Michael Parker is one of the UK’s most experienced pitch coaches, having taken part in, led or coached over 600 pitches. Many successful, some not - but learning from both!
This experience comes primarily from a career in Advertising, the last twenty years or so at Saatchi & Saatchi in London where Michael set up Team Saatchi to spearhead new business in the group.
In Advertising, the “pitch” is usually central to the process of winning clients. But the underlying principles of any business development, sales or ‘chemistry’ meeting are the same. Michael’s coaching work over the past three years has been principally with professional services firms in fields ranging from law, banking and real estate though to sponsorship, public relations and design.
Pitching is nothing if not competitive and if you don’t enjoy the competition, don’t pitch. Michael's own background in Athletics, competing as a hurdler at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 1964 and Mexico 1968, has, he’s told, left him with a sometimes obsessive approach to pitching and presentation. This combines relentless training and preparation with the ability to put it all together on the day.
Michael Parker regularly records his latest thoughts on pitching in his blog www.pitchcoach.co.uk