Media coaching pays off for serviced apartments boss

A director at serviced apartments firm Stay Company has hailed the media training given to him by Pepper Dawes Media.

After being invited to accept a place on the panel for a business travel industry webinar, Dan Wilkinson called on the services of Sally Pepper, co-founder of Pepper Dawes.

Prior to setting up the business, Sally had spent several years working at the BBC – and in that time interviewed hundreds of people on live radio and television.

Sally said: “I gave Dan a one-to-one training session to cover the basics of taking on any interview and techniques on how to calm your nerves and think about how to sell yourself and give a good impression to the audience.”

Dan said: “I was kicking myself in the session with Sally because it soon became clear I had not looked at what was required of me, which added to the nerves of being on a live broadcast.

“With Sally’s guidance and preparations, I realised if I hadn’t had the coaching, I would have been very under-prepared.”

According to Dan, he sailed through the webinar with confidence – and even made connections with some of the people who were watching.

According to Sally, podcasts, webinars, vlogs, radio, TV or online and social media interviews are great opportunities for businesses to tell their story – but many shy away from them due to nerves.

She said: “As someone who has spent years inside the BBC and world of media, I am now realising there are lots of people like Dan who are either too fearful of doing a media interview or underestimate it and don’t prepare!

“Remember the interviewer will have worked hard on their preparation so don’t be shown up by not doing yours.”