Emma Valahu Consulting

I help experiential travel founders build an automated system that turns website visitors and social media followers into warm, qualified leads—without them having to manually nurture every prospect.

Founder

Alpha Lead Academy

Senior Consultant

Self Employed

Communication is everything. If you can't get your message across in a compelling and and persuasive way, you've lost. Doing that in a second language brings a whole new level of stress. This was how I helped:
Coaching with people all over the world who want to feel confident, professional and above all effective communicating in the work environment.

Communication Coach for Professionals

My English Team

In a world where communication is 99.99% in English, it's vital that we can ALL communicate effectively, no matter where we were born. I provided training to ensure that those who wanted to take part in the global conversation, could do so through English.

Communication specialist for non-native English speakers

italki

I teach English online to students all over the world. 
General English courses and targeted speaking and listening courses.
Preparation courses for IELTS and other exams.
Academic skills for students going to study or already studying in English at  university.

Online EFL teacher

Alpha Omega College

Training the next generation of EFL/ESL teachers so they could go out into the world and help others communicate effectively and with confidence.

Assistant Course Tutor (CELTA)

Southern Cross Teacher Trianing Centre Ecuador

Assistant Course Tutor CELTA

Bell Educational Services Ltd

Student Services Manager

EFL Co-Ordinator

British Council

Teaching adults and children a range of courses including General English, Cambridge exams and Business English.
Delivering a series of Professional Development sessions to colleagues.
Presenting at IATEFL Poland.

English Language Teacher

Helping Consultants turn curious visitors into high-ticket clients with Educational Email Courses | Making your prospects feel like VIP clients before you even meet.

You create extraordinary experiences that travelers dream about 

But does this sound familiar?

❌ Website visitors browse your trips… then disappear, never to return.
❌ Social media followers engage, but never take action.
❌ Your email list is filled with cold leads who rarely convert.

To get more traffic to your site you try:

🔹 Posting more on social media—but engagement doesn’t equal bookings.
🔹 Running ads—but the moment you stop paying, the leads dry up.
🔹 Offering a generic ‘Sign up for updates’ button—but no one’s excited to join.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚—𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.

They browse, leave, and never return. And all that effort (and money) driving traffic goes to waste.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻.
I create Educational Email Journeys that capture website visitors, nurture them on autopilot, and turn curiosity into bookings by:

✅ Giving potential travelers a reason to stay connected—so they don’t just visit once and disappear forever.
✅ Delivering valuable insights and behind-the-scenes storytelling—so they move from passive interest to active desire.
✅ Keeping them engaged until the moment they’re ready to book—so your trips stay top of mind while they weigh their options.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸?
Because booking an experiential trip isn’t a quick decision—it’s a big investment. And people don’t just buy the trip; they buy trust in you.

A free email course builds that trust by:

✔️ Providing multiple touchpoints over time, so potential travelers become familiar with your brand and feel confident making a big purchase.
✔️ Removing every hesitation, one by one, so nothing stands in the way of saying ‘yes.’
✔️ Positioning you as the expert, so travelers feel secure choosing you over competitors.
✔️ Creating a personal connection, so when they’re finally ready to book, you feel like a trusted friend—not just another travel company.

What others say:
“Thanks to Emma’s work, I saw rapid growth in my email list and a return on investment within just a few weeks.” – A.B.

“I've downloaded a LOT of lead magnets, and your email course is definitely at the top of the list for actual value.” – E.J.

“Emma came prepared, needed little from me, and wrote fantastic copy. She handled all the technical details and troubleshooting, which freed me up to focus on my clients.” – J.G.

Ready to turn ‘Sounds amazing, but…’ into ‘Where do I sign up?’
DM me for a quick chat about how an email journey could transform your bookings.

Emma Valahu

Esther Zimmer Communications

Since 2010 I've been providing accessible change communications consultancy to organisations embarking on all kinds of transformations. For examples of the kinds of change project communications I've delivered, I’ve outlined those that have extended beyond six months below ⬇️ .

