Hanging Rock

Specifics are in vogue. Let's add some to your work story

Google

CHANEL

American Express

BlackRock

Deloitte

DG McCullough

Communications Coach for Fortune 500 & Fortune 100 Leaders

Replace vague, ambiguous descriptions of your work with intriguing specifics which help us get it—and celebrate it

Gain more notoriety and recognition. Improve your brand

Learn crisp ways to apply data, details, and context from a former reporter at the Economist, FT of London, & Guardian.

Employ 5 journalism tactics to add specificity to your work

Vagueness disconnects. Specifics connect. Get more comfy adding colorful gems, meaningful facts, and depth. Worry less.

Coach to our blockers. Discuss how vagueness helps & hinders

Stop tweaking words and sentences to craft the perfect report or email. 'Better writing' is not the solution. It's better thinking. Learn a repeatable strategy to clarify and convey complex ideas in any setting. Communicating becomes easy once you have extreme clarity about the message you actually need to convey.

Get out of the details to craft communication that cuts through with busy people

Course syllabus

I offer a small mount of reading that will help you prepare for the workshop. It is not essential, but will help you get more out of it.

Optional Pre-work

Other time zones ... Thursday June 6 -<ul><li>New York - 6pm to 8pm</li></ul> Friday June 7 -<ul><li>Singapore - 6am to 8am</li><li>Sydney Australia - 8am to 10 am</li><li>Auckland - 10am to noon</li></ul>

Workshop Details

I offer extra tips and tools to help you apply the ideas we go through during the workshop.

Post Workshop Consolidation

Workshop details

Frustrated PMs experiencing slow responses to their emails, convoluted chains in messaging channels and miscommunication in meetings.

Ambitious experts who want to connect with decision makers, even when they don't share your technical expertise.

Professionals wanting to waste less time chasing for responses and fixing problems caused by miscommunication.

Who is this course for

Learn how to structure your thinking to find and frame insightful messaging

We have a joke that the big idea is often buried at the bottom of page 47. This typically happens because the author hasn't prioritised what they really need to achieve with that communication.

Master a simple sentence that defines the outcome your communication must deliver.

Many famous people have said that if you can't say it in a sentence, you don't know it. It's true. You are also unlikely to get the response you need from busy leaders if you don't convey what matters in that single sentence.

Clarify and convey your main message so it jumps off the page. 

Visualise your messaging so it literally jumps off the page. Match the hierarchy of your messaging with the hierarchy of the formatting in your communication.

Structure your messaging so any audience can find it in 30 seconds.

Don't just learn about how to structure your messaging. Do it! We will practice and review the results together.

Practice synthesising your main message.

Do you fear losing your audience's attention? Or, worse: They pay no attention?
Communicating with extreme clarity is essential.

Davina Stanley

Clarity First Program

Learn to structure your thinking so your communication resonates with busy people.

August 2024

In the world of branding, language isn’t just about information. It's how you make meaning. Words guide. They stir emotion. They tell stories. They shape the entire experience of your brand. Words can either build trust, or break it. Create connection, or indifference. Inspire action, or dilute your message. Your brand’s language is your leverage.

Get pitch perfect


Stay engaged with&nbsp;regular office hours!&nbsp;This is your time to ask questions, get feedback, and refine your skills.

Office hours


Schedule items can also be used to convey commitments outside of specific time slots (like weekly projects or daily office hours).

Weekly projects

All modules are available from day one, so you can move at a pace that works for you. To keep you on track, I’ll provide suggested dates for each module, helping you stay engaged and get the most out of the course.

Learn at your own pace


In the final project, you'll apply everything you’ve learned in a hands-on project, where you'll create and apply your very own strategically inspired brand voice.

Put your skills to the test


Course schedule

Designers. Great visuals are only half the story. When you understand voice, you can create more cohesive, expressive, and dynamic brands.

