Confidently There

I equip teams and individuals to more ethically and effectively handle difficult conversations. 

Think:

- understanding power dynamics and knowing how to approach them restoratively
- having the tools to approach the difficult subjects productively, kindly AND feeling ok to do so
- feeling equipped to handle the challenging or toxic relationships so they no longer bug you long after the conversation has finished.


And more simply: 
- calmly navigating conflict
- not fearing confrontation
- saying no without the guilt
- putting ideas across without apology
- speaking up with confidence and ease

My work is kind, evidence-based, psychology-backed and really practical. 

It exclusively promotes and utilises ethical communication strategies promoting equal voice, accountability and integrity at every turn. 

For organisations, my work can help you cultivate an environment that allows all voices to be heard, connection to be prioritised and a culture of challenge and kindness in equal measure upheld. I upskill my clients as communicators to no longer shy away from the tough stuff, but to learn to approach it all without blame or shame, judgement or assumption. This culture shift will not only boost morale and your bottom line, but it is a key equality, diversity and inclusion issue too as it brings all voices to the fore and does away for good with outdated and problematic dominance dynamics.

For individuals, my work equips you to reclaim your sense-of-self in any problematic or toxic working relationships, gives you the tools to know how to respond to any challenging conversation with a restorative approach, and allows YOU to redefine your work-life balance, no longer feeling that it needs to be a binary choice between being respected and being well-liked.

Founder

Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

Lecturer in Voice 

Audition panelist

Lecturer in Voice

Working predominantly with the Postgraduate students on the MA Musical Theatre and MA Acting for Stage, Screen and Radio, and student actors on the 3 year BA Acting course, in a combination of group classes in vocal technique, text work, combined with accent and dialect work for show support.

Voice Teacher

Freelance / Self-employed

Freelance Voice Coach

Freelance Singing Teacher

Royal Shakespeare Company

Voice, Singing and Dialect coach for this new British musical, written by Sam Kenyon and directed by Erica Whyman, played in the Swan Theatre summer 2018. https://www.rsc.org.uk/miss-littlewood/tickets

Voice, Singing & Dialect coach, Miss Littlewood

BRISTOL OLD VIC THEATRE SCHOOL LIMITED

The Oxford School of Drama

I head up the singing work at OSD, working on a balance of precise technique, and bold, creative, truthful Acting through Song with the second years, the postgraduates, and students on the six month intensive Foundation Course.

Head of Singing

National Youth Theatre Wales

The American Musical Theatre Academy - London and New York

Singing Teacher

City Academy Ltd

Urdang Academy

I specialise in supporting values-led organisations and heart-centred leaders to have difficult conversations more often, more ethically, and more effectively. 

It takes difficult conversations and uncomfortable changes when we want to bring about genuine shifts to our culture. Something many people are not professionally equipped for. 

My area of expertise is giving you the tools to handle any challenging situation through open, honest, and rigorous conversations where all parties feel supported and heard. Because when you get that right, everything else follows. 

This helps to fill the gaps between people-first policies and the reality of your day-to-day culture. 

Through quality, active, curious listening and no longer shying away from difficult conversations, you can start aligning behaviours and standards with your big-picture goals. 

All from a PROPERLY human-first approach.

Louisa Clarke

Islay O'Hara PR

I am a public relations consultant specialising in personal PR.  I work with successful individuals, entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, executives, and founders, to 
•	raise their visibility 
•	enable them to share their mission, ideas and values with confidence and authenticity
•	build, authority, influence and trust in their marketplace with clarity and consistency 
•	extend the reach of their message 
•	create and leverage those opportunities to make an impact 

I do this by helping them build a credible and authentic personal, professional brand and enviable reputation through a framework, I have honed after 25+ years working in PR. 

Your personal brand and reputation is critical to your success. 

Sign up to receive weekly tips and strategies to help you build a powerful, personal professional reputation into your inbox every Tuesday morning. https://islayohara.co.uk/weeklyemail/

Whether it’s ensuring that you are seen in the right places through securing appropriate interviews in the media or speaking opportunities or ensuring that your digital profile is up-to-date, representative, and accurate, personal PR is essential to advancing your personal and professional interests.

Book a no-obligation call to see how we can work together https://calendly.com/islay-pr/discovery-call

Founder Islay O'Hara PR Personal Branding & Public Relations 

One in Four UK

Responsible for supporting the bid writing and grant application process for One In Four and strategic communications advise and social media content creation and management. 
Recent project: Following a successful application to The Media Trust and The City Bridge Foundation, I advised and supported the create a charity video which won Silver in the People's Choice awards 
Watch below: 
Website: https://oneinfour.org.uk/

Communications Consultant

Business Diaries Tunbridge Wells 

Business Diaries Podcast: interviewing business owners sharing inspiring stories and journeys.

Business Diaries, Tunbridge Wells is an in-person evening where local business people share a personal and professional business-related experience.  With four or five speakers/storytellers at each event, speaking on a shared theme for 10-12 minutes TED-talk style without the aid of slides, the primary focus is to hear people’s stories and, as a result, get to know the ‘real’ person inside; their motivations, values and the experiences which have shaped these and helped to make them who they are today. There has been a rich variety in the stories told.  They have been amusing, challenging, inspirational, sometimes very moving, but always worth hearing.