Founder & Principle Change Communications Consultant 

Act Big Live Small

Co-founded with my husband, David Zimmer, Act Big Live Small is a movement based on everyday activism with a focus on supporting Asian elephant conservation. 

We are working to create and share ideas on how each of us can get more out of our lives by amplifying the impact of our actions, while reducing the impact of our footprints on the world around us. We provide a number of small grants to other people's Act Big Live Small projects and dedicate financial resources to support Asian elephant conservation, while actively raising funds for Save Elephant Foundation (SEF), a registered Thai non-profit organisation. David and I are UK ambassadors for SEF. 

We are UK charitable trust with three trustees. Find us here: www.actbiglivesmall.com

Co-Founder & Creative Director 

HubDot

This is a slight detour from my usual change communications work. However, I have a long-term relationship with HubDot. 

• Provide strategic communications guidance to the Founder & Creative Director of this global organisation. 
• Most recently led the development of HubDot’s core proposition and product definition, delivering a comprehensive credentials deck to articulate their unique value in the marketplace. This project involved aligning HubDot’s internal vision with its external messaging, ensuring clarity and consistency to support the organisation’s evolving goals as it goes through a period of significant change. By clarifying their marketing position and equipping them with a clear, impactful tool for business development, this work will enable HubDot to engage more effectively with stakeholders and drive growth.

Strategic Communications Advisor 

Element Materials Technology

Partnered with the Technology Platform Programme (TPP) to develop and implement a change and internal communications framework. TPP’s mission is to create a global technology platform that serves as the foundation for Element’s operations.

• Designed a communications framework that provides a clear process for communication planning and delivery that drives stakeholder engagement across TPP and the wider organisation. 
• Revamped the programme’s SharePoint communication site, transforming it into an intuitive and visually engaging hub that significantly improved accessibility and user interaction.
• Delivered strategic change communications support across TPP’s various workstreams - as required - to ensure smooth transitions and targeted, timely messages through the most effective channels.
• Produced a monthly newsletter transforming complex technical data into clear, compelling narratives to keep stakeholders and the organisation consistently informed of the benefits being delivered to employees through TPP transformation projects.

Change Communications Consultant 

Initially engaged to lead the change communications strategy for the largest digital transformation in CWT's history - which I did so successfully. I then went on to lead the communications on a further seven change projects; some were delivered in succession, while others were delivered in parallel. 

Also implemented a repeatable model for delivering large-scale change communications internally, with strategy, planning and content leadership managed centrally but executed locally by a global network of in-country change managers using pre-approved communication toolkits. I was also the architect of CWT’s first enterprise-wide global change communications strategy, providing a common leading-practice framework across 8,500 frontline colleagues. These processes resulted in increased project team buy-in and earlier involvement of communications expertise, resulting in more impactful communication activities. 

Authored multi-channel content for internal and customer audiences, collaborating with multiple executive-level stakeholders and project teams. 

PROJECTS INCLUDED: 
•The global deployment of a new customer service platform and email service provider to 8,500 frontline staff. 
•Two phases of a workplace solutions project - 1. Moving frontline staff from an office to work-from-home environment due to the pandemic and 2. Returning their support to an office environment once it was safe to do so. 
•The return to work of frontline colleagues who had been on some form of extended furlough or leave without pay throughout the pandemic. Created a communications strategy and onboarding process which was rolled out globally - work I'm really proud of. Led the creation of the external response to customers and the media. 
•Two Global Distribution System (GDS) updates. This project supported technology updates which changed the way bookings were made, impacting travel bookers and customers. Led the customer communications for one of these updates.

Change Communications Consultant

Esther Zimmer - Personal Stylist & Image Consultant

For several years I enjoyed a multi-hyphen career, working as a Freelance Change Communications Consultant alongside working as a Personal Stylist and Image Consultant. 

