Client References for Kim Tasso

Tanya Venables, Marketing Manager, Haines Watts Chartered Accountants

“I have worked with Kim on a wide range of projects from writing courses to training on social media. Kim’s knowledge is excellent, her style is engaging but she is also challenging – which adds tremendous value to the learning experience. Her ability to adapt subject matter to the profession and deliver practical suggestions is exceptionally valuable”.

“More recently, I have worked with Kim as part of a team responsible for developing and implementing a Key Account Management programme. Kim’s commercial insight combined with strong practical process skills have made this task achievable and the outcomes relevant and manageable. Kim has engaged with a number of our clients and her interaction has in all cases done the firm proud and helped to strengthen our relationships with our clients. I have no doubt we will call on Kim’s considerable experience and skills for future projects”. March 2014

Sarah Webb, HR Director, Stiles Harold Williams surveyors and agents

“Kim is an engaging trainer who delivers fast paced workshops which are tailored to the specific needs of the business and audience” Top qualities: Personable, High integrity, Creative. November 2013

Martin Levin, Accountant and Broadcaster, Martin Levin & Co

“Harrow Branch (Chartered Institute of Taxation) had the delight of Kim racing through a plethora of practical points in the hour and a half slot. Good job there was the usual take-away digestible pack, bulging with food for thought and action to be taken” Top qualities: Great results, Expert, Creative. November 2013

Viral Haria, Tax Manager, Godley & Co

“I attended Kim’s course (for Chartered Institute of Taxation Harrow and North London Brand) on marketing using social media for tax practitioners. The course was very informative, well structured and gave a different perspective in the way LinkedIn and Twitter is used in the profession. I would recommend her to anyone who wants to learn more about how to use social media for marketing” Top qualities: Expert, Good value, Creative. November 2013

Paul Carter, Director, www.allinlondon.co.uk

“Kim has been part of the All In London review and editorial team since the early days of the website. Our 2.5 million-a-month user base responds well to her adaptable style which consistently sees her pieces at the top our “most read articles” lists. We are always impressed by the prolificacy of her output which sees her undertake regular reviews and articles as well as special editorial projects” September 1st, 2013

Dara Lynch, Chief Operating Officer, D&AD

Kim is a marketing professional who possesses both strong marketing and business acumen alongside solid people and leadership skills. She is able to put together disparate pieces of information into a clear picture and provide conclusion and recommendations for senior management decision-making. Not only is she rock solid in terms of her expertise in marketing at the most senior level, she combines this with a level of emotional intelligence in understanding how change can impact on an organization and the people within it. Her third great strength is an unwavering and very high level of integrity. It was a pleasure to work with her on some complex business issues and decisions. I thank her for all the hard work, professionalism, high levels of communication and strong interpersonal skills and I look forward to continuing to work with her in the future. January 12, 2013

Jo Maude, Senior Business Manager, Professional Development at D&AD

Through my work at D&AD I worked with Kim as a business consultant on our professional development offer. Kim brings enthusiasm, experience and fantastic knowledge of marketing, legal issues and business opportunities to any project. Kim is also highly organised, practical and fast moving, plus fun to work with. Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, High Integrity. January 12, 2013

Simon Thackray, CEO of Law South Group

Kim spoke at our (Law South) conference last week – her topic was ‘innovation’. The ‘after lunch’ spot is widely regarded as the slot to avoid but Kim’s energy, enthusiasm & expertise was infectious and set off a terrific afternoon session. Plenty of theory mixed with plenty of practical – just what a bunch of 60 lawyers from mid-sized region law firms needed to hear. May 14, 2012

Laurence Kaye, Laurence Kaye Solicitors

Kim has really helped me clarify my thinking about marketing and, equally importantly, translating that into clear actions. She is great to work with – hugely experienced, clear thinking, challenging and fun too! October 6, 2012

Nadia Cristina, COO Practice Management International

Kim has been writing for Professional Marketing magazine for more years than either of us probably care to remember. Early on, she took on an editorial advisory role helping us to identify topics and potential authors and this extended into providing ideas in shaping the annual conferences. She is always one of the judges on the Managing Partners’ Forum Awards and a regular contributor of articles – whether conference reports, book reviews or on emerging topics which will become important for professional services marketing. She is also the main speaker on the many training courses provided by PM Forum – on topics spanning marketing, business development, selling, communications, new media, innovation, change management and career development. She continues to identify and produce new courses each year and they are always well received. The feedback from the hundreds of marketers who have attended her courses over the years has always been extremely positive. A great person to work with, always challenging with enormous energy and generosity. March 20, 2012