Copywriters. Whether you’re writing bold billboards or bite-sized captions, learn to sharpen your instinct for tone, rhythm, and intention.

Strategists. This course gives you the language, structure, and confidence to define, guide and sell in voices that move brands forward.

Anyone. New to branding? You don’t need years of experience, just curiosity and a love of how language works.

Whatever you role, there’s something in here for you.


Walk away mastering the four tenets of tone



Get under the skin of brand voice – what it is, why it matters, and how to shape one that reflects both your strategy and personality. Learn how to use voice as a strategic tool, not an afterthought and create a voice that leads – not gets buried in a forgotten Google Doc.

🔍 Understanding


Discover how to scale your voice and keep it in check across every touchpoint – from your homepage to your DMs. Build trust through consistency and create a voice people will instantly recognise – and never mistake for anyone else’s

🧭 Consistency


Master the art of adding colour and depth – without losing focus. Learn how to flex your voice without breaking it so it feels expressive, layered, and alive. Ditch generic archetypes and craft a voice that cuts through – strategic, specific, and unmistakably yours.

🎭 Variety


Turn vague language into clear, specific, sharp messages that instantly make sense (and create meaning). No fluff, just practical tools, voice-building tactics, and hundreds of examples you’ll return to again and again.

🛠️ Technique


Take your brand voice from cookie-cutter to strategically sharp verbal identity that tells stories and sells products.


Sarah

Brand & Verbal Strategist & Founder of The Gab Lab

Cohort 1

Let’s be honest—interviewing is tough. But you don’t have to go in unprepared. In this interactive 6-session course, you’ll learn how to use storytelling as a powerful tool to stand out in interviews, build connection, and speak with confidence. We’ll break down what interviewers are really looking for and how to craft narratives that communicate your strengths with clarity and purpose. Through interactive workshops, practical exercises, and real-time feedback, you’ll develop compelling stories for that “About Me” question and other key topics so you can walk into any interview feeling ready and self-assured. You’ll leave this course with a personalized story toolkit, polished answers, and a deeper understanding of how to adapt your message for different roles, companies, and audiences. What You'll Learn:• The impact of storytelling in interviews• Story structure and key storytelling techniques• How to create emotional connection and buy-in• Communicating with clarity and relevance• Developing a professional resume and LinkedIn summary• Overcoming interview anxiety• Understanding non-verbal cues in interviews• Tailoring your story to resonate with different roles and industries• Adapting your story in real time based on audience needs• Identifying and leveraging your authentic voice• Balancing personality with professionalism How You'll Learn:• Applying frameworks through hands-on exercises• Practicing stories live with peers and feedback• Sharing and refining answers in group sessions• Learning from real examples and peer stories• Building a personalized interview toolkit What You'll Gain:• Personalized story vault with interview-ready stories and responses• Clarity on what interviewers in your industry actually want• Techniques for adapting stories and responses for different interviewers• Greater self-awareness of tone, pace, and non-verbal cues• A private 1 hour session to use right before your next interview New York City Location:307 W 38th St, Suite 1403 CManhattan, NY 10018

Ready to transform the way you communicate in interviews? 

The July cohort will host it's Tuesday and Thursday lessons in our NYC classroom located at: 307 W 38th St, Suite 1403 CManhattan, NY 10018

Tuesdays & Thursdays

Wednesday lessons are online, live Q&amp;A sessions.

Wednesdays (Optional)

Anticipate dedicating 4-6 hours per week working on your narratives for your Interviewing Story Vault.

Assignments & Final Project

Job Seekers Multi-round interviews can be tricky. Learn to tailor your stories to connect with each interviewer and show your worth.

Early-Career Tech Professionals Are you preparing for interviews but aren't sure what interviewers are looking for? Let's get into it!

Working Professionals Grow your influence and career through better storytelling and intentional communication.

