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Never leave another meeting with things left unsaid.
Courageous Conversations
For creative leaders ready to lead with confidence. Learn how to use coaching skills as a tool to give you the courage to handle any conversation with calm and clarity in the moment. 1-day, live training course plus private, 1-1 leadership coaching.
Next course: 22 January 2026 | 10.00am - 3.30pm | Online
"Our whole team has benefitted from the techniques that were taught on this course" '~ Kirsty C., Senior Relationships Manager
You've just thought of the perfect response to that tricky conversation. The problem is, it ended two weeks ago.
You know the feeling. You walk out of a meeting and your brain starts replaying the conversation like a vinyl on loop, except all you can hear are all the things that you didn’t say.
And you’re not alone — this happens all the time, especially in creative environments where emotions, ideas, and people are deeply intertwined.
The truth is, most of the big leadership challenges that trip most managers up could be solved very simply by just one effective conversation.
And that’s what the most effective leaders all have in common - the ability to hold space for courageous conversations.
But when it comes to talking about difficult things, many leaders tend to shy away when they should be stepping forward.
Fear of saying the wrong thing, being misunderstood or causing offence means even the prospect of a potentially tricky conversation makes most of us want to curl up in a ball like an armadillo. We know our voices are powerful, and respect others who speak up, but when it’s our turn to do it, we often struggle.
The thing is, your voice isn't just for you - as a leader, it's your responsibility to speak, especially when it might feel easier not to.
If you’re tired of feeling powerless to change things and want to find your voice in every situation, Courageous Conversations will help you do just that.
This course is for you if:
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You often find it difficult to find your voice in tough situations
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You want to step up as a leader and use your voice responsibly
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You're desperate for a consistent and effective way to challenge when needed
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You want holding tricky conversations to become your super power
What You'll Learn
Built from lived experience in arts leadership, Courageous Conversations combines coaching psychology, communication science, and creative empathy into one simple, actionable system:
Get Calm
Learn how to regulate your emotions, prepare mentally, and approach conversations with confidence.
Get Clear
Master the skill of communicating your message directly, kindly, and effectively — even when it’s difficult.
Get Curious
Discover how to use coaching-style questions that reduce defensiveness and create genuine dialogue.
Rebuild trust, listen deeply, and create meaningful accountability after the conversation.
Get Connected
These same practical frameworks have helped other creative and cultural leaders:
✅ Resolve long-standing team tension without conflict
✅ Rebuild relationships after tough feedback
✅ Create cultures of openness, respect, and creative flow
✅ Deepen trust and understanding within their teams, and foster collaborative conflict
✅ Create safe spaces for addressing sensitive topics with empathy and respect
✅ Develop strategies to handle disagreements with grace and achieve win-win outcomes
Why It Works
What makes the tools and techniques in Courageous Conversations so effective is that they will work for anyone who commits to using them. Whether you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert, (or somewhere in between!), are just starting out on your leadership journey or long in the game, you can expect to see results that will radically shift the way you communicate.
By the end of the course, you'll be able to:
Stop avoiding conversations that matter
Speak with clarity and compassion — not guilt or fear
Feel confident giving feedback, setting boundaries, and motivating others
Build trust and respect from your team and senior leaders
Use coaching skills to facilitate even the trickiest conversations
Say what needs to be said in the moment instead of holding regret later
Choose your package
It's really important to us that everyone who joins our training programmes gets a good return on their investment - that's why we put so much emphasis on helping you to achieve real results. We generally recommend our packages that include 1-1 coaching as this is the best way for us to help you apply your learning in a structured way.
1-day Live Training Course — interactive, supportive, and designed for real arts-sector challenges
Worksheets & Conversation Templates — practical tools to guide every step
Peer Community — share, reflect, and grow with other creative leaders
Option 1:
Course Only
Option 2: Course + Coaching
Recommended
1-day Live Training Course — interactive, supportive, and designed for real arts-sector challenges
Worksheets & Conversation Templates — practical tools to guide every step
Peer Community — share, reflect, and grow with other creative leaders
1:1 Coaching Call — after the live training, you'll get a private post-cohort session to personalise your learning and help you apply what you've learned to your specific context and situation
Meet Your Coach
Ceri Sunu
Founder and Lead Coach at Brabble
Hi, I'm Ceri,
A seasoned Coach and Trainer with more than a decade of experience in the charity sector.
At the age of 24, I found myself in the wonderful, (but equally terrifying!) position of becoming a Fundraising Manager at The Children’s Society (TCS), where I led on some of the organisation’s largest community fundraising campaigns. Having initially joined TCS as the temporary team Administrator for one month, I was as surprised as anyone when, 8 months later I was still there and had made the step up to Manager.
That step up was probably one of the hardest I’ve ever taken, but there were two things that changed the game for me: the first, was having an amazing manager who supported me, and the second was training to become a coach. It’s because of this experience that I set about supporting leaders at all levels to unlock their leadership through the power of coaching – not only be receiving 1-1- coaching support, but by teaching them how to use coaching skills in their everyday working lives to improve their communication, increase their influence and create more collaborative working relationships.
An ILM Level 5 trained Coach, I've been delivering training and education initiatives since the age of 16, and in 2021 decided to add a Postgraduate Certificate in Organisational Psychology under my belt to supplement my experiences as a consultant and trainer. I have supported leaders from organisations of all sizes to develop their leadership approach, working as a mentor for the Small Charities Coalition, and as a trusted partner and repeatedly booked speaker for Fundraising Everywhere, a learning and development platform for fundraising leaders.
Suffice to say, you'll be in safe hands.
What others say
"Working with Ceri was an immensely valuable experience. She created a supportive and open space where I could explore my communication style and develop a more confident approach. Her coaching and her practical guidance have given me tools I continue to apply in my work every day."
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Thalea, Partnerships Manager