Frank Kitson, Chair of Governors, Grey Court School

Kim has brought great insight and intelligence to the governing body of our highly successful secondary school. In a period of great change in the educational landscape I greatly value her counsel on the strategic decisions facing the school. Governance can involve challenging conversations and Kim brings all the tact and tenacity that could be asked for. March 22, 2012

Anna Cook, Partner, Wedlake Bell

Kim did a fantastic presentation to the Media Board at SCL which was full of interesting insights and ideas. November 8, 2011

Laurence Eastham, Editor, SCL – The IT Law Community

Kim’s recent presentation to a varied range of SCL trustees and Media Board members was insightful and a real tour de force. What I valued most was that she was not shy of sharing opinions. Since I and the others there will readily put faith in those opinions, we will be saved valuable time, and trips up many blind avenues. November 9, 2011

Clive Freedman, Barrister at 3 Verulam Buildings

I attended Kim’s presentation to Society for Computers and Law (“SCL”) trustees and committee members about the use of online media for giving greater prominence to SCL. It was a very interesting and helpful presentation, with lots of well-focused points.November 23, 2011

Richard Woodman, Employment Partner, Royds

Kim has energized our business development activity and has been the catalyst for a number of valuable initiatives. March 31, 2011

John North, Corporate Partner, Royds

Kim has greatly assisted us in bringing focus to our business development activities and is currently proving to be an invaluable member of the Royds team working on the redesign of our website. April 27, 2011

Andy Wadham, Leadership Development Consultant & John Adair Accedited Trainer, Irwin Mitchell

Having worked with Kim Tasso, she is a key presenter and facilitator on our Irwin Mitchell MBA, I genuinely can say I am happy to have this opportunity of recommending Kim. I am the Leadership Development Consultant for Irwin Mitchell LLP and am the ‘owner’ of IM Leadership Academy; at all leadership development initiatives within the Firm; from ‘front line’ supervisory level up to MBA level. Kim is an integral part of our MBA. She is personable, interactive, knowledgeable and delivers to our most senior leadership development level at equity member on our Irwin Mitchell MBA. Kim delivers and has proven she ‘challenges’ the thoughts and behaviours of our business leaders and has a knack of linking client development, business and marketing concepts of our strategic vision and leaders that make ‘real’ sense in the legal arena; and this does ‘come to life’ for our strategic business leaders. Kim expertly knows, and explains really well, this is particularly important part of business in deliverable terms of ROI for any Firm or any business in this current changing legal (or any other) marketplace’ November 7, 2011

Simon Crooks, Practical legal advice for individuals and their families

“Kim was a speaker on the recent CLT Course ‘Managing and Marketing a Profitable Private Client Department’ – I found her session thoroughly engaging; extremely useful; and very practical. She crammed a whole load of information into the session and I came away not just with the usual ‘to do list’ but actively inspired to follow up. Thanks Kim!” July 6, 2011

Oliver White, Marketing and business development, WilmerHale

“I recently participated in a seminar given by Kim on digital marketing techniques within the professional services sector. It was by far the most useful, tangible and commercially focused session on this subject I have attended. Kim’s vast experience and strategic insight shone through. Her style was authoritative and highly engaging”. June 16, 2011

James Mendelssohn, Chairman of MSI Global Alliance and UK Chair of Education Africa

“I have known Kim professionally for almost 25 years and she stands out as being one of the most consistent, respected and knowledgeable consultants serving the professional services sector”. April 1, 2011

Kamal Aggarwal, Head of Thames Gateway Office, Thomson Snell & Passmore

“Kim is without doubt amongst the very best in her business. Her ability to absorb information, understand the objective and work out the best possible solution in a practical, realistic and creative manner lies at the heart of a service delivered within timelines and budgets. She understands the people she is working with and provides solutions which are both relevant and applicable by them”. March 31, 2011

OLDER RECOMMENDATIONS

Lane, Clark & Peacock

She put together a great course which covered our different work areas and the different levels of experience in the team. We were all very impressed at how Kim applied the background research on our firm to the sessions – it helped us to think about application much better. The whole team found it a really interesting, informative and useful program which has helped us think about, and improve, how we work together. It also helped us in terms of our personal goals and development. In addition I found her coaching sessions very helpful in developing my role and how I perform.

