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By
Nathan Glen
Most
people have normal careers that make sense and are
vaguely predictable. Whether it's working
their way up the ladder in a company or following an
academic path.
Jonathan Halls is so no such person. Which
is what makes him so interesting as a speaker and
seminar leader. From journalist to talk show
host, trainer to media executive with one of the
world's most respected broadcasters, Jonathan
himself describes his work history as coming from
'outside the box'.
 Halls
has worked with thirty nationalities in twenty
different countries. He's keynoted
conferences, led seminars and coached people to be
their best in a changing world. He's active in
the American Society for Training & Development.
Jonathan Halls is speaker, writer, seminar leader
and coach who specializes in:
-
Communication and how it works in the 21st
century
-
Leadership and change within organizations
-
Innovation and how to spur it on in teams and
organizations
-
Media and helping anyone become a media
practitioner
Jonathan's workshops, coaching and consulting are
all focused on these areas.
It's
hard to summarize Jonathan's experience in an
orderly manner because as he says, "my career has
been about being at the edge where everything
overlaps." He's been a corporate boss,
entrepreneur and solo operator.
So
here are a few things to introduce him to you.
Entrepreneurial experience
Jonathan founded
Talkshow Media LLC, a boutique multimedia
training company based in Northern Virginia.
It delivers high end multimedia training, drawing on
Jonathan veteran experience in new media. He
clearly set this company to focus on new media, not
traditional media.
"I'm
interested in the future," he says. "We could
teach traditional media but the energy and future
are really where interactivity, personalization and
social networking are."
"I've
been working in and writing about new media since
1999, so I have a lot of experience and background -
I've seen how it's grown and understand deeply where
it's going," he says.
"I'm
really excited how media has opened up and is no
longer the exclusive domain of a select bunch of
media pros - anyone can now publish, broadcast and
share their knowledge. New media is for
educators, PR people, internal communicators and
small businesses."
Halls
started Talkshow Media LLC in January 2009 after
moving to the US from London where he owned Talkshow
Communication Ltd, a successful training company
based in London that delivered leadership,
communication and media training across Europe.
Jonathan started his London training company after
leaving the BBC at the end of 2006. In the two
years of operation he grew the company by 100%
creating revenues of close to half a million
dollars.
Much
of its work was with Newsplex which is part of WAN
Ifra, the international association of newspapers.
It also worked with people from Channel 4, ITV and
Endemol which creates programs like Big Brother.
BBC
learning executive
In
2003, Jonathan was appointed to run the BBC's
prestigious Production Training department.
Being "BBC trained" is considered a badge of honor
within broadcasting. Jonathan considers
running the BBC's broadcast training one of the
greatest honors he's had.
"How
often does someone ask you to lead the most talented
bunch of professionals in their field?" Jonathan
asks. "I was given the opportunity to work
with the best media trainers in the world."
"I was
energized by my experience leading the BBC's
Production Training department, moved by the
humility of my colleagues and impressed with the
results they got as they equipped people to become
amazing media professionals."
The
multi-million dollar operation delivered the
corporation's training in all aspects of television
production, radio operations and new media. As
well as delivering training within the corporation,
its team of 40 staff and 250 contractors provided
the best specialized media training in the world to
broadcasters around the globe.
Jonathan was charged with bringing five different
training departments that had existed in the
BBC together into one larger operation with a
unified culture and operational procedures.
His mission was to improve efficiency within the new
delivery structure and introduce change.
During
his time leading the department, his teams delivered
some of the most significant change training
initiatives in a generation of broadcasting.
They included many analogue to digital projects and
equipping staff to work with revolutionary new
equipment from lightweight cameras to high
definition television production.
BBC
New Media Training
In
1999, Jonathan was hired to manage skills training
delivery for the BBC's New Media Training Unit.
"Our
small team was at the forefront - I mean everyone
talks about social media and interactivity now.
Back then we were evangelists who had to contend
with the naysayers who said it would never happen
... and who now interestingly, seem to be the
instant gurus."
During
his time in this role, the unit introduced the
world's first vocational curriculum for new media
editorial training. In addition, he and his
colleagues expanded the unit's offering of 18 course
to 54 in all aspects of new media editorial and
production.
Talk
show host and communications manager
Prior
to the BBC, Jonathan worked as a talk show host,
communications manager for a government department
and in radio station management. During his
time as a talk show host, he scooped numerous news
stories.
Jonathan has a Bachelor of Education in Adult
Education and a Master of Education in Adult
Education, both majored in human resource
development. He is an active member of the
American Society for Training & Development (ASTD)
and speaks regularly at their conferences. He
also facilitates ASTD's Certificate Program in
Facilitating Change and is a member of ASTD's
TechKnowledge committee.
Jonathan's personal life is centered in Virginia. He and his wife
attend a church
in Northern Virginia. For ten years they attended All
Souls in London, a well known church where
theologian John Stott was Rector Emeritus and, many
years ago, the BBC broadcast its daily service.
Having
met in Paris, France, they continue to love travelling and spend
a lot of time in Australia, North America and
Europe.
They're real foodies who enjoy eating at exciting
restaurants as much as creating fine cuisine in
their own kitchen.
The
future
Jonathan now works with people from across many
industries. Whether it's helping them find
their digital voice and implement media in their
industry. Or improve leadership and
communication.
Halls
likes to say he's not a textbook case. "I
don't teach leadership or communication out of a
textbook - I've learned what I coach and speak about
through real experience ... by doing the hard way,"
he explains.
""I've
learned by doing, and understood by reflecting on my
experiences through current theories and models to
ensure they make sense.
He
believes the greatest challenges for the future are
coping with change, developing stronger leadership
and improving communication and turbo-charging
innovation.
"The
really interesting thing is that each of these
overlap. I strongly believe success in the
future will be found at their intersection," he
said.
"If
you can't communicate, you can't lead. And if
you can't innovate you can't lead. And change
is about innovation but relies on leadership and
communication.
Jonathan also believes the world has fundamentally
shifted and understanding the move on from an
industrial mindset is key.
"It's
no longer about having answers because things are
just changing so much and so fast."
It's
now that he trots out his personal motto. A
motto he so strongly believes in that he has turned
it into a wall poster that hangs in the lobby of his
Northern Virginia office.
"It's
about how you see the world and the questions you
ask. And asking the right questions."
"And
that goes for every industry," he said.
Looking for a dynamic keynote at your next
conference? Jonathan Halls has
been described as an awesome keynote speaker,
dynamic seminar leader and powerful coach. His
international perspectives bring a breadth of
knowledge as well as a depth of understanding.
Talk to us today about how we can help you discover
the value of trust in your organization. Call: 1 800
594 1351. Email: info@talkshowmedia.com
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