I brought Ann in as a speaker for the Women Business Owner’s Alliance, knowing that she would give a strong presentation, but her talk exceeded my expectations. I have heard some of her material on her videos and in her newsletters, but she was really energizing in person and just what I needed in my “state of victimhood” around having an incredibly heavy workload right now. I changed my conversation about having too much to do, and started feeling better right away. The WBOA is an organization that supports women entrepreneurs at all stages of business, from people just considering starting a business, to people like me who have been self-employed for ten years or more. What I so appreciated about Ann’s presentation is that it was relevant to all of us, no matter where we are in our business trajectory. Ann’s advice is relevant to more than just business people — getting clarity truly applies to all aspects of life. As such, I think Ann would make a great speaker for a wide range of audiences and organizations. Amy Woolf, Principal, Amy Woolf Color Consulting
I’ve worked with Ann on two different strategic planning processes, for two different organizations, and I really like her ability to listen intently and sort through layers of information from a variety of perspectives. Ann cuts to the chase and distills what is important while still honoring the intentions of each individual. She also keeps things light, on task, and moving along quickly so we finish on time. Ann has a great ability to strategically outline the work that needs to get done and frame it so that it is doable and not just a plan that sits on the shelf. We definitely accomplished all of our objectives and have an excellent platform for continued progress on our own. I would certainly welcome Ann’s ‘uncommon clarity’ on future projects! I recommend her highly to any group doing thoughtful strategic thinking and planning. Erin Williams, Executive Director, Worcester Cultural Coalition
We’ve never met in person but I just wanted to shoot you an email to let you know that I’m a fan of your work. While we both tick the “Management Consultant” and “Strategy” boxes, I appreciate how unique and focused your perspective is. I’m a big fan of the content you publish in your social channels and on your blog. Really liked this one: 4 Skills That Separate The Super Productive From Everyone Else. That’s it! Not that you needed validation from someone you don’t know, but I wanted to let you know that I think what you do is great. It’s refreshing to see a professional who cares so deeply about the people she serves. Nunzio Bruno
Your Clear Thoughts is a breath of fresh air for me. When I read your articles I feel joy! Because you make sense without making things complicated. You dig to the root of the problem, and I find this to be the only effective way of dealing with ambiguous blobs of reality. Perhaps the picture in attachment will speak for itself. Yep, I have your quote stuck on my desk. This is what makes a difference for me every day. I now approach every new project with this question, and I see my colleagues picking it up too. It’s the first time I’m writing a feedback email to an author. But this time I can’t resist temptation to say that I love your work! Tina Goryucheva, Marketing Manager, Energy 8 RSP, Dubai, UAE
Ann is clear, focused, and speaks with tons of authority, but also with openness. She zooms in on important issues and steers the conversation to the essence without making people feel cut off. As a result, we tackled thorny issues, made important decisions, and developed an excellent strategic plan. I can definitely recommend Ann. I just wish I had access to her insights all of the time! Catherine Peterson, Executive Director, ArtsBoston
Ann Latham is just a terrific speaker. I was hoping for a single gem of wisdom. What I got instead was a solid hour packed with gems. I learned at least six techniques that are immediately applicable to my work and which I was able to apply starting at 8:00 AM the very next day. I learned that clarity of purpose isn’t a high level concept, but a tool to get me through each day. I learned how to SOAR through decisions, the six outcomes for meetings, how to reduce email, and the only three reasons to include others in decisions and plans. I could go on. And that’s all in one hour! Ann is concise, to the point, and exceedingly clear. She uses great examples that make her points incredibly memorable. On top of that, Ann connected with the room and engaged us. She is energetic and passionate – totally committed to helping us improve our situations with clarity. I believe Ann’s work and the way she creates clarity are especially valuable for knowledge workers where cognitive processes are more important than physical processes. If you are looking for an excellent speaker who will have an immediate impact, I recommend you call Ann. Robert A. Burke, Operational Excellence, Baltimore County Office of Information and Technology
“Ann is an invaluable executive coach. She is a quick, honest, and insightful partner. I have learned as much from her about focused, action-oriented leadership in two months as in a decade of first-hand experience. Ann elevated my awareness of strategy, planning, and execution in ways that immediately impacted my work. I can’t recommend Ann more highly.” John Bidwell, Director, Marketing & Digital Strategy, Baystate Health
Ann has worked with the Y in a number of capacities over the last couple years. Most recently she led a half-day retreat for the Board. This event was very successful, helping the Board to think through how it should evaluate different growth alternatives and trajectories. Ann’s ability to help the Board distill a host of competing goals, aspirations and concerns down to a small number of key issues was very valuable, and it helped to leave at least this Board member with a sharper understanding of the relevant trade-offs and prioritization that will be necessary for the Y as it plans its future. Bob Ethier, Treasurer, HRYMCA
“Ann understood our situation and challenges very quickly. We had five critical issues and she helped us address all five in less time than we thought would be needed for one. She cut to the core, leading us to several important decisions and new ways of working together to be more effective and more strategic. She is fast, refreshingly different, and someone I can recommend highly.” Tim Van Epps, President, The Sandri Companies
“Ann is really different from other consultants. For one thing, she is 100% driven by the problems, people, and the organization in front of her, not by a particular model or process to which she wants others to adapt. She relates well to a wide range of people from Board Chair to employee. She sees the whole, creates clear goals that work for all levels, and then designs a process to achieve those goals effectively and quickly. She unobtrusively prevents old baggage, emotional issues, or other distractions from derailing progress. She listens well and gets everyone else listening to each other. “I’m delighted to have been on the Board of Directors that hired Ann. Thanks to her, we reached an informed consensus that was level-headed, reality-based, and an accurate reflection of where we were and where we needed to go, and did so in very little time. I would definitely recommend her. I believe Ann could walk into any number of situations and get you where you need to go much faster and better than you could accomplish alone or with any other consultant.” Jim Frutkin, Vice President of Clinical Services, Service Net, Inc.