“Helping Native English Speakers Be Understood in a Multilingual World. Bridging the Language Gap in Both Directions.”
Why do so many companies struggle to communicate successfully with employees, clients, and stakeholders who speak English as a second language? It’s tempting to place the blame on non-native speakers. But what if the problem lies closer to home?
With more than two billion people speaking English as a second or foreign language, the real challenge is that native English speakers often use fast-paced, idiomatic, and unclear English that simply doesn’t translate well. That’s where I come in.
A passionate communicator, teacher, and TEDx speaker, I challenge business leaders, teams, and communities to reimagine how they speak English—not by dumbing it down, but by making it clearer, more respectful, and far more effective. With decades of lived experience in bilingual environments and over 7,000 hours of Business English instruction for professionals around the globe, I bring powerful insight, warmth, and real-world solutions to audiences who want to create more inclusive and productive workplaces.
A Unique Perspective Grounded in a Lifetime of Bilingual Communication
My career spans more than four decades across two languages, two professions, and countless industries. Born and raised in Montréal—the fourth largest French-speaking city in the world—I’m a native anglophone who has lived my entire life in a bilingual environment. My fluency in English and my struggles both in working in French, and with a hearing disability, have shaped my deep understanding of what it means to communicate across language and cultural lines.
Early in life, I gravitated toward the written word. I studied English, journalism, and cinematography before launching a career in photography. In 1985, I returned to school at McGill University to study corporate communications—training that led to a long and successful career, beginning at companies like Télé-Direct Publications and The Montreal Gazette.
In 1994, I founded my own consulting firm and spent the last 148 years helping companies of all sizes find their voice, craft their message, and reach their stakeholders with clarity and impact. From employee engagement strategies to SAP Change Management Communications, I earned a reputation as a creative, plain-language communicator who could bridge linguistic and cultural divides within organizations. I always enjoyed writing for Canada’s Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit program, where technical writing and strategic communication intersect.
A New Calling: Teaching English for Business Success
In 2012, I made a bold move. Tired of the isolation of freelance work and facing a progressive hearing disability, I returned to school once again—this time, to train as a certified Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) instructor. It was a natural extension of the communication skills I had honed over decades, now combined with my heartfelt desire to help others succeed.
I specialize in Business English and found my passion in coaching professionals—managers, engineers, consultants, and executives—from around the world. My clients bring their everyday work to our sessions, and I help them gain confidence and clarity in the English they need every day.
At the same time, I’ve been learning myself how to deal with my constantly worsening hearing disability. This experience, along with specific training in how to deal with my disability, led me to connect my work and my problems and find my message. Native speakers must take responsibility for how they use English when communicating with second-language speakers (and the deaf!)
In my recent TEDx talk, I address this vital but overlooked issue: native English speakers contribute to misunderstanding and miscommunication in international environments. With wit and insight, I explain how everyday conversational habits—slang, idioms, connected speech—can exclude, frustrate, and even alienate colleagues and partners who use English as a second language.
