story: Mark built his reputation as an engineer. He was precise, technical, and detail-driven. When he became Managing Director, those same traits started working against him in the boardroom. His updates were flat, his pitches too dense, his presence muted.
He knew the numbers. He had the product. But investors and partners weren’t moved.
He joined my 3-day Leader Speaker Retreat. Pushed out of his comfort zone, we stripped away the slides, worked on voice, presence, and above all, his story.
Three weeks later, he was doing media rounds, keynotes and instead of stumbling through the spotlight, he found himself enjoying it.
That shift in confidence, credibility and clarity changed how he showed up to investors. With his story sharpened, he went on to lead his company through a £150M exit.
For him, the breakthrough wasn’t learning how to “perform.” It was realising that leadership is communication. And communication is story.
When a CEO's presence closed a $250 million deal
Profile: Experienced Founder and former VC preparing a major investment.
Challenge: Already strong on content and delivery. Needed to go beyond logic to inspire investors at a deeper, emotional level.
Needed to master story, presence and energy, not just the pitch.
Intervention: Targeted coaching focused on presence, harnessing energy in voice, performance delivery, and story.
Result: Built a distinctive presence that made investors lean in.
ROI: Secured a $250M investment deal.
The Story: Will was no stranger to pitching. As a former VC, he was confident with numbers, slides, and logic. But he knew something was missing.
He could deliver the facts. He could handle the questions. What he couldn’t yet do was inspire belief, that deeper trust investors need before committing at scale.
He came to me ahead of a major pitch, not to refine the deck, but to work on something more fundamental: his presence. The way his energy, delivery, and voice could consciously move people when he spoke.
It was about unlocking the presence that made others lean in and trust him.
The result was decisive: he closed a $250M deal.
For him, the breakthrough wasn’t about presentation skills. It was about presence as a leadership tool.
Because when a leader finds their presence through their story, credibility flourishes.
Deon has an inexplicable ability to see in others what they don't see themselves. He uses this insight to help them master the art of real communication.
Martin Hurworth - CEO Bytronic Vision Intelligence