Laurence Whelehan

The intention of this website

This is my online visiting card to give you an idea of what I do and how I work. I’ve used quotes from participants and coaching clients throughout to give an idea of how my work is received. I very much value the feedback you see on this website: it’s a good reminder to me of what I’ve done already and what I am aiming for. The quotes show what I bring to my trainings: good preparation, structured content, practical tools, interactivity, high attention, positive atmosphere, engagement, fun, humour, energy, enthusiasm, even inspiration!

"The training was great. Really interactive. Laurence has been able to involve everybody in the discussion and keep the attention high. The strengths of the course were the positive atmosphere and the constant switch between lecture and teamwork. The case studies were well prepared and easy to follow."

"Great trainer. Extremely well-prepared course. I have never attended a training during which I have stayed so focused and interested all the time. Big thank you to Laurence. We as a company would be very interested to arrange this training inhouse for a wider group."

"I’ve loved this training. Your teaching methods are engaging, fun, and the content is very informative. I’ve learned a lot. I feel more confident that I have the necessary tools to succeed"

" Laurence gave us an insightful and practical training. He led the training with humour, good energy and enthusiasm. I recommend Laurence as an inspiring trainer."

PwC Academy Influencing Skills

Negotiation Essentials

Lead Your Team

Lead Your Team

What ties all of the elements on this site together is leadership. To lead formally, you need a framework in which to work - that is in the formal management courses. But you'll also need to navigate difficult conversations, negotiate, influence, coach, think critically, set boundaries, present, even write well in order to get things done. Even if you don't have formal authority, you still can lead and the skills above will move you forward.

For further Feedback, please go to the Recommendations section at the bottom of my LinkedIn page

What I do

I help professionals and managers develop the skills to lead and navigate the difficult conversations of work (and life). I do this through interactive, reflective, and engaging training and coaching. I design bespoke courses and programs — specialising in leadership, conflict management, and communication — tailored to client needs and refined iteratively through feedback. As a trainer, I communicate the tools you need simply, practically and with humour so that you can remember and apply this back at the office. As a coach, I give you the chance to think out loud, to analyse, explore options and act.

Leadership & Management - Feedback

Great course. Good to have so many interactive exercises. Laurence, I’ve greatly appreciated your expertise but also your “coaching approach” (i.e. not imposing all your knowledge on us but letting us figure things out on our own)!

Practical Toolbox for Managers - PwC Academy

What a fantastic lecturer. Laurence is very professional and with high knowledge of what he is teaching. He is very experienced on the course, professional, charismatic. I would say this is the best course ever in PwC so far for me.

Practical Toolbox for Managers - PwC Academy

This training has been excellent. Practical, clear, useful, fit to the purpose. I got interesting tips from peers and from the trainer. And I had the rare real chance to reflect on myself. Thanks!

Next Step Head of Unit - EuSA

Very dynamic subject-matter expert. Thank you for your energy and passion shared with the team. Laurence knows the subject very well & shares his expertise.

Essentials of Management - European Commission

Navigating Difficult Conversations - Feedback

”Laurence gets to some hidden points which are under the surface. He is very knowledgeable and can manage a crowd with great attitude and passion. He got us to talk to each other about things we would normally not do.”
Conflict Management Participant

”Very impressive interpersonal skills of the trainer. He handled the confrontation and volatility of certain members of the course so that people realise what to change.”
Goldman Sachs Participant

Communicating for Results - Feedback

Negotiations were a great two-day course and Laurence was very knowledgeable. He has a calm power to transmit all those difficult meanings. The class games made me realize the theory in real-life examples.

Excellent course. Well prepared. Good exercises. Intelligent recaps.

Negotiations Essentials

It was the best training I have ever taken part in. Instructive, entertaining and absolutely relevant to practice. It has exceeded my expectations.

Great course, instructor was knowledgeable, great at transmitting knowledge and with great humour. Tips and material shared were of great help and the exercises very helpful in the learning process.

Writing with Impact

Presenting with Impact

Laurence is an outstanding trainer. Very knowledgeable, someone who also transmits his knowledge in an effective and enjoyable way and provides clear and honest feedback with an aim to improve the candidates competences. Thank you for everything Laurence!

Mr. Whelehan knows how to create a group and how to animate. He gives the chance to each participant to express themselves and to improve. The exercises were great.

He managed that everyone felt comfortable but at the same time pushing us to go out of our comfort zone.

Influencing Skills

Laurence Whelehan

Short Biography

25+

28

Years' training experience

Countries worked in

I'm at Trainer, Facilitator and ICF-Coach specialising in Leadership, Navigating Difficult Conversations and Communicating for Results. I work both in the corporate sector and for the EU Institutions.

I’m a Law post-graduate, worked in two top-twenty City of London Law firms - Lovells and Richards Butler - then switched to software, working on projects for companies like Pfizer, and eventually market-leading HCL Unica – later an IBM company. I’ve lead teams and projects. This, and a deep curiosity about how people work, lead me to being a trainer in leadership & communication. My work is international, both at the EU and in corporate training and coaching.

I grew up mostly in London in an Irish family, but also in Zambia. I lived and worked for two years in Taiwan, learnt Mandarin, and got good insights about Asia. After a long stint in London, I worked in Dubai and the Gulf for three years. Since 2016 I've lived in Germany with my German wife and work across Europe. I speak German to C2 level.