I trained as Personal Stylist and Image Consultant in 2010 through a Federation of Image Professionals International (FIPI) training provider. I then went on to work with clients and in mid-2013, I officially launched my personal styling consultancy. In the years that followed I had the privilege of working with personal style clients all over the world, using my talent for building relationships and storytelling to grow my business. I designed and facilitated events for brands, including King’s College London Fashion Society, wrote and spoke about the power of personal style and sustainability in fashion, and was a guest speaker at HubDot, Ladies Who Impress and Say Yes More events. A highlight of this experience was working as a volunteer stylist for Smart Works Charity.

I was drawn to personal styling because much as I'm process driven, I'm also creative. And I'm fascinated by clothing as a form of non-verbal communication and what it says about us culturally, collectively and as individuals. Our personal image can communicate volumes about who we are and what we value - our clothing has the power to influence how others see us. 

While I enjoyed my time working as a stylist, global poverty, inequality and environmental crises are among the most pressing issues of our time and a huge contributor to each is fast fashion and I found it increasingly difficult to align my work with my values. While I continue to advocate for change and transparency in the fashion industry and do continue to work - by request only - with clients who wish to curate an ethical and sustainable wardrobe, I officially closed my personal styling consultancy at the end of 2017.

Founder and Accredited Master Image Consultant 

Instinctif Partners

Hired to provide change communications support to the Managing Partner of this global communications agency on large-scale initiatives for clients including Direct Line Group, Lloyds Banking Group, Starwood Hotels, eBay and Givaudan. Worked alongside the in-house Employee Engagement team to successfully deliver clients’ communication strategies designed to increase employee engagement and advocacy for client change initiatives via campaigns and experiential events. 

Delivered multi-channel change communications and editorial content for a wide variety of audiences. For example, Starwood Hotels transitioned to a new digital platform for managing guest reservations to improve operational efficiency and remain competitive. This transition required significant changes in technology, internal processes and employee roles. Communication activities included leadership messaging, town halls and interactive webinar meeting scripts and detailed FAQs, a digital newsletter and comprehensive intranet portal content explaining the changes. These activities resulted in positive employee sentiment and a smooth transition to the new platform with minimal disruptions to guest services.

Change Communications Consultant - Employee Engagement

Unilever

Successfully delivered the global change communications strategy for the transition of Unilever's Workplace Services' Global Travel, Meeting & Events division from an in-country, locally managed travel booking process to a centralised travel programme. This included the introduction of a new corporate travel management company and impacted 100,000 employees across 75 countries. 

Architect of a central communications plan and co-ordinated a global network of change managers to cascade communications using pre-approved toolkits. Worked with relevant stakeholders to resolve local issues and drive service adoption, which delivered €50M in savings.

Change Communications Consultant - Workplace Services

Direct Line Group

In this role I was the trusted advisor to the MD of Sales, Service & Partnerships (SS&P). This is a customer-facing area of 8,000 colleagues and included the Churchill, Direct Line and Privilege brands. I led on all SS&P change and employee engagement projects, with a focus on the Direct Line Group (DLG) rebrand, the separation from the RBS Group and DLG’s subsequent restructure.

•	Facilitated new brand and company values workshops within SS&P and worked in collaboration with the Group’s external creative agency to design and develop an SS&P brand strategy toolkit. Using storytelling techniques, we simplified the Group’s vision and how it applied to SS&P to focus on where the business was, the competitive challenges it was facing and where individuals needed to focus to help achieve SS&P’s vision.

•	Led end-to-end communications for the SS&P organisational redesign, including site closure and redundancy communications. Was a key member of the Change Steering Committee in collaboration with HR and Employee Relations, the Group Press Office and trade union representatives.

•	Created a series of career days for SS&P colleagues who were at risk of unemployment due to site closures; many of these colleagues had worked for SS&P for a significant period of time. Drawing on the well of knowledge within Group HR, we delivered a number of events covering topics from writing cover letters and CVs to interview techniques and presentation skills. 

