An interactive workshop for both new and established leaders who want to show up authentically and lead confidently.
You’ve spent years mastering your skills and developing your knowledge. You’re good at your job and take pride in your work, but as you progress, success is no longer just about getting the work done.
Now, you’re expected to voice your opinions, make decisions and solve problems. Taking on a new leadership role when your confidence is low can feel daunting. Self doubt creeps in. You overthink decisions and fear making mistakes. You shy away from awkward conversations and hesitate to speak up when it’s needed.
This session is for people who want to lead in a way that feels like them, not some corporate version they feel they should be.
We’ll talk honestly about what leadership really looks like when you’re still figuring it out. How to build trust, speak up with confidence, and stop second-guessing yourself.
You’ll leave with practical tools, a fresh perspective, and a brilliant group of peers who are in the same boat.
What we’ll cover:
What authentic leadership means (and what it’s not)
Building trust without faking it
Feeling confident even when you don’t have all the answers
People who are running teams or departments and are struggling with balancing being themselves with being seen as a leader.
Leaders at all levels, whether you’re just starting your first leadership role or have been a leader for some time.
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Facilitated by Charlotte May, Leadership & Confidence Coach and ex-agency Strategy Director for brands like IKEA, Sainsbury’s and Vodafone. Charlotte helps leaders and business owners overcome self-doubt and show up with confidence.
By signing up, you’ll be added to Charlotte’s newsletter with honest reflections and leadership tools you can actually use. You can unsubscribe at any time.
This second forum brings together digital and creative firms to continue exploring shared challenges, strengthening local networks and focusing on practical business development approaches that support growth.
The discussion will be facilitated by James Wheale, Innovation and Growth Specialist at Innovate UK Business Growth, bringing sector‑specific expertise to guide the conversation.
Startups and SMEs working in digital, creative, quantum, fintech or creative tech industries, exclusively those based in South Gloucestershire. This includes founders, entrepreneurs, chief executives, managing directors, technology leaders, creative directors, business development managers and talent specialists.
Every B2B founder or sales leader hits the same wall eventually.
In the early days, growth feels personal. You’re the one sending the emails, working the deals, closing on gut instinct and sheer willpower. And it works. For a while.
But then the cracks show up. The pipeline swings from feast to famine. Your best salesperson leaves, and half your revenue walks out the door with them. Your marketing feels like random acts of hope. You’ve got tools, tactics, a CRM full of contacts. But no system. No engine. Just effort.
The core problem? Effort alone doesn’t scale.
That’s what this talk is all about. Ryan has spent 20-plus years helping B2B teams solve this exact problem. Building positioning that lands and demand engines that scale. Ryan has built and exited two businesses of his own. He’s worked with brands like Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Sky, and Vodafone. And across all of that, the pattern is always the same. The teams that win aren’t the ones who work the hardest, they are the ones who build the system first.
In this talk, we’re bringing together two frameworks Ryan’s been refining for years – Demand That Scales and Systems That Sell – into one blueprint that will help you take control over the way you go to market. We’re going to cover the full journey; how to generate consistent, predictable demand using LinkedIn and email, without relying on referrals, random inbound, or hoping your content goes viral. Then how to build a sales system that actually converts that demand, not through heroics, but through structure. And how to connect the two so your pipeline doesn’t just fill up, it flows.
By the time we’re done, you’ll walk away with practical frameworks you can put to work immediately, proven plays for top-of-funnel demand generation, and a clear picture of what a real, repeatable revenue engine looks like. One that grows with your business, not against it.
Because the goal isn’t just more leads. And it’s not just more closed deals. It’s a machine that does both, consistently, sustainably, and without needing you to be the hero every single month.
So if you’ve ever felt like your growth depends too much on luck, too much on one person, or too much on sheer force of will. You’re in the right room. Let’s build the engine.
This talk will be ideal for anyone with an interest and responsibility in new business, this will include founders, leaders, MDs, CEOs, account directors, and new business managers/directors.
Ryan is the founder of Friday Solved, a consulting company that helps businesses solve their sales problems with sustainable solutions. He’s founded and been through two exits, through which his focus has always been about growth through sales. Ryan’s book Don’t Sell is a blueprint to create a scalable and predictable sales engine, maximise sales strategy and put the control of sales back in your hands.
