Kendra J.

The Venned Group

The Venned Group specializes in cultivating the next generation of leadership. Through high-touch, cohort-based training programs, we partner with senior leaders to develop their mid-level counterparts. Our unique approach ensures that tomorrow's leaders are equipped with the necessary skills to effectively guide their teams, influence peers, and communicate seamlessly with top-tier executives.

What sets The Venned Group apart is our laser focus on personalized cohort-based training. Unlike generic, one-size-fits-all programs, we understand that each organization has its unique DNA. Our programs and workshops are adaptable, ensuring that your leadership challenges are addressed head-on, resulting in sustainable growth and improved organizational dynamics.

Founder

Boardy

Connector

Orion's Reach

Orion’s Reach is a Not-for-Profit organization comprised of passionate volunteers dedicated to helping aspiring professionals acquire the skills and knowledge required to REACH their career goals.

At Orion’s Reach our approach to mentorship is different. Professionals are looking to learn from different perspectives in-order-to transform into someone who is ready to REACH for the stars. As a result, we match each Mentee with multiple Mentors based on desired skills they would like to learn as well as interests. With this approach, individuals can develop leadership and presenting skills at the same time from two different experts. Our approach also provides the opportunity for individuals to learn about a specific industry from multiple perspectives.

Advisory Board Member

Chase Hospitality Group

•	Started as Event Coordinator, promoted to Event Manager in March of 2016
•	Corresponded with the client on all details of event from décor to food and beverage pairing
•	Worked closely with the Executive Chef to create custom menus; includes costing and idea formation
•	Coordinated any necessary rentals with preferred suppliers
•	Accommodated client’s provided event budgets ranging from $500 to $30,000
•	Lead, grew and motivated event 'team leads'
•	Executed events from start to finish
•	Accommodated client’s provided event budgets ranging from $500 to $30,000

Event Manager

Donaleighs Irish Public House

Managing all Social Media platforms and organizing annual events such as the Annual Golf Tournament and Charity Calendar production process from start to finish.  Handle all reservations and aid with large party catering requests.

Social Media & Events Manager

I’m bringing real human connection back to the workplace.

You've likely heard this before, but I’m not just talking about it—I’m making it happen. Here’s how ⬇️:

Four ways I can help you:

-> Tailored soft skills-based workshops for global brands
-> Curated events that bring leaders together to connect on soft skills-focused topics (DM me to see if we're coming to a city near you soon!)
-> Global speaking engagements on the power of soft skills to enhance hard skills and maximize performance
-> Our S.P.A.R.K. Assessment & 1-1 coaching to optimize working styles & improve collaboration

Why do I do what I do?

I care deeply about human connection. In today's tech-saturated world, the lack of genuine interaction is destroying performance, well-being, and efficiency across teams. That’s why I’m on a mission to help organizations maximize their potential by leveraging their existing resources.

Do you think we'd have a good chat? Send me a DM!

If my dad knows I'm driving somewhere, he asks the same three questions.
Did you gas up the car?
Do you have your phone charger?
Will you text me when you get there?

In my 20s, it used to drive me nuts.
"I'm an ADULT, Dad. I know these things."
I'd answer with the exact tone that communicated...I've got this handled, you can stop now.

But he never stopped.
Gas. Charger. Text when you arrive.
Every single trip, into my 30's it's something I proactively update him on now.

It took me years to understand what he was actually saying.
He wasn't asking if I had gas in the car. 
He was saying, "I need to know you're safe."
He wasn't checking if I was competent. 
He was managing his own worry the only way he knew how.

In one of our past cohorts, a CEO and her team sat down to review their S.P.A.R.K. assessment results.

Her entire team rated her as a 'definite' collaborative style, every single person.
The assessment showed she was 100% flexible in her leadership style, meaning someone who could read her team and adjust in real time.

The room went quiet when they saw the gap between her intent and their experience.

Then she told her side of the story...

"I care so much about you. I don't want you to burn out. I'm just trying to catch things before you're drowning."

She wasn't micromanaging. 
She was adjusting constantly to make sure no one fell through the cracks.
But because she never named it, her care landed as control.

Gas. Charger. Text when you arrive.
Did you finish the report? Do you need help? Are you sure you're okay?

Care has its own language.
And when we don't translate it, people hear something else entirely.

Every week, I write about these patterns for middle managers and the senior leaders who support them, like how care gets mistranslated and what it costs when we don't name what we actually mean.

Newsletter in the comments.

P.S. Tomorrow's my dad's birthday. Gift ideas from (or for) the fathers out there?

Kendra Johnson

Canada’s leading soft skills expert | Creator of The S.P.A.R.K. Method™ | 1900+ managers upskilled | The Peak’s 2025 Emerging Leader | Get weekly tips👇

I turned 35 this week, so here are 35 reminders I've noted throughout this past year.

1. People really do want to help you. Get out of your own way and ask
2. Learning what you want and stating it gets you farther much faster
3. Highs and lows are part of business. The more people you talk to, the more normal it becomes
4. Your mindset makes or breaks your day. Choose it intentionally
5. What someone does is the most boring thing about them. Why they do it matters more
6. The world is big. Get outside your bubble often
7. Stop building for the fantasy workplace. Meet people in the actual chaos
8. Clarity about guardrails beats confidence coaching every time
9. A good mentor changes everything. Find one. Be one
10. Your worst moment probably taught you more than your best one
11. People talk a lot. Be the one that takes action
12. Burnout is a choice you make by not saying no
13. Ask for what you need. State what you want. Watch how fast things shift
14. Simple acronyms beat complex systems every single time
15. Dogs will always say hello. People won’t. Be more like dogs
16. If a