Rix & Kay

Sales and Marketing training has always made me cringe in the past – that was until I spent two days with Kim whilst at Rix and Kay. I came away from this training feeling highly motivated and very impressed with her professional, intelligent and honest approach.

Colliers CRE

Kim is an outstanding consultant in more ways than a few words can outline. She is unnervingly clear minded and reaches penetrating insights into complex and challenging business dilemmas. She is a truly outstanding consultant of the highest integrity.

St Ives Chambers

I am hoping the barristers will put in to practice the invaluable tools that Kim has provided them with….

Williams Allan (now Tenon)

Kim is one of a kind and her knowledge of professional service businesses especially accountants and lawyers is frankly immense. I had no hesitation in engaging with Kim especially in the early years of the firm’s growth as we strived to clearly identify our culture and ethos and build it into our marketing strategy. Kim’s style is such that it gets professionals thinking outside their comfort zone about areas critical to the strategic way forward for their businesses – and any of us with a lifetime in the profession knows only to well how challenging that can be at times ! I know how lonely it can get leading a fast growing dynamic business and Kim is one of a small handful of people I would have no hesitation in speaking with on matters around marketing and business development – she is not only a fund of great knowledge constantly challenging herself in her quest to raise her own bar but also very creative in her thinking and someone who truly understands the ‘people dynamic’ which is so important especially in professional firms!

Seddons

We have been very fortunate indeed to engage the services of Kim Tasso. Kim has helped to revolutionise the approach to marketing at Seddons. She has the rare gift of combining a highly creative imagination with a totally pragmatic and systematic approach to everything that she does. With Kim’s very substantial help we have created a new website (producing five lively blogs) which has won many plaudits and in a very short time we are already experiencing an improvement in our hit rates. She has also helped us to redevelop our marketing policy on a strategic and highly targeted footing. Overall we are delighted with the service she has provided to us.

Brown & Co

The role was essentially to assist the Managing Partner in a redesign of the administrative function of the firm and both the streamlining and modernisation of the management process. Kim undertook internal research seeing partners and staff as well as organising an external research project with a broad range of selected clients….Kim was then critically involved in the process of seeking candidates for the new marketing and business development manager and in assisting the managing partner, divisional heads and office managers to prepare strategic plans…exceptionally worthwhile and positive with input specifically on issues as commissioned but, additionally, with consistent help being given to the Managing Partner. Kim has been effective and impressive in terms of her grip of the issues and in providing both pathways and direct solutions to bring the partners to their objectives.

Hempsons

Although the firm has undoubted and clear strengths in relation to its niche areas of expertise and practice, it is at the same time an extremely hard nut to crack in relation to the introduction of modern marketing techniques as many of the fee earners were reluctant marketers and sceptical as to its benefits. In addition, with a geographically dispersed practice over three offices we had significant challenges in relation to internal communications and to the necessary cascade of marketing information and messages. Kim impressed all with her professionalism, knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to the firm and to each of its individual members. She quickly won over all but the most recalcitrant to working in a cooperative way to achieve marketing goals…in addition to the above list of significant achievements, there were many – indeed almost daily – small achievements which overall led to a greater awareness of the marketing effort within the firm and the beginnings of an improvement in its delivery. We were all very sorry to see Kim go, albeit at the end of a pre-determined and agreed period. I would warmly commend her to any future employer or commissioner of her services. If you decide to take her on, I have no doubt you will be pleased that you have done so and be well served by this talented professional

haysmacintyre

During this time she supported an increase in our pitch conversion rate, generated an increase in web visitors, increased the level of enquiries, doubled the number of client/prospect events and arranged meetings/events with over 20 referrers/intermediaries. In addition to running the day to day marketing and business development activities – where we saw a significant increase in awareness throughout the firm and an increase in activity in many parts she undertook some major projects including: marketing strategy, annual partners’ conference, coached half the partners, developed the marketing team, redesigned the firm’s identity, developed a new web site, initiated our first telemarketing campaigns, implemented the media relations programme and established our Young Professionals Network. We found Kim to be extremely hardworking, thorough and she demonstrated an ability to pursue task, while facing a number of obstacles. Kim continues to work with us a couple of days a month to support the ongoing implementation of the various programmes put in place and to encourage our small but effective marketing team