Over the last 20+ years of experience in positioning, proposition design, and sales strategy, Ryan has helped leading global brands such as Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Sky, M&S, first direct, Trainline, Vodafone, The Independent, UBS, Bank of America and The Times buy market-leading solutions.
His passion is to share his expertise and insights with others, particularly founders, CEOs and business leaders who want to create a market position that stands out in a B2B market.
> Early bird BCI member tickets are available until Tuesday 24th February at £30 +VAT
> BCI member tickets from Wednesday 25th February are £40 +VAT.
> Non-member tickets are £70 +VAT.
All tickets include a copy of Ryan’s book ‘Don’t Sell’, refreshments, and a buffet lunch from Sandwich Sandwich.
Not a BCI member? Read more about the benefits and join here.
In a marketing world filled with easy-to-access metrics and results from so many different sources – Meta, Google, Mailchimp etc – it can be difficult to know which source to trust and which metrics to focus on.
Your (or your clients’) marketing campaigns might have a high click through rate, or low cost per acquisition according to the platform you’re running them in. But how do you know if that’s driving a better bottom line for the business?
In this webinar, Alasdair Burns will cover the importance of demonstrating marketing’s contribution to the commercial objectives of a business, not just vanity metrics. He’ll explore different ways to set up effective campaign measurement and how to use the results to secure continued investment in successful marketing strategies.
Bristol Creative Industries members can register here.
This webinar is exclusively for BCI members. It’s one of many benefits you get by joining the community. Not a BCI member? Read more about the benefits and join here.
This session is for anyone who has some input on paid marketing campaigns and would like to make sure they are driving and measuring commercial results effectively. This could be marketers, agency teams or business owners who invest in promoting their company.
Alasdair is a co-founder of Flight Feather, an independent agency which does paid media the right way. After starting his career client-side, Alasdair spent years working in paid media teams at some of the biggest network agencies on national and international brands including Mclaren, Flybe and English Heritage.
His goal is to ensure that advertising drives real world outcomes for his clients. Flight Feather is a B Corp and one of just 44 agencies in the UK to achieve an IPA Effectiveness Accreditation.
> Connect with Alasdair on LinkedIn
> See Flight Feather’s BCI profile here
The online sessions take place every other Friday morning from 8.30-9am, and allow BCI members to share their knowledge with fellow members.
The webinars are a 15/20 minute presentation followed by a 10/15 minute Q&A. The sessions are a mix of expert tips and case studies – the perfect opportunity to learn something new before the week is out.
The webinars are exclusively for BCI members. They are one of many benefits you get by joining the community. Not a BCI member? Read more about the benefits and join here.
Please get in touch with Dan if you’re a BCI member and you’re interested in presenting on a future webinar.
Ross has accumulated a wealth of knowledge over his 25+ years in the industry – spanning code, design, productivity and projects! But perhaps most profoundly, he’s learned about people.
Driven by a passion to share, Ross has embraced the challenge of distilling 25 lessons from his extensive career into a single, fast-paced talk. Expect energy, inspiration, and actionable insights.
Grab your notebooks. You won’t want to miss this one!
Ross is a creative and curious software developer. He has been writing code since he first wrote 10 PRINT “HELLO” on a Commodore 64 in the 80’s. He has had a diverse, 30-year software career encompassing freelance, agency, and corporate work; aerospace, telecomms, charities and products.
Ross now develops advanced plugins for WP Engine from a garden office in the south of the UK.
A relaxed, high-impact leadership social for leaders of people and teams.
*FREE ATTENDANCE FOR BCI MEMBERS*
Join us for an engaging opportunity to explore how to take ownership of the vision, values, and behaviours in your teams that will create a high-performance culture, in your style.
What you’ll gain:
Far from a ‘typical’ corporate boardroom exercise, you’ll enjoy
A relaxed, informal environment with drinks, challenges & refreshments
An impactful, conversational panel discussion
Fresh perspectives on leadership and team performance culture
A taste of a more adventurous, experiential way to build performance in teams
Gain insights and practical, real-world takeaways to enhance your impact on culture and performance within your teams and organisation.
