Shelley's Bio
Shelley Thomas is an engaging and charismatic presenter and facilitator of learning.
She started her career at BP Oil in 'fuels and lubes' as it was known back in the early 1990s. Her willingness to learn alongside her natural warmth saw her career quickly progress. Within a year she was one of just a handful of women within the field sales team. It was a technical role promoting fully synthetic oil testing to customers including Scania and Cummins. Ask her outside the classroom and she will happily take you back to her days stepping over tools and engine parts in the back of a greasy workshop, invariably in high heels. (The walls typically covered with what would now be considered as very inappropriate calendar pictures!).
When BP relocated its HQ to Reading, Shelley took a sales role at BT. Still only twenty-two she was again one of very few female field account managers. With a natural interest in data networks, she quickly became accredited as a Cisco Certified Sales Partner. This lead her to close several £million contracts including one with Sports Direct's Mike Ashley. Working for two of the UK's largest PLCs exposed Shelley to some of the very best training. Much of it was ahead of its time, some was simply timeless and as relevant today as it was 25 years ago.
In 2003 BT launched its 'BT Local Business' initiative. A franchise model that saw over sixty small businesses set up teams selling to BTs middle market. With a portfolio of over four thousand products, many with hundreds of features and a high level of complexity (in addition to invariably being the most expensive supplier in the market) it was no easy task.
Selling however wasn't the problem. Co-partnered with close colleague and friend David Pryke, the pair were well equipped to excel in a competitive market. The biggest challenge was people. There was always someone whose 'dog had eaten their homework'. Some days it was a source of relief when team members showed up (almost on time) and managed to fit in a bit of work around their social life. A few particularly memorable moments include: an employee, desperate to leave early to ensure there was time to wash and dry a shirt for a hot date, a case of food poisoning that developed over an hour after a leave request was denied, and the epic hostage exchange with the wife of a new employee: - our laptop in exchange for his passport after he went missing in action with a company car in week 1. (We didn't invite him back for week 2).
Shelley notes: 'The early 2000s were the foundation of my career today. The high quality training I took for granted from a corporate employer was out of my reach as a growing business. David and I had to personally take on the responsibility of developing our team. We were 'teaching on the job'. It was my first introduction to behavioural profiles. Using them as part of our interview process was a game changer'.
Since 2012, Shelley has worked as a passionate trainer, coach, and facilitator. Predominately with SMEs but also UK divisions of larger organisations such as Yamaha Music and US based teams.
Her interactive workshops seek to address a wide range business challenges: core and advanced leadership skills for managers at all levels of experience and seniority, sales and negotiating courses, and the poorly named ‘soft skills' (which are usually the hardest to master and most frequently requested) Most courses are half-day workshops. They can be delivered to address a single issue or linked together as a series to create a bespoke curriculum. Delivered on-site or remotely, at your pace and in the sequence that addresses your highest priorities.
Shelley's style of facilitation is warm, energetic, and humourous. Relevant stories bring learning to life and her career in the corporate world makes her relatable.
'I know how hard it is when you are facing those difficult conversations. The sleepless nights worrying how to communicate change without a mutiny, the fear of tackling conflict that could quickly escalate, the disappointment when the superstar you personally recruited lets you down. I won't say I've seen it all because there's always a new challenge you just didn't see coming!'
As leaders and managers, we aren't responsible for every problem in the workplace and we can't fix every person. But we can give our teams the best chance of succeeding by providing a playbook. The rules of the game. It certainly makes it easier for them to get on the field, and one thing I do know: you aren't going to score any goals if you are sat on the bench.
Regardless of whether you want to develop a key individual with 121 executive coaching, your teams, leaders or potential superstars, Shelley is well equipped to support you and your organisation.
‘Give me a shout if you want to discuss potential options over a coffee…..and probably cake!’
Shelley Thomas
DIRECTOR OF ACCELERATE LEADERSHIP LTD