Henry Adams & Co

She is a clear thinker with an in-depth knowledge of our industry and her input at our partner conference was invaluable. We subsequently used Kim on an ad-hoc basis in developing our business plan and also our marketing plan, which is another area where she has particular expertise. Kim is a thoroughly professional and highly experienced consultant

Pellings

We approached Kim Tasso to help us develop a business plan, having already undertaken a great deal of research regarding our clients etc.Kim provided us with a mentoring platform which encouraged us to think for ourselves and enabled us to take complete ownership of the document, which has since proven critical in our ability to sell the plan to our board and staff. Kim’s expert ability to tease out the real issues and then provide guidance as to how these should be addressed has been critical to the success of our plan. Her knowledge and strength of personality gave us, and the entire Board, enormous confidence in what we were doing, a confidence which has since been proven well founded. We would unreservedly recommend Kim Tasso to a business considering following a similar course

Thomson Snell & Passmore

Kim Tasso has been instrumental in implementing and maintaining the momentum of our key client management programme. The results of this initiative have been above expectations. However, the real benefit for our firm has been the application of lessons learnt during key client management across our client base and the subsequent shift in the culture of the firm to one that is a lot more client focused. Kim’s no nonsense approach, and the insight she brings from many years at the coal face of professional services marketing, makes her an invaluable ally in getting fee earners and clients on board

Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw

During her initial few months she was very active in re-energising the Marketing Committee and brought a more strategic view of marketing to the firm, specifically, producing a detailed brief of the branding and corporate identity of the merged UK practice…..In the short time that Kim has been with Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw she has made a very significant impact on the marketing function and has created an excellent platform for the new incoming permanent Marketing Director

Three Dr Johnson’s Buildings

We have benefited from your wealth of expertise and ideas. I am amazed at the huge amount of work you have done for us in such a short timescale. Your comprehensive draft chambers strategy and marketing plan are excellent. Your illustrated presentation to members of Chambers was very successful and you were able to convert those members who had been sceptical about marketing for the Bar to your way of thinking. You have shown your ability to work along with members and staff very well. You have motivated us to want to implement your ideas

Circle

Kim did an excellent piece of work for us. She quickly understood our needs, and so was able to redefine the brief, the resulting project combined quite acute observation with practicable steps that we feel will make a genuine contribution to the business.

Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)

During the three months, Kim work with great efficiency and skill, being of considerable assistance to APIL in developing the PR function. I am sorry to see the project come to an end as I shall no longer benefit from Kim’s excellent advice and great ideas.

Barnes Kavelle

Kim has driven the strategic marketing review against a backrop of ten board directors, eigthteen shareholders and a new managing director. She has analysed the business and put in place a comprehensive, sensible and pragmatic plan….Kim has helped enormously in the development of my team and myself and has been universally accepted. She is incredibly hardworking, fast paced and we look forward to her ongoing involvement with the business.

Manches

Throughout, Kim’s approach has been straightforward, pragmatic and flexible.

The Law Society

Kim’s approach is direct and pragmatic and her delivery at seminars energetic and user friendly – her ability to maintain consistent attention from the audience is clearly one of her strengths.

Weatherall Green & Smith

Kim is one of the most action oriented people that I have met for many years. Her enthusiasm is infectious and does wonders for the motivation of everyone she meets.

Osborne Clarke

Her talents are strategic but pragmatic; she is industrious, conscientious, imaginative and very user friendly.

Olswang

I and my partners have found her to be diligent, hard working, knowledgeable, highly committed, energetic and able to bring original thinking to many situations – even when operating under periods of inevitable pressure.

West London Training and Enterprise Council

Overall we found Kim to be a very high quality, senior marketing professional.

Systems Publicity

Her knowledge of the marketing mix and techniques to achieve specific results is highly developed and she is an excellent team player as well as a leader and key decision maker.

Nabarro Nathanson

She made an outstanding contribution to the development of the firm’s marketing programme and I cannot speak too highly of her qualities – intelligence, enthusiasm, integrity and commitment.