Looking towards the future

Laila Zenner runs the engineering design office that her father started in the 1970s. With a growing number of staff, now more than 10, the company works on projects in both new construction and renovation.

Zenner Engineers specialize in HVAC, acoustics, and pipe design. They have their own laboratory, where they analyse field measurements and run controlled tests. They also use the lab to assist in product development for equipment manufacturers.

The Situation

The company sometimes does business with foreign customers, so they need to use English. To help these customers, Laila wanted to offer more English-language services. The employees who were most skilled in English did translations themselves, but they wanted an English-speaking professional to check it.

The challenge

In 2017, Laila asked me to proofread and edit the English versions of her company’s website text and various report templates. Because I have done a lot of language work in engineering, many of the terms were already familiar to me. This meant that I was able to complete the project ahead of schedule.

The outcome

“It’s been easy to work with James. Everything was agreed on in writing in advance. James has always delivered on schedule and I’ve been very pleased with the quality of his work. He has a really good understanding of technical jargon. I can warmly recommend him to anybody who needs similar work done.” – Laila Zenner

You can visit Zenner Engineers here.

Improving presentations across cultures

Nordic Development Fund (NDF) is a joint development finance institution set up in 1988 by the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden). It facilitates climate change investments in low-income countries in cooperation with multilateral and bilateral development institutions.

The situation

In the course of their work, most NDF employees are required to present their employer, potential projects, and the progress of ongoing activities to government bodies, committees, development finance organisations and other interested parties on a regular basis. The demands of their work require the ability to present in many different situations and across cultures.

The challenge

In September 2015, Maria Talari, the Administration and Communications Officer at NDF, approached me with a request for presentation skills training. She had heard of me through discussion with one of my other clients, and felt that her colleagues would benefit from my training programme. We ran a series of one-day training sessions in March and April 2016.

Outcome

“We asked James to train our whole staff in presentation skills. Because of time constraints, we ended up with only one day of training, even though two days would have been well worth it. The training sessions were relaxed and yet focused, and a lot of good tips were given. Even though video recording felt unnecessary at first, it was crucial for the learning exercise. We felt that James has a humble but professional way of teaching, and you could see that he is a very experienced trainer. After the training session, several staff members said that they have used the techniques they learned in their presentations and they felt much more confident when presenting. We can strongly recommend the presentation skills training that Koala offers. It’s worth every minute and every euro spent.”

You can visit NDF here.

Cultural awareness in school

Based in the southern Finnish town of Hämeenlinna, the Tavastia Education Consortium provides education for upper secondary, adults, apprenticeships, and vocational training.

The situation

As Finland’s demographics rapidly change in the twenty-first century, the country is becoming more and more multicultural, with a much more diverse population than ever before. In addition, Tavastia participates in plenty of international projects that require a high level of cultural awareness and sensitivity for their success.

The challenge

In June 2014, Anni Hult, a project manager and teacher at Tavastia, approached me with a request for cultural awareness training for a group of teaching and administrative staff. She had found me through an Internet search, and felt that she and her colleagues would benefit from my training programme. We ran two half-day sessions in October 2014.

The outcome

“I have talked with the other participants, and they thought that your course was effective. Lots of familiar things, but also things we have not thought of before. I have recommended your course.” – Anni Hult

You can visit Tavastia here.

Improving conference presentations

Founded in 2008, Altom is a Romanian software testing company based in Cluj-Napoca, with a branch office in Helsinki. While their core business is testing, they also train both students and experienced software professionals in the latest testing methodologies.

The situation

I had met Oana Casapu, one of Altom’s founding partners, in Helsinki through some networking events. As the company grew and became more successful, she and her colleagues were more and more often presenting to prospective clients, going to conferences, and expanding their training business.

The challenge

In 2011, Oana approached me with a request to train Alex, one of her colleagues, in presentation skills, as he was relatively inexperienced in public speaking at the time, and wanted to practise the presentation he would be giving at a big upcoming software conference in the United States.

He also wanted some tips on presentation skills in general. He was going to be speaking before big audiences a lot more in the future, and wanted to upgrade his abilities and improve his confidence.

Outcome

“The session we had on my last day in Helsinki helped me a lot. And you also boosted up my morale, which was really important for me!” – Alexandru Rotaru, Founding Partner, Altom

You can visit Altom here.

Targeting 100% literacy

The Finnish Reading Centre is a charity organization based in Helsinki whose mission is to promote literacy around Finland, especially in children and young people.

The Centre provides a range of expert services to schools, libraries, the general public, media, and policy makers, including the distribution of information about the benefits of reading and arranging author visits.

The situation

Ilmi Villacis, the director of the Centre, understood that many new immigrant families in Finland do not speak either Finnish or Swedish (Finland’s two official languages) at home. To reach more people effectively, the Centre needed web pages, brochures, and other documentation in English. They also had occasional international visitors that wanted to know about the Centre and its work.

The challenge

In 2017, Ilmi asked me to check the text for the English-language pages of the Centre and for the English version of a brochure for a campaign to encourage parents to read to their children. She also wanted me to coach members of staff in presentations, discussion and debate with an English-speaking audience.

The outcome

“James did good work. His editing was precise and accurate, and his coaching was fun as well as educational. We’ll definitely use him again!” – Ilmi Villacis

You can visit the Finnish Reading Centre here.

