C-suite communication strategist, speaker, mentor

On stage since 1977

I have been on stage since 1977, speaking about history, performing illusions and stage acting. I love the stage for what it has brought to people – education and entertainment. I have been speaking professionally to corporate audiences since 1987. I have been a frequent professional keynote speaker, trainer, and meeting facilitator, speaking and facilitating on topics such as leadership, strategy, marketing, crisis management, aviation, cybersecurity, and digital marketing. I have also inspired audiences by speaking on overcoming physical, health, and life challenges. From time to time, I mentor executives in developing business and technology strategies, particularly in the areas of advertising, branding, and new media.

Leadership Coach & Strategist

Have me as a consultant, speaker, or your Fractional Chief Marketing Officer:

• Public Relations (PR), Media Coaching and Crisis Communication (with decades of first-hand experience from TV, radio and print journalism and media communication)
• Digital Marketing (with decades of being a digital PR and digital marketing pioneer in all areas of web development, SEO, content amplification and site optimization)
• Leadership and Business Transformation (based on aviation and ancient Asian philosophies of Analects, Hagakure and Gorinosho)
• AI and leadership transformation (artificial intelligence, machine learning, and trends for various industries)
• Sales Leadership (tactical sales coaching for knowledge workers and motivated salespeople)
• Cybersecurity (having been a cybersecurity developer and sysadmin since 1996, and kept up with all emerging trends and current technologies)

Clients have flown me to locations throughout Asia Pacific, Australia, North America and Europe. I am happy to consider any reasonable location to speak, facilitate, or consult. And in the “travel-lite” world we live in today, I am even more than happy to speak to your audience via “zoom” or livestreaming!

And if you want to expand and accelerate your business and brand, and would desire a fractional Chief Marketing Officer or Global PR leader, I will be your best investment for Asia Pacific and beyond.

Clients have commented that my key strengths are my ability to deliver inspiring, thought-provoking and enriching content for the C-suite, as well as injecting light humor to lighten the serious content. Clients also enjoy my wealth of industry and professional experience as I facilitate challenging sessions with the precision and agility of a surgeon.

After working in the manufacturing, computer, financial, and professional services industries, including designing a multi-million dollar customer service training program for a leading aviation services company, I became an independent trainer, speaker, facilitator, and curriculum developer, developing customized human capital development programs for multinational corporations, including Fortune 1000 companies and Nasdaq-listed technology companies, where I designed, developed, and delivered custom curriculum in e-business, sales, marketing, team building, and more.

Here are some recent programs I have developed or co-developed and delivered, including some interactive video leadership development programs for pilots found at flightleaders.com.

Media Coaching (with Crisis Communication)

This is a concise media coaching program for busy C-suite executives and entrepreneurs. The primer will help business leaders understand the paradigm shift from being a business leader to being a media spokesperson, which have different requirements. The primer will go through both the human and technical aspects of being a spokesperson and prepare executives to be ready for any media interview, whether it is in print (dailies/magazines), online, at “live” events and conferences, or on TV and radio. The brief primer will conclude with a mock TV interview, and leaders will be able to practice their “media performance”.

• Selling vs Telling
• The Media’s agenda
• Fundamental questions
• Interview preparation (for print, online, TV/radio, events)
• What to say and provide to the media
• Interview dynamics
• Working in tandem with the journalist
• Difficult questions
• Crisis management basics with CRM (crew resource management) and TEM (threat and error management) from aviation and medicine
• Crisis communication basics
• Mock interview

IntrinSelling™ Primer – Sales Coaching

We have been developing corporate sales coaching programs since the 1990’s for multinational corporations and emerging companies alike. If your company needs a quick primer to inspire your salespeople, the IntrinSelling™ Primer is your fastest route to sales effectiveness:

• Can a 10-year old sell?
• Mind over matter
• Understanding the Behavior of Buying
• Primary and Secondary buying desires
• 3-step Sales Cycle
• Credibility in the sales proceess
• What is the Greatest Motivator?
• Non-Verbal Communication in sales
• Power of Mimicry
• Types of Customers and the Lingo
• Persuasion
• 18-minute wonder
• Case Studies (for custom training programs)

Servant Leadership with Aviation CRM

NOTE: This program can also be customized. In the airline industry, safety is paramount. With automation and methodical pilot training, things can be left to machines and checklists. But what happens when extraordinary and “out-of-scope” abnormal conditions challenge pilots on the flight deck? Do they rise to exemplary and extraordinary leadership? This revised and improved training program, based on Seamus’ earlier work teaching “what’s next” leadership to corporations, is adapted for airlines, with references to CRM, MCC, aviation safety, pilot selection and training, and pilot transition to leadership. The program challenges participants to examine and integrate the wisdom of the samurai and early kingdoms from works such as the Hagakure, Gorinosho, and the Three Kingdoms.

• WHY of leadership
• CRM and its effects
• Pilot profile, assessment and selection
• Psychological profile and competencies
• Learning from the East
• Historical Three Kingdoms and lessons to be learned
• Leaders are warriors
• Learning from 17th century classic Hagakure
• Learning from 350-years old classic Gorinosho by Musashi
• Power of mindfulness in leadership
• Benevolent leadership that leapfrogs the ordinary
• Footprint business card™

I spoke in TED-style talks at the APATS (Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium) in Singapore, based on the Servant Leadership for Airlines program we have. I was privileged to receive nice audience comments and accolades.

