Simon Hall
Simon Hall is an Intellectual Forum Senior Research Associate.
Simon Hall is a Course Leader in Compelling Communication Skills at the University of Cambridge; runs his own business communication agency, Creative Warehouse; and is a journalist, author, and business coach.
Simon teaches communication, media, business, writing, presentation, storytelling, and public relations skills at Cambridge, along with universities across England, government departments, the NHS, and companies including the London Stock Exchange and tech giant Arm.
He’s helped to guide businesses from the start-up stage to multi-million pound success, through fundraising rounds from Seed to Series D, and has taken up Director of Communication roles at several young companies.
Simon has a series of books on communication published, including Public Speaking and Presentations, Writing Blogs, How to Secure Media Coverage, and Leadership Communication, along with eight thriller novels.
Previously, he was a broadcaster for 20 years, mostly as a BBC Television, Radio, and Online News Correspondent, specialising in business and economics.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a book to accompany my University of Cambridge compelling communications skills course. It’s my biggest non-fiction project to date, and is proving challenging, but immensely rewarding. Communication is one of those arts which sounds simple, but actually has a remarkable amount to it. On a personal level, I’m also working on my fear of flying. I’m determined to see more of the world in the next few years, so I’m starting with a couple of hours, heading to Majorca, and then further afield. Wish me luck!
How has your career to date led to this?
I suppose I could argue that everything I have done to date has led up to me teaching communication skills at the University of Cambridge, and writing the book. I spent more than 20 years in the BBC, covering a range of extraordinary stories. I’ve been a novelist for 15 years now, and a teacher for about the same amount of time. Combine those communication skills with what I’ve learnt about the power of teaching, how it can help to form a better future, and it’s all combined to lead to this moment.
What one thing would you most want someone to learn from what you’ve done or are doing now?
The importance of being a good communicator - as simple as that. You might have the best idea the human race has ever heard, but what use will it be if you can’t communicate it? The power and importance of communication is far too often under-appreciated. If you doubt that, never forget: we declare both love and war through words.
What do you think of Jesus College and the Intellectual Forum?
I love the College as a warm, friendly, supportive, kind, but also highly stimulating intellectual environment. The Forum has a critical role in bringing together so many experts from so many different disciplines to discuss, and perhaps even find solutions, for so many of the world’s most profound issues. I’m very proud to be a part of both Jesus College and the Intellectual Forum.
You can meet the rest of the Intellectual Forum team or contact us via email.
