The facilitators were extremely engaging with real world experience and examples from our industry. Really useful frameworks and work sheets we can take away and actually use/apply in our day to day. The real plays in the leadership program were scary but paid off!!

We engaged the Hummingbirds for a team-building exercise delivered over Zoom. The timing was tightly kept and left room for improvisation when some people were late. The moderators allowed for the participants to come up with their own ideas. We could see the value in the workshop and more importantly, showed the team how we are connected and can work better together.

I loved how easily they incorporated the learnings (from Critical Thinking session) and interactions rather just speaking to us. Thank you Hummingbirds. This was my favourite NGEN session from this year 👏🏻 I’ve already been applying the tools we learnt both in my career and personal life!

I really like the structure, interactivity and tools provided in this leadership course. There are lots of things I’ve learnt, and new perspectives shared that will help me improve how I interact with, and lead my team. Maree and Linda were great facilitators and trainers.

The Management Essentials Program gave me a chance to apply what we learned. The role-play sessions and using personal examples really helped cement the learnings. Linda and Maree were both really patient and took the time to talk us through things we didn’t understand, and were proof of the information they were imparting.

The Critical Thinking workshop was an eye opener! Some of the things taught we know intuitively but it’s great that we can organise it and put some structure to the process.

I liked the Hummingbirds trainer’s style and ease of engagement; she modelled what she was teaching and she has an in-depth understanding of our industry and what we are actually doing. I have always avoided Powerpoint presentations and having this method to put my discussion into a story is just perfect for me.  I can take my clients on a journey so much more easily than just talking at them.

I absolutely loved the two day course – it was nothing short of incredible! Real frameworks to use. Really clear tips and tricks I can use as a manager when dealing with conflict.

I have a plan to take back and way to sell in the product which I feel comfortable with, a customisable approach for my client delivered in my voice, my way.

Linda and Maree were wonderful – enjoyed very much taking this First Time Managers course with them. The exercises given during the program were eye-opening – especially the one that we had to follow the instructions in the document to fold an origami boat. In the end, I could not fold my own boat with the instruction and it reminded me the importance of adapting the task to the person being assigned to. It may be clear to “you” but not always to the other person but also, understand and communicate with the assignee if it is something she/he is comfortable doing and assist if needed.

I thought the whole Catapult workshop was amazing. The case study was great to work through as it helped bring the learning back into a real life situation.

Overall, the SELL presentation skills workshop was a great experience and taught us a new way of thinking about presentations that we’re so used to doing. I liked how it was a small group, which meant we were able to work together and confidently give critical feedback. I also liked how we really thought about new ways of delivering ideas in order to engage the audience and help sell our presentation.

I loved the trainer’s energy and the format of the Genuine Sales workshop. I felt really energised the whole time. I really liked how the content was tailored towards the industry, the specific feedback and examples shared made it easier to visualise how it can be applied within the context of our roles. I also like the exercises shared and how there are opportunities to practise certain skills outside of a sales context such as the asking open ended questions, thinking from the perspective of WIIFT and reframing features as benefits.

I found the sales programme really educational. I felt like the more Maree and Linda made it personal to them and personal to our business, the more impactful it became overall. They are uniquely suited to give this training as I felt it was a genuine reflection of learnings and experience of their past in combination with their fun and open personalities that came throughout the process making it not feel laborious but fun engaging and beneficial.

The leadership programme was excellent. I had high expectations and it exceeded what I thought I would gain. Tools and frameworks to apply when making business decisions, points of reference that demonstrate these in action, empathy for those in leadership and inspired to be better whilst knowing how to be better.  Totally brilliant!

I enjoyed attending NGEN Critical Thinking workshop by the Hummingbirds, especially the group activities. I also enjoyed the fact that the critical points of this session was provided to us in summary points which makes it much easier to mentally digest. I can recommend this session to others.

Linda and Maree are fantastic facilitators. Loved the different perspectives, discussions and occasional difference of opinion. The pace was perfect, giving proper time for thought.

Great talking through different real scenarios (leadership development program) and industry knowledge was a big help.

Two super bright awesome human beings who wear their passion for developing people on their sleeve! Highly skilled in their area, enthusiastic, and will be an asset to any client who uses The Hummingbirds for their L&D initiatives.

I really like how practical and interactive the sessions were – the mix of real examples, breakout discussions, and role plays made it easy to apply what we learned to day-to-day situations. I also appreciated how Maree and Linda created a safe environment for open conversation. It made the sessions engaging and helped me learn from peer’s experiences as well. It’s been a great experience that’s genuinely helped me improve how I collaborate and support others day to day. Highly recommend this program to anyone looking to strengthen their leadership skills!

The trainer mixed us up well to get exposure to different perspectives. The practical coaching sessions allowed us to practise what we learned straight away, identify the areas we needed to improve and also allow us to learn from the others.

The SELL advanced presentation skills workshop is great training overall and I really enjoyed it. Very useful for what we do and it able to be tailored to individuals no matter how much presentation experience they have had. Very engaging despite being over Zoom and really helpful and informative in one-on-one or group questions and chats.

