Who we are

Catherine Phillips – Principal Trainer

Catherine has worked as a new business consultant in the marketing services sector for many years. She was New Business Manager at Addison, the leading annual report specialists, Marketing Director at brand consultancy Glazer, and subsequently Marketing Director at bds beechwood, one of the first integrated agencies.

Prior to this she founded and ran the new business consultancy CPA, specialising in lead generation and appointment setting. CPAs clients spanned a number of disciplines, including Design, Advertising, PR, Direct Marketing, Sales Promotion, Digital and Experiential. Over the years Catherine and her team made tens of thousands of cold calls to these clients’ prospects, ranging from Financial Directors of FTSE 100 companies to Product Managers at FMCGs, to Partners in law firms, to Procurement Managers at insurance companies, to Marketing Directors in telecoms.

Catherine’s formal training as preparation for her life in marketing and sales was the three years she spent at drama school, and her subsequent eight years as a professional actress.

She currently works as a consultant for a number of creative agencies, as well as advising and researching for a leading ATL recruitment agency.

Karen Bowlas – Trainer

Karen was the founder of prestigious London entertainment and events company The Action Station. She ran the business successfully for nine years and during this time found a niche in the market for innovative theatrical storytelling. As a result she expanded her personal repertoire of skills and learnt to train actors and other ‘creative types’ to fulfil engagements.

She found the mix of creative individuals and the world of business fascinating, and she moved on to sell The Action Station and train formally as a small business coach.

“I firmly believe that people with creative ideas can get along brilliantly with the world of business once they have the self belief and motivation to do so. It is my job as a coach to empower them to do so”.

Karen originally trained as an actress herself and her background in theatre allows her to bring a light hearted creativity to her coaching and training.

Karen can be reached at www.thecreativeworkshop.co.uk