CASE STUDIES
IQVIA is a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry.
IQVIA’s consulting team was developing a comprehensive training curriculum for colleagues at all levels. While internal expertise worked well for junior training, they recognised that senior leaders needed something different: external insights, fresh perspectives, and practical tools to improve how they communicate.
Shola partnered with IQVIA to design and deliver a series of tailored programmes, including:
- Female Empowerment Series – empowering women in leadership through practical workshops.
- Communication Coaching – one-to-one and small group sessions for leaders.
- Leadership Communication Training – equipping managers with tools to communicate clearly and effectively.
Each programme was customised to the team’s needs, combining interactive delivery with practical frameworks. From large webinars to intimate coaching, Shola created safe, engaging spaces where leaders could develop confidence and apply new techniques immediately.
Feedback from every programme was consistently excellent. Leaders found the sessions engaging, insightful, and highly relevant to their roles. Importantly, participants continued to use the language, tools, and frameworks long after the training – evidence that the learning was sticking and shaping day-to-day leadership.
Speaker’s opinions are their own and not made on behalf of the company.
Feedback from IQVIA:
“Shola has a fantastic ability to connect with people at every level. Her sessions are practical, engaging, and grounded in real experience. The feedback from our leaders has been consistently excellent – it’s clear the skills they’ve learnt are being applied in their daily work.”
“We’ve worked with Shola for several years on a range of topics – from female empowerment to leadership communication. Every time, the impact has been clear: our teams leave inspired, equipped, and eager to put what they’ve learnt into practice.”
“Shola asks the right questions upfront, quickly understands our needs, and tailors her approach to the audience. Her delivery style is natural and engaging, with strong insights that resonate with our team. Not a single negative comment across participants. We’ve also appreciated her openness to debriefs, reflecting on outcomes, and suggesting improvements for the future.”
Virgin Media O2, is a British mass media and telecommunications company.
Following the merger of Virgin Media and O2, the newly formed organisation faced the challenge of uniting two cultures while building a consistent leadership approach. Senior leaders and managers needed tools to create a workplace culture that balanced connection and compassion with high performance and accountability.
Shola partnered with VMO2 to design and deliver a bespoke programme, Empathy with Edge, focused on human-centred leadership. The sessions combined empathy and emotional intelligence with best practice in inclusive leadership and communication frameworks.
Through interactive training, practical strategies, and empowering tools, leaders learned how to:
- Build trust and belonging across diverse teams.
- Deliver feedback with empathy and clarity.
- Create a speak-up culture that encourages openness.
- Balance compassion with performance to achieve business goals.
The programme was designed to be practical, engaging, and immediately actionable, enabling participants to apply new methods straight away.
The training consistently receives 100% valuable ratings.
Feedback from VMO2 sessions participants:
“An empowering session that showed how empathy isn’t about being soft — it’s about being smart and intentional. Shola taps into the human side of leadership while giving practical tools for communicating effectively, leading with compassion, and still maintaining strength and clarity. It was insightful and energising.”
“Great intro into building empathy into day-to-day management in the right way.”
“Expect lightbulb moments. The Empathy with Edge programme was engaging, practical, and thought-provoking, helping us to rethink our leadership habits and build empathy into day-to-day management in the right way.”
“Expect lightbulb moments; this course was engaging, interesting and encouraged great conversation between colleagues across the business!”
“Insightful, reminder of key skills to benefit from your own mindfulness, encourage openness and nurturing your teams”
OxfordSM is an international consultancy firm that helps organisations achieve winning results through High Performance Marketing.
OxfordSM operates across both North America and the UK, with cultural differences between the two regions often creating challenges in how diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes are received.
Previous external partners struggled to resonate with their international audience — North American colleagues wanted direct, results-driven approaches, while UK colleagues preferred a more nuanced style. The organisation needed a partner who could bridge this divide and create a safe, engaging space for all.
Shola designed and delivered a DEI programme that balanced challenge with compassion. Using concepts such as headwinds and tailwinds, privilege awareness exercises, and listening with empathy, the sessions helped colleagues reflect without feeling defensive. The approach was gradual and inclusive, ensuring both UK and North American teams could engage meaningfully.
Shola’s unique lived experience and ability to connect with an international audience provided the credibility and relatability OxfordSM needed. The programme unfolded step by step, building understanding and sparking open conversations across the organisation.