•	Using the concept of ‘office hours’, successfully created a culture of on-going dialogue between management and staff at all levels specifically around the topics of the separation, rebrand and restructure. 

•	Ensured the seamless implementation of business-as-usual employee engagement activities to drive continued customer sales and service. This included internal, company-wide campaign-style product launches. Was formally recognised for delivering the most successful internal campaign for the division at that time.

Change Communications Consultant - Sales, Service & Partnerships

Lloyds Banking Group

Formerly a permanent employee, I returned to Lloyds Banking Group, by request, to work with the company on a contract basis. I managed a team of five with a budget of £2.7m to deliver a number of internal and customer communication projects spanning both the Lloyds TSB and Bank of Scotland (BoS) brands with a combined internal audience of 105,000. Some of these projects include, but are not limited to:  

•	Successful implementation of a Lloyds TSB branch communications strategy, revising the process for delivering marketing campaign communications to branches to increase frontline colleague knowledge of current campaigns and improve in-branch customer service. 

•	The internal and in-branch launch of Lloyds TSB's major digital transformation - Money Manager, a free online tool designed to show Internet Banking customers what they spend their money on and how to manage it better. This launch saw the first ever ‘brand promotion’ exercise run in a branch at any UK high street bank at the time and the creation of an internal microsite, which became the go-to Money Manager information hub across the Group. 

•	The introduction of a new Bank of Scotland brand identity to customers via a brand book and product brochures, working in collaboration with the Group’s external creative agency. In addition, planned and delivered several colleague training events and customer-facing brand reveal events. 

•	Bringing Lloyds Banking Group’s sponsorship of the London 2012 Games to life, delivering an overview of the opportunities for customers and creating engagement around 2012-related activities and events. This was achieved by increasing the visibility of the Group’s Partnership with London 2012 in the branch environment via permanent stands and through storytelling: identifying communities and individuals who were receiving tangible benefits from the Partnership and highlighting their inspirational stories in a London 2012 customer magazine.

Communications Consultant - Group Marketing 

Oh, hello. 

Do you want your project’s change communications to inspire action, influence behaviour and build employee trust? 

You’ve come to the right place. 

I’m a Change Communications Consultant who's passionate about putting the humans navigating business transformation at the very centre of the change - it's the people who will make the difference between your change project being successful and sustainable, or not. 

I also make accessing communications expertise for your next change project simple - no need to hire a full-time contractor for a minimum number of months or appoint an expensive agency selling broader capabilities than your project needs – hire me as your Change Communications Consultant instead. I'm open to both project-based or contract agreements, but please do note that I work outside IR35. 

My services are structured to support the differing needs of each client’s transformation project. You can hire me to lead and deliver your end-to-end change communication strategy, create a change strategy framework for an in-house team to deliver, or to lead on specific deliverables. 

I’ve worked with some of the world’s most impactful brands - take a look at my 'Experience' section below - which has given me experience across diverse sectors, but what sets me apart is that before I became a freelancer I worked in-house, so I’ve been in my client’s shoes. 

So far, so good? I offer:

✅ Change Communications Strategy & Planning: Partnering closely with key stakeholders, I can lead the design, development and delivery of the change communication strategy and plan tailored to your organisation’s specific needs. Or... I can design and develop the strategy and plan in preparation for an in-house team to deliver. 
✅ Core Message & Communication Creation: Develop core messages and communication materials depending on the needs of the project and the channels available. | Write and edit internal communications including workshop and support materials to equip people managers with the knowledge and skills to communicate change effectively within their teams. | All delivered in your organisation's tone of voice and to brief and deadlines.
✅ Crisis Communication Planning: Prepare for how to communicate in the event of worst case scenarios or unplanned events to maintain employee trust. 
✅ Measurement of Communication Effectiveness: Evaluate if/how messages achieve their intended goals by assessing audience engagement/understanding and impact on behaviour.

DM me and let’s have a chat about how I can support your change project needs!

taplio

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Emma Valahu

Esther Zimmer

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