Business Diaries Podcast Co- Host I Host/Organiser Live Events 

Toastmasters International

Member | Tunbridge Wells Speakers Club 

Guiding the club to ensure we deliver for our members. We achieved the 'Select Distinguished' Club designation for the 2022–2023 program year.

President Tunbridge Wells Speakers Club 

PR Director | District 91 Spring Conference May 2022

Division H | Public Relations Manager 

As VPPR I was responsible for promoting the club, the benefits of being a member and members' achievements both internally within Toastmasters and locally in the community. Responsibilities also include developing and managing a publicity programme including updating the website, social media and media relations whilst protecting the club's brand identity.
Tunbridge Wells Speakers Club was a recognised Toastmasters Distinguished Club 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 with a vibrant growing membership.

Vice President Public Relations VPPR | Speechcraft Trainer

Challenger Troop CIC

Responsible for marketing, communications strategic planning, development and implementation including events,  social media, project management, fundraising and partnership development, for a community interest company delivering uniformed youth development and inclusion courses for vulnerable and disengaged young people of school learning age.  Raised over £2m of funds from grant-making trusts, foundations, Government and council bodies.

Marketing Communications I Fundraising I Partnerships I Strategic Growth I PR

St George's Community Children's Project

St George's provides subsidised childcare places for families with children from the ages of 9 months to 11 years of age who for whatever reason, whether personal or financial may be not be able to access childcare. 

As the only fundraiser at St George’s, my role was challenging and varied. I developed, managed and delivered the charity's fundraising strategy, projects and initiatives; assisted with report writing and finance, represented St George’s in the community, recruited, trained and managed our volunteers, and worked closely with our Trustee Board to ensure the charity achieved its aims and objectives. 

I firmly believe that children have the right to play, be safe and live their lives free from abuse and fear. Working at St George’s gave me the privilege to be able to help and support families in our local community and see the difference early intervention can make to children and their families.

Fundraising Manager I Events I Grants I PR & Marketing 

Huntsworth Health

As Account Director, I was responsible for managing several accounts with a number of people reporting to me; involving strategic programme development, client liaison, budget tracking and management, implementation of tactical programmes with specific objectives, team management, programme evaluation and measurement, and new business development.  

As Client Lead, I was responsible for developing an integrated approach across the marketing mix and managing the internal medical education, writing, PR and advertising teams, defining and agreeing brand strategy, agreeing and managing budgets, managing and assigning appropriate resources, co-ordination of client reports, managing client/agency relationships, and overseeing quality control and financial accountability.

Account Director and Client Lead

Interaction Marketing and Public Relations

During this period, I developed extensive expertise in media relations; medical education; Key opinion leader/advocacy development; issues containment strategies; corporate rebranding; disease awareness campaigns; internal communications, including newsletters and client magazines; seminars, meetings and conferences; website development and copywriting; project planning, budgeting and reporting;  pitch development and presentation.

Account Executive to Account Manager

I'm a chartered public relations and personal branding consultant, helping clients build a personal, professional identity that is recognised and respected.  Having left the corporate world to become an independent consultant over five years ago, I am walking the talk and leveraging the results from raising my profile and showing others how to do the same. Scroll my profile for recommendations. 

AWARD-WINNING: 2024 Most Dedicated PR Consultant (South East) SME Elite Business Awards, and Most Dedicated PR Consultant (UK) SME Elite Business Awards, in 2023. 2021, won the Women in PR and Marketing at the Kent Women in Business Awards and was shortlisted in the "Female Entrepreneur" category at the FL Leadership Summit and Awards. 

BE EVERYWHERE: Frustrated clients come to me when they are fed up with seeing their competitors “everywhere” despite doing “loads of marketing activities.” Drawing on my 25+ years of experience, I have developed a proven approach to crafting and implementing a personal brand strategy that ensures clients attract the right opportunities for success, including higher-paying clients, exciting collaborations and projects that accelerate business growth. 

The Be Everywhere programme helps you:
•	be seen by your ideal clients 
•	communicate your message, mission, ideas and values with confidence 
•	reach and resonate with a wider audience 
•	build authority, influence and trust in your marketplace with clarity and consistency, 
and leverage the opportunities that arise from being seen and heard in all the right places at the right time. 

SPEAKER: Described as an 'engaging and dynamic' speaker, I frequently speak on PR, authenticity in communications, personal branding and related topics at business events and podcasts. 

FREE QUIZ: Discover where you stand regarding trust, reach, amplification and impact by answering questions and receiving ideas to amplify your presence https://islay-ohara.scoreapp.com

RECEIVE WEEKLY Tips and strategies to help you build a powerful, personal, professional reputation.  https://islayohara.co.uk/weeklyemail/

LET'S TALK: Ring the bell 🔔 on my profile to get notified about my posts. Please message me on LinkedIn  or book a no-obligation call: https://calendly.com/islay-pr/discovery-call

SPECIALITIES: Personal Branding, Public Relations, Reputation Building, Thought Leadership, Content Strategy, Content Management. 

OUTSIDE WORK: I’m a mother to two inspiring young adults and a 1L Dan (Black Belt) Green Tag Choi Kwang Do. I love sunshine, travel and delicious food.

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The Battle

Louisa Clarke

Islay O'Hara Chart.PR

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