Panel discussion topics:
– Defining performance culture
– Creating common purpose across teams and functions
– Translating visions & values into everyday behaviours
– Leadership as the catalyst for accountability & alignment
This event is hosted by Latitude45, organisers of the Adventure-based Conference Series – a bold, experiential approach to developing leadership and team performance cultures – launching in 2026.
Learn more at www.latitude-45.co.uk.
If you run a marketing, PR, digital or creative agency with a turnover of £750k-£2M, chances are your finance function was built when you were half the size you are now.
You’ve got a bookkeeper, maybe an accountant who does your annual returns and a nagging feeling that you don’t have enough clarity over your finances.
You’re not alone. Most agencies at your stage are running on a finance setup designed for a much smaller business, and you might wonder why it’s holding you back.
In part one of our 3-part workshop series, we give you the diagnostic framework to see exactly where you stand now and what needs to change.
We won’t just explain the theory, but we will walk you through a process to help you identify what this looks like for YOUR agency.
What you’ll learn:
1. The 7 signs your agency has outgrown its finance setup.
2. The 5 finance foundations you need to put in place and what a “good financial structure” looks like if your agency is generating a £750k, £1M, £1.5M or £2M+ turnover.
3. The “Finance Health Check” framework we use with clients (with live walkthrough).
4. How to score yourself across the 3 pillars of agency finance.
5. Case Study: What a 3/10 agency finance set up looks like vs. a 9/10.
6. Time for Q&A
What you’ll leave with:
Who it’s for: Founders and leaders of marketing, digital, PR, creative and communication agencies with a £750k-£2m turnover who:
Brought to you by Rocksteady Finance – we’ve worked alongside 40+ agency finance functions and know exactly what it takes to successfully scale.
Join us at YGWYG 18: The Fab Feb Edition
You Get What You Get digs deep into the intersection of Gen AI, creative tech, ad creative and culture.
For this round, Norts and Derek of The Peeps dig into the wild world of AI-generated cinema. Expect a fast-paced screening of some of the best short films and music videos made with machine minds. Some brilliant. Some broken. All made by prompt.
Come for the glitches. Stay for the genius.
“Anarchic and brilliant”
“Like nothing I’ve been to ever before!”
This months speakers include:
Phil D Hall: Elzware
Seb Haigh: Oxford AI
Whether you’re a regular or rocking up for the first time, YGWYG is your space to share, spark and soak it all in. Bring your best ideas and leave with better ones.
Limited spots. Book your ticket now.
CIRCE | FOUNDING CIRCLE
~ A salon for women who work ~
Between the pressures of the workday and the “second shift,” where do you find the space to grow?
We’re building Circe—the first micro-coaching platform designed for the rhythm of a woman’s professional life. Not with hour-long lectu9res, but with precise, actionable support that meets you where you are.
Before we launch publicly, we’re gathering a Founding Circle of women—those who lead, build, and navigate unique challenges—to experience what targeted support can do as we get deeper into the new year.
You are invited to our inaugural in-person salon.
Format: An immersive evening of connection, a live micro-coaching experience, panel discussion, and an exclusive look at the evolution of Circe.
Spaces are intentionally limited to keep this intimate and impactful.
P.S. As a Founding Circle guest, you’ll be offered exclusive first access and a permanent role in our community.
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Date: Tuesday 10th February
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm
Join HUM4NS for a night of connection and inspiring talks over drinks in our cosy cocktail bar.
HUM4NS began life as a series of talks among entrepreneurs, providing them with a platform to step out from behind ‘what they do’ and venture into the ‘who I am, what holds me back and how I moved forward’.
HUM4NS provided a platform for ordinary people to share Honest, Uplifting, Motivational, Aspirational, Nourishment for the Soul, inspiring others to take action and build towards achieving their own dreams.
Stepping into a brave new world and opening ourselves up to a new audience, HUM4NS has a simple but important quest; to help the world be a happier, healthier, smarter and kinder place, by providing a place for people to learn, grow and develop.
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Date: Second Monday of every month
Time: 7pm – 10pm
Location: The Square Club, 15 Berkeley Square, BS8 1HB
Parking: Pay and display on Berkeley Square
Tickets: Free for all
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