Improving Management Communication

The Management Institute of Finland (MIF) helps people understand and develop the skills their organisations need in the future, especially with regards to leadership, communication, and change management. Their subsidiary Infor focuses on the communication side.

The situation

Some of Infor’s customers required training in English, because their companies had expanded outside of Finland, and they needed to improve communications both internally with colleagues in other countries, and externally with international customers. Excellent presentation skills would help them to get their points across verbally, and better writing skills would streamline email, instructions, and other texts.

The challenge

In 2011, Infor contacted me to run a short course in writing skills for IT specialists. Since then, I have been regularly running programmes for their customers in both presenting and writing.

Customer presenters have learned to inspire their colleagues with explanations of their new ideas, and some have later made presentations at international conferences and forums. Customer writers have been able to express themselves in reports and email more clearly, and some have gone on to work in their company communications units.

The outcome

“We have been very pleased with James’s training skills.” – Johanna Ansamaa, Project Manager, Infor

You can visit Infor here.

The centre of home technology

Cozify is a wireless smart home hub that connects smart devices from different manufacturers into one seamless control centre. You can control all of your devices from one mobile app.

The app allows you to do things like automate lighting, heating, and kitchen appliances. It also facilitates security, turning lights on and off when you’re out, sending remote alerts for smoke, water leaks, and motion detectors, and includes a function for video camera monitoring.

The situation

Tony Risikko, in charge of Cozify marketing, understood that, even when it’s simple, technology can be intimidating for some new users. So he got a short film made to show how easy Cozify is to set up. But to sell outside of Finland, he needed somebody to check the English in the script and a native English voice to narrate the video.

The challenge

In 2016, Tony contacted me through a mutual friend. He asked me to proofread and amend the script as necessary. I came to the Cozify office to see the device and its supporting app for myself, and then lend my voice to the short video that demonstrates how to set it up.

The outcome

“Working with James was easy and fast. His approach was very professional, and his suggestions regarding the script were very useful. I fully recommend his services!” – Tony Risikko

You can visit Cozify here.

Terrific translations

Laura Syrjälä runs Topiikki, a communications agency based in Nummela, a small town in southern Finland.

Her company provides a range of services to Finnish businesses, including digital marketing, content production, social media and PR, visual communications, branding, and promotions.

The situation

Topiikki also offers translation as part of its writing services. Laura’s small team provides a number of Finnish companies that do international marketing with English translations of their sales messages. The translations are good, but Laura understood that they needed a professional, native-level polish to really sell products in a foreign marketplace.

The challenge

In 2015, Laura got in touch with me because she had a growing customer demand for English marketing text. Rather than use several proofreaders, she wanted to create a solid business relationship with one person. Since then, I have been her English language consultant, mostly proofreading and editing English text, but even doing the occasional translation from Finnish.

The outcome

“Cooperation with Koala Consulting and James Perkins is absolutely great. The translations and copy edits are not just excellent, but they come with precise explanations and comments. For my business, Koala Consulting is a valuable partner that I have been recommending to others as well.” – Laura Syrjälä

You can visit Topiikki here.

Beautiful pictures, beautiful words

Anna Nordling runs Annaway, a graphic design and marketing company based in Kauniainen, near Helsinki.

Through her company, Anna provides illustrations and plans campaign strategies to help companies sell their products and services. Working alone, she can be flexible for her clients. She also realises that she doesn’t know everything, and is always willing to work with other experts in her projects.

The situation

Anna had a client in the shipbuilding industry who was developing a new website as a point-of-contact brochure for their engineering services. She had done work on the visual appearance of the site, but it still needed English text because her clients wanted to extend their business in new partnerships with shipbuilding companies outside of Finland.

The challenge

In 2015, Anna asked me to edit the existing text on the site and make some new additions. Although I started the project with only a limited understanding of shipbuilding based on my knowledge of assembly cranes, my long experience writing for engineering companies helped me to quickly produce fresh, descriptive and accurate copy for her client right on schedule.

The outcome

“James did an excellent job and the client was very pleased. I would not hesitate to use him again.” – Anna Nordling

You can visit Annaway here.

Australia like it is

Reeta Sinkkonen is the owner and founder of Sinkkonen Consulting, a company specialised in coaching people in cultural competence, such as working in a multicultural environment with international teams, going on international assignment, and on guiding experts coming to Finland on local human resources and business matters.

She deals with different cultures daily, has lived and worked abroad, and even wrote her thesis on expatriate issues, as well as the book Onnistu ulkomaankomennuksissa (Succeed on International Assignments), published by WSOY in 2009.

The situation

Some of the Sinkkonen customers wanted to send employees to Australia, and Reeta needed an expert on Australian life and culture to provide pre-travel training before they moved away. There are not many Australia experts in Finland.

The challenge

In 2008, a mutual friend introduced me to Reeta, and in 2011, she gave me my first assignment. Since then, I have been the resident authority on Australia for Sinkkonen Consulting. Reeta contacts me whenever her customers ask her for information about the land “Down Under”.

Outcome

“I can highly recommend James as a professional Australia trainer. It is my responsibility to find the best trainer for my clients and James is definitely one of them. I´m proud to work with him.” – Reeta Sinkkonen

You can visit Sinkkonen Consulting here.