Clear scenarios to help us. Concise and detailed notes/follow up. Engaging and fun. Great course.

Thanks for a wonderful 3 days (leadership program) challenging us! Loved all the case study work and the helpful workbook handouts. Really enjoyed it.

The Leadership Essentials Program was not just about learning leadership skills—it was about becoming a more thoughtful, adaptable, and impactful leader. The blend of practical tools, peer collaboration, and self-discovery made it a transformative experience that continues to benefit participants long after the program ends.

I liked the structured manner and how collaborative it (Management Essentials) was.These sessions also helped me in gaining more confidence and certainly new friends as well. Win:win. Thank you, Linda and Maree.

I just wanted to take a moment to once again thank you and Maree for the fantastic training over the past two days. Your guidance, positivity, and support have truly set us up for success. it’s been such a great experience!

I liked the time allowed within sessions to get through taught process and discussions – it allowed development of skill to think through and understand. It was a nice flow! Plus the authenticity of the trainers – you made it fun!

We’re a services business so people are our business. The better they are, the better we are, and Linda and Maree most definitely make them better. With years of experience, they have got this absolutely down pat. You can actually see the fine tuning in their workshops. I also love the way they facilitate an ongoing relationship beyond the programmes. This is very good stuff. I can’t get enough of it.

I liked how the program is structured in a logical way. The first few sessions set strong foundations for the latter sessions. Each lesson also has good structure, good examples and actionable points. I learned a lot from the program.

Over the years I’ve participated in many of the training and development programs created by Linda and Maree. From learning effective facilitation, how to run a brainstorm, management skills around understanding different personality traits, giving feedback, coaching and mentoring to name a few. They have been by the far the best training I’ve ever had.
Every session is relevant and applicable, helping me to apply what was learned through my training back into the day to day, which has been invaluable to me and my career. Linda and Maree bring fun and energy into their training and they are just amazing and inspiring women.

I loved being together, having fun, and learning at the same time!

Many thanks Maree and Linda for everything. You have ignited many passions and unhidden talent among many of us. Personally, I have learnt a lot from both of you. You have made a huge, positive contribution in shaping up our people. Keep flying high.

Linda and Maree were both amazing, I learnt a lot throughout the course and really appreciated the valuable feedback and ideas. Very well organised and structured. I am definitely coming out of this training as a better manager and leader.

Experiencing an event with Linda and Maree as your facilitators is second to none. Their passion for what they do, combined with an exacting attention to detail and high-quality mindset means you are skillfully yet entertainingly guided through your learning journey.

Maree and Linda have made a lasting impact across our company. They are widely known, loved and respected for their training skills and devotion to talent development. Several of our senior management team have credited training conducted by them as a key factor in their career growth and success. I have no doubt they will power a whole new generation to greater success in life.

Every session, be that a local workshop in Australia or an overseas residency in APAC, has been invaluable to me and my career.  Having both had successful careers themselves in advertising and media, they draw upon their own personal experiences to make the lessons relatable and they always look to update the content to keep it fresh and relevant to the industry today.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to learn about all the theory behind client management then getting to put the learnings into practise through exercises.

I liked the industry specific knowledge from Linda and Maree in the Genuine Sales course. There were lots of examples and real life uses. The acronyms also made the tools easier to remember.

Maree and Linda are fantastic and I continue to learn and grow thanks to them. The negotiation skills training is useful for any role and the different stages will help me in my role.

I think there were some great fundamentals which will set us up for success as presenters. The content was engaging and delivered in a meaningful way.

Linda and Maree are a unique breed of trainers who can land the value of training on the business. Training is not theoretical but practical – stuff you can go out and apply tomorrow (hell, today!). They also possess the emotional intelligence to become mentors and guides for those whom they train well into the future.

The number speaks for itself! 8 is the number of years I been fortune to have had the opportunity to experience training programs with these two top-notch coaches and trainers during my time with GroupM. None of the workshops they run would never let you down as they will always provide you a world-class training experience. If I have find to someone to run a training workshop for me, The Hummingbirds would be on the top of my mind without any other choice. Superb!

The programme really made you stop and think of the short and long-term consequences for certain decisions. I felt I got a lot out of it in terms of questioning what was my personal responsibility versus my staff’s responsibility (“Does it need to be done by me?”). It was great to work with a team and discuss and debate the answers.

Linda and Maree were fantastic and brought their knowledge and experience to the group in a way that was engaging and fun. It was a pleasant surprise how much I found myself applying the lessons learnt in between each session. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and I am looking forward to building further on the fundamental skills covered in these sessions. Thank you for delivering such an insightful program to a group with a range of roles and experiences.

I really liked the SELL presentation skills workshop because it helped me deliver a presentation by myself. I was really surprised that I was able to present better than I expected. I loved all the tips and the one-on-one sessions because it really gave me the direction that I needed.

Working with the Hummingbirds has been a highlight in my professional development. Their personable, engaging approach creates an atmosphere of learning that is beyond motivating. I found myself waking up energized to return to their course every morning – a rare motivation in the corporate world.

The negotiation skills workshop was a  thoroughly enjoyable and well designed experience. I’ll definitely retain the knowledge because of the quality. It was engaging and I was present throughout, unlike some other trainings which I might listen to and not engage as much.

I thought the way that the TTT (Train-the-Trainer) program was trained, was easy to understand and implement. Especially given that I didn’t have the knowledge before, yet I walk away feeling equipped to train.

The welcoming nature of Maree and Linda made the course engaging and informative. In instances where myself or any of the other participants may not have been on the right path, Maree and Linda were constructive and explained the methods of thinking clearly.

I enjoyed the icebreaker section. Even though it was meant to be a simple way to start the session, the questions were surprisingly thought-provoking. It was interesting to see how one question could lead to so many different answers and views. It reminded me how easy it is to make assumptions at work or about what a client might be thinking. This section showed the importance of staying curious, asking questions, and using facts to find the right answers. It also set the tone for the rest of the workshop, highlighting the value of critical thinking.

Maree and Linda both excelled during their time in media but have found their true calling in L&D. They tap into their extensive experience to connect with their participants and make the learning relevant and engaging. I have worked with them on many projects at GroupM including coaching with Linda and a customised leadership project with Maree. I look forward to collaborating with them further as The Hummingbirds.

Maree and Linda are incredible training and development leaders. Working with them is inspiring and fun! Their experience is invaluable and they really care about the participants and put their heart and soul into every experience. I can’t recommend them highly enough. They will never let you down.

Thanks Linda and Maree for your generosity, enthusiasm and expertise. Before this course, I managed by instinct and by following the example of past managers. Now, I feel a lot more confident applying tried and tested techniques to help my team achieve their goals. I found the timing extremely conducive to learning by doing – putting the techniques into practice not just in the practical sessions but in real life situations as the course went on.

Maree and Linda are truly unique and world-class leaders in their field. GroupM would not be the market leader it is today without their contribution. The energy, passion and skills that they have, they artfully transfer to all those fortunate to be in their programmes.

The Management Essentials was such a good program helmed by Linda and Maree  and made possible by iProspect. It was powerful content…in many ways it helped me personally be more aware of the kind of manager and leader I show up at work as well as finding my own personal unique voice in the workplace that’s more poised and still passionate. The last 7 months of training have been filled with frameworks on how to navigate hard conversations, become better at providing and receiving feedback, and becoming more comfortable with conflict resolution. What was really striking for me is appreciating how much human skills are undervalued in most formal university education. To have the chance to make up for the same, thanks to this program, is truly outstanding.

Thank you very much for the High Potential Managers program, Linda and Maree!! Thank you for creating the atmosphere that we feel more comfortable to participate. The tribal type session was interesting for me and I could saw clear difference by types even from participants. After all, we are all different human beings and there isn’t fit for all solution but this helps me to be more accepting the difference in certain reaction that would turn out differently than I would have expected. I could get feedback on the spot through role playing, which gave me better understanding. Also, having sessions with peers and knowing different point of view from them widen my perspective.

Linda and Maree are not only the best trainers, facilitators and coaches, but they also want you to become the best too! They are truly gifted, have an infectious passion for what they do, and are brilliant fun to work with.

Apart from theories and framework that were taught, the trainers made them more relatable and digestible by sharing case studies and real-life examples. The practical sessions with role plays helped us assimilate the concept/framework even more.

It was great that The Hummingbirds have practical experience in advertising and media so we could directly relate it back to what we do day to day. Fun and inclusive environment. Everyone in the agency should be doing this course (Two day SELL advanced presentation skills workshop).

Mix of theory with practicals and chance to fine tune practices. Love the mixing of large group into small groups for focus work.

The session was amazing and has given me skills to take into my day to day role.

People are our most important asset and training has always been a differentiator for us. After working with both Maree and Linda (on and off) since the early 1990s, I am delighted they have taken the plunge into their own business as The Hummingbirds, a WPP preferred training partner. I wish them all the success that they so richly deserve.

I’m happy to share that I’ve obtained a new certification: The Management Essentials Program from The Hummingbirds! This was a fantastic course led by brilliant facilitators (Maree and Linda), They were super engaging trainers and it’s clear they really know their stuff. It felt like they made an effort to get to know the people in the group and learn their tribal types, which helped make the course feel more personalised. Super empathetic, highly skilled trainers. I would recommend this course to anyone looking to up-skill in how they approach difficult conversations, influence others, and give feedback in the workplace. There were some highly useful and actionable insights around coaching, delegating, and understanding the people around you, and it’s all stuff I’ll be taking straight into my role at iProspect Australia.  Thanks again, Hummingbirds.

The Express Coaching session was interactive and gave the opportunity to talk confidentially about aspects of work I need advice/coaching on. I like the 20 min duration as it doesn’t take too much time out of a busy day but remains enough to cover off useful topics.

Their workshops are practical, engaging and relevant. I wouldn’t hesitate in bringing Maree and Linda onboard for more learning, training and development of our Canadian based team.

I have always found The Hummingbird programs interactive, engaging and beneficial as it always applies any learnings into a workplace environment. We put everything we learn to practice which is not something you always get out of training programs. However, being so tailored to situations happening around you makes it that much more beneficial.