“The Human Factors session (the last session on Day 1) saw a nearly packed house held captive by Dr Seamus Phan of The McGallen & Bolden Group…;  that set the stage for Dr Seamus Phan to work magic with his delightful time travel presentation wherein he linked philosophies from Ancient China and Japan to Leadership lessons for modern-day aviation organisations.” (source: Sanjay Mahendrakumar Mukherjee)

“I was at the conference and this speech was very inspiring and fun at the same time. Great performance!” (source: Capt J Drappier)

Leadership Secrets at 30,000 Feet

Through years of co-development with retired veteran airline captain Michael Caston, a new workshop was born – “Leadership Secrets at 30,000 Feet”. The workshop is highly experiential and hands-on, where C-suite and senior business leaders can be briefed on aviation best practices and then apply them within a realistic flight simulator, instructed by real pilots, and then synergize and integrate these time and field proven ideas back into running their businesses more effectively and profitably.

• Presentation
• Briefing
• Simulation (Crew of 4, for a total group of 16)
  • Pre-flight briefing (SOPs, checklists, briefings)
  • Flight from A to B (Choice of departure/destination, day/night/weather)
  • Engine start (Taxi, take-off, minor problem solving)
  • Cruise (Problem solving, decision-making, teamwork, threats, errors, automation, etc)
  • Descent (Passenger handling, landing scenarios, etc)
• Q&A

Keynotes & Breakfast Talks

If you want to inspire your executives and employees to overcome personal and organizational challenges, contact me for a short, powerful, and insightful keynote, or an early morning wake-up presentation:

• Leadership
• Media Coaching
• Crisis Communication (based on aviation best practices)
• Leadership transition for airlines and pilots
• Sales
• Public Relations (PR)
• Branding and marketing
• Social Media
• Conquering personal challenges to health
• Entrepreneurship/intrapreneurship
• Teambuilding
• Customer Service / Service Quality

Customized Workshops & Event Facilitation

Not all organizations are created equal. I believe in tailoring programs to the specific needs of my clients whenever possible.

Many organizations, large and small, have benefited from my customized training and facilitation, whether these programs are in the areas of management, quality, service, advertising, or technology. I pride myself on being an open, engaging and knowledgeable facilitator who can bring my own knowledge and expertise to lead sessions effectively and bring out the best ideas and solutions from your people during these sessions.

Whether you are a large multinational corporation, a government agency, a non-profit organization, an emerging company, or a startup with big dreams, I can help you!

Curriculum Development Expertise

What I can do for you as a curriculum developer is a special blend of the following:

• Field-proven corporate experience.
• Proven speaking and facilitation experience.
• Served very large corporations to startups.
• Wealth of business, journalism, research, technology, marketing, and branding experience.
• Culturally sensitive (East & West).
• Expert in developing classroom training, interactive media, video training, and new media materials.

What can I help you develop?

• Workshops of various duration.
• Games and interactive exercises.
• Case studies and discussions.
• Historical case stories for illustration.
• E-learning (Web-based, mobile, social media, etc)

So, if you need a curriculum development expert with a keen sense of audio-visual imagery, a strong business, leadership, and technology background, an adventurous spirit, and a fast turnaround time for a customized training program, let’s talk!

I have co-hosted segments on USA’s ZDTV Radio, TechTV Radio, and TechTV Live. I have also co-hosted segments on 93.8FM (English) and Capital 95.8FM (Mandarin). Please visit the “Video & Audio” page to see some of my past work on TV, radio and professional speaking.

Clients’ Compliments

• “BIG, thank you. You are really good and professional. I enjoyed it, especially the part where you interacted with the Keynote Speaker during Q&A. Cool!” Emcee, large industry event.
• “You’ve been such a captivating speaker and my clients have given me nothing but praises about your presentation.” Opening keynote, IT security event.
• “Thank you for the very inspiring talk and for sharing your life story and experiences in business start-ups. Your audience was awed by your perseverance in pursuing your dreams.” Keynote, career event.
• “It was a pleasure having you; you were a wonderful presenter. I think your keynote was received very well and caused people to pause to ponder the ‘larger issues in life’. It’s always refreshing to know that there are beacons of truth and friends like you in the business world.” Keynote: regional corporate travel conference.
• “More interesting speakers, like Seamus!” “Very informative, knowledgeable and interesting!” “Great speaker! Lively, interesting and enjoyable!” “His speech was exciting!” “Excellent!” Keynote, government-led IT conference.
• “Wonderful talk! Very enlightening!” keynote, tech & branding event.
• “Excellent facilitation!” “Really cool facilitation!” “You did a really great job!” facilitator, government-led industry brainstorming event.
• “Very impressive moderation of the session!” “You did a great job!” facilitator, closed-door government-led CEO event.
• “Your presentation was great! Very interesting illustrations! The gameshow you led was highly commendable.” Keynote & gameshow host a government-led conference (400+ people).
• “Excellent! Very interesting and informative! Well done, Seamus, for transforming a dry IT topic into an interesting session!” Speaker, regional PR conference.
• “Great success! The audience just loves your session!” Keynote, eGov seminar.
• “It’s our privilege to have you. I thoroughly enjoyed your session.” highest-rrated speaker at a government-led IT seminar (350+ people).
• “I am most impressed with your professional presentation, interesting content, and captivating delivery.” Keynote, national banking security & risk seminar.
• ” Excellent! Great presentation!” Keynote, IT Symposium (1,000+ people).
• “Excellent in presentation and moderation!” Moderator, IT conference.
• “Brilliant and informative!” Keynote: regional incentive travel event (400+ people).
• “Excellent and impactful presentation!” Keynote, administrators conference.
• “Excellent in both presentation and content!” Speaker, IT conference.

Engage me to supercharge your business now!

Please fill in your details to engage me for public relations (PR) and strategic counsel, media coaching, crisis communications, and keynote speeches.

If you are a journalist who needs a friendly and credible source, you can look at my Qwoted profile or contact me here.