Nicholas Bate is passionate about supporting people to ensure they realise and release their true and full potential. It is the simple purpose of his organisation, Strategic Edge and his teaching, consulting and writing. After a career in sales and marketing in the IT industry, culminating in leading sector marketing for Research Machines, Oxford, UK, Nicholas launched Strategic Edge. A small, premium consultancy, Strategic Edge specialises in creating long-term competitive advantage for its clients including Microsoft, Starbucks, Marks and Spencer, The BBC, Royal Sun Alliance and Oxfam amongst others. A pioneering 'thought leader', Nicholas has introduced and worked with his clients on a range of simple yet powerful concepts which help with challenges such as ever-demanding productivity, work/life balance and new routes to innovation. He has designed, written and teaches six highly innovative courses: Personal Excellence; Brilliant at the Basics of Selling; Personal Presence; Instant MBA; How To Boost Your Creativity; and The Five Choices of Outstanding Customer Service. Consistently rated as an inspirational yet highly pragmatic key-note speaker, Nicholas teaches around the world (UK and continental Europe; USA and Canada; Asia) and is particularly skilled at working in an experiential and engaging manner. He works as a coach to many senior people in the industry in areas such as presentation skills, work/life balance and creativity.