Who this course is for:

Why storytelling is the most effective form of communication

Good stories reflect how you solve problems, navigate obstacles, and go about your decision making process. They help interviewers understand your way of thinking and approach to complex challenges.

Highlight Critical Thinking in Action

A well-told story humanizes your experience, helping interviewers connect with you emotionally. This connection makes them more likely to advocate for you against other candidates.

Create Connection and Trust

With more qualified candidates than ever, storytelling helps you stand out by making your background memorable —&nbsp;because let’s be honest, facts alone don’t win people over, stories that connect do.

Differentiate Yourself in a Competitive Market

Telling a strong story shows that you can organize your thoughts, communicate with clarity, and navigate nuance — key skills for any role.

Demonstrate Clear, Complex Communication

In interviews, it’s not just about what you say, it’s how you say it. Storytelling blends professionalism, authenticity, and personality, helping you build trust and connection while giving interviewers real insight into how you think and communicate.

Showcase Personality and Professionalism

Transform your interviews with strategic storytelling.

[July cohort: New York City, In Person]
[September cohort: Fully Online]

This is an IN PERSON New York City based cohort

July (New York City)

Erin Essex

September (Online)

In four 90-minute sessions, we'll explore a range of storytelling frameworks and learn the tools to build influence and create impact in settings of all kinds. Whether in a high-stakes presentation, all-hands meeting, or everyday conversation, you’ll learn how to connect more personally, powerfully, and effectively in a one-on-one conversation or in front of a room full of people. This is not a writing workshop (though we’ll do some writing—and lots of brainstorming). This is not about optimizing AI to tell stories for you (though we’ll dive into how to use AI thoughtfully and effectively). This practical, human-centered course helps you sharpen your storytelling skills and expand your influence and impact across your organization. You'll learn how to more effectively: • Turn high-stakes presentations—from all-hands meetings to campaign pitches—into compelling narratives that capture attention, build credibility, and persuade audiences to stay engaged from start to finish.• Simplify the message you're trying to deliver to drive more understanding and alignment in any situation.• Create a company culture where everyone is aligned on mission, vision, and values. Bonus: The same tools apply far beyond work—toasts, job interviews, first dates, even eulogies. More than anything, this workshop isn’t just about your next speech, deck, or all-hands. It’s about seeing storytelling as a powerful part of leadership—and life. We'll learn tools, yes, but also build the confidence needed to share stories that make people lean in, trust you, and say those three magic words: tell me more.

Great Storytelling Is a Tool for Influence, Shaping Culture, and Team Connection

We'll meet for 90-minutes live sessions for four consecutive Thursday from September 4th — September 25th.

Thursdays

Each student will spend time working on a story or presentation between sessions and get weekly feedback from me and the other students.

Leaders in start-up and early stage companies who want to nail their story for team alignment and client pitches.

Founders, comms officers, HR directors, and other leaders navigating transitions such as funding rounds, growth, M&amp;A, hybrid workplaces.

People managers (HR, Marketing, Comms) with a mission to create a clear, compelling story for team focus and connection.

Professionals looking to change jobs or in a career transition who want to refine and reframe their story for interviews, etc.

Anyone who has asked this simple, vital question as they navigate their own path or company journey: How do I become a better storyteller?

What you’ll get out of this course

Effective and concise storytelling to enhance team leadership, client interactions, sales calls, pitch presentations, and job interviews.

Confidence in storytelling for diverse settings, from high-stakes presentations to casual interactions like dates and dinner parties.

How to communicate the story of your "Why?”—the underlying purpose of your personal brand or your company's. 

How to use AI to enhance storytelling without losing your authentic voice.

Benefits of storytelling as a meta-skill: it doesn't just make you a better communicator—it elevates how you show up in every part of life.

How to master the craft of great storytelling that prompts these three magic words: tell me more.

Harness the power of storytelling to make your message clear, powerful, and impactful in all parts of work and life

Lightning Lessons

Specifics are in vogue. Let's add some to your work story