WORK WITH MENNA
When an important business outcome depends on how you engage clients, investors, partners, members or stakeholders, I can help you shape the strategy and lead the work through to delivery.
That might involve preparing for investor conversations, strengthening how a firm presents its value, building engagement around a conference, developing a partnership or creating the communications and follow-through that keep an opportunity moving.
I work directly with founders, CEOs and leadership teams, either as an ongoing strategic partner or for a defined piece of work.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING TOWARDS?
A STRONGER MARKET POSITION
You may be entering a new market, introducing a service, pursuing larger clients or ensuring that the way your organization presents itself reflects the quality of its work.
I can lead the positioning, messaging, website, presentations and client-facing materials required to communicate that value clearly and consistently.
AN IMPORTANT INVESTOR OR STAKEHOLDER OUTCOME
You may be preparing for investor meetings, a financing milestone, an industry conference or a period of increased stakeholder attention.
I can shape the narrative, prepare leadership, strengthen presentations and communications, track stakeholder response and turn what you are hearing into useful direction for the business.
MORE VALUE FROM AN EVENT OR PARTNERSHIP
You may be investing in an important conference, stakeholder gathering, sponsorship or regional activation and want it to produce meaningful value for the organization and everyone involved.
I can lead the strategy, audience engagement, partner development, communications, activation, data capture, content opportunities, follow-through and reporting.
STRONGER CLIENT, MEMBER OR PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS
You may be strengthening business development, expanding a professional network, increasing member value or creating a more deliberate approach to important relationships.
I can build the engagement plan, messaging, meeting structure and follow-through that help those relationships develop into referrals, partnerships, insight and new opportunities.
WHAT I CAN TAKE OFF YOUR PLATE
With more than 25 years under my belt, I know how to step into an organization, understand its rhythm and become a useful part of the team from the outset. I listen carefully, get to the heart of the priorities and see where I can make the greatest contribution.
From there, I can take ownership of an important piece of work, bring together the people and information involved and carry it from early conversations through to a finished result. Leadership gains an experienced partner who can contribute to the thinking, produce the work and keep everything moving.
ESTABLISH THE DIRECTION
I bring together the business goal, the people involved and the information already available, then identify the decisions, priorities and next steps that will move the work forward.
Leadership receives a practical plan built around the outcome, with everyone clear on what they are contributing and what needs to happen next.
TURN THE THINKING INTO FINISHED WORK
I take ideas, conversations and business priorities and turn them into work people can actually use. That may include a website, presentation, proposal, executive narrative, stakeholder communication, engagement plan or materials for an important meeting.
I develop the content, coordinate input, manage revisions and deliver polished work that reflects the level of the organization and is ready to put in front of clients, investors, partners or stakeholders.
OWN THE DELIVERY AND FOLLOW THROUGH
I keep the work moving across leadership, internal teams, agencies, partners and suppliers. I manage the details, prepare the people involved, track decisions and stay close to delivery so the original goal remains at the centre of the work.
I also capture the response, information and opportunities that come from it, then bring leadership a useful account of what happened, what was learned and what should happen next.
HOW WE WORK TOGETHER
ONGOING LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
For organizations with several priorities moving forward at once, I work directly with the CEO or leadership team as an experienced extension of the organization.
I become familiar with the business, the people and the larger goals so I can contribute where I am most useful. That may mean helping shape a priority with leadership, preparing an executive for an important conversation, developing the communications and materials, coordinating the people involved or taking ownership of the work through delivery and reporting.
Depending on your priorities, I can:
- Move leadership priorities from discussion into action
- Prepare executives for investor, client and partner conversations
- Develop presentations, websites and stakeholder communications
- Lead conference, partnership and engagement planning
- Coordinate internal teams, agencies, partners and suppliers
- Track stakeholder response and emerging opportunities
- Provide useful follow through and executive reporting
This arrangement gives leadership continuity and direct access to someone who understands the full picture, works confidently across the organization and can take meaningful work forward with sound judgment and independence.
FOCUSED PROJECT LEADERSHIP
I can also step in to lead a defined project or business priority from the initial thinking through to a finished, leadership-ready result.
That could include an investor or executive narrative, a complete website rewrite, a major presentation or proposal, a stakeholder engagement plan, a conference strategy, a partnership program or the communications surrounding an important client-facing opportunity.
Once we establish the outcome, I take responsibility for organizing the work, gathering the required input, developing the strategy and materials, coordinating the people involved and keeping the project moving through review, refinement and delivery.
You receive a completed piece of work that reflects the organization, supports the business goal and is ready to use with the clients, investors, partners or stakeholders who matter.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER
You work directly with me throughout the engagement. I take the time to understand the business, the priorities and the people already involved so I can become a useful part of the organization from the outset.
With more than 25 years under my belt, integrating into different teams and working environments is second nature. I listen carefully, get to the heart of what matters and build strong working relationships with leadership, internal teams, agencies, partners and suppliers.
I am comfortable contributing to senior conversations while also taking responsibility for the work required to carry those decisions forward. I may be helping leadership shape a priority, developing the communications and materials, coordinating the people involved and preparing an executive for an important conversation within the same engagement.
You can expect thoughtful questions, honest input, sound judgment and work that keeps moving. I stay close to the details, keep the larger goal in view and make sure leadership knows what has been completed, what is developing and what deserves attention next.
FROM THE PEOPLE I’VE WORKED WITH
“Menna is a professional who delivers terrific results, on time. I’d recommend her to anyone.”
Peter Spurway
Former Vice President, Halifax International Airport Authority
“I hired Menna when she moved to Auckland, New Zealand. Managing our events was a new start-up role at the ICEHOUSE, and Menna was fantastic. She brought a positive attitude, embedded new systems, and added strategy and creativity to the role. We loved her.”
Andrew Hamilton
CEO, The ICEHOUSE
“Menna managed the Halifax Chamber of Commerce Fall Dinner, an event that attracted more than 800 business professionals. Her talent and poise were evident from day one.
Menna built and fostered relationships with a variety of key stakeholders, and her careful attention to detail allowed us to execute a premier-quality event with her leadership. Our members and guests praised the quality of the event for months. I would trust Menna to deliver any of our events, large or small, with complete confidence.”
Becky Davison
Senior Vice President, Engagement & Strategy
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
“Menna took an idea for a stakeholder reception and developed it into a clear business development strategy. She connected positioning, messaging, team preparation, guest experience, follow-up and reporting to deepen relationships, strengthen both organizations’ positioning and create future referral opportunities. The result delivered the strategic value, polish and wow factor we wanted.
Menna also produced our pitch deck, proposals, principal bios and client engagement materials, giving LASI a polished, consistent presence with prospective clients and partners. She asks thoughtful questions, gets to the heart of what matters and moves the work forward with little oversight. Her work is top-notch, and she became a trusted extension of our team.”
Nicole Myles Brook
CEO & Principal Advisor
LASI Advisors Inc.
“When you hire Menna, you hope you’re getting someone personable and experienced who will take the stress out of your event by taking care of the details and bringing in a few new ideas along the way. Instead, what you get is all that and someone who is ready and able to help out in just about any way possible, from the event project itself to the marketing strategy, finding other help, promotion and sales.
Whatever it is, if it’s related to your project, she’ll make it better. Here’s what you can expect from Menna: a personable, professional, resourceful, creative, enthusiastic and multi-talented approach.”
Rob Swick
Digital Marketing & SEO Strategist
Atlantic Interactive Media Conference
COMMON QUESTIONS
Can you work with our internal team or existing agency?
Yes. I regularly work alongside leadership, communications, marketing, investor relations and business development teams, as well as external agencies and specialist partners.
I take the time to understand who is involved, what each person is responsible for and how the work needs to come together. I can lead a defined part of the work, coordinate the people and information involved, or work across the team to carry a larger priority through to completion.
Do you provide strategy or execution?
Both. My best work happens when I can understand the outcome, help shape the approach and stay involved through development and delivery.
That continuity carries the original thinking through to the finished presentations, communications, websites, meetings, events and engagement plans that people will actually see and use.
Do you offer ongoing monthly support?
Yes. Ongoing engagements give a CEO or leadership team consistent access to experienced support from someone who understands the business, its priorities and the people involved.
Depending on what the organization needs, I may help leadership move priorities into action, prepare important communications and materials, coordinate teams and partners, track stakeholder response and provide regular updates and reporting.
Can we hire you for one specific project?
Yes. A focused engagement has a defined outcome, scope, timeline and set of deliverables.
This could include a website rewrite, executive or investor narrative, major presentation or proposal, stakeholder engagement plan, conference strategy, partnership program or another important piece of client-facing work. I can lead it from the initial thinking through to a finished result that is ready to use.
Whose support does your next move depend on?
When important outcomes depend on bringing the right clients, investors, partners or stakeholders along with you, I can take responsibility for the work. I help establish direction, bring together the right people and information, develop what is needed and keep everything moving through to a finished result.
Tell me what you are trying to accomplish and what is getting in the way. I’ll help determine what needs to happen and the best way for us to work together.
☎ 902-476-3374
✉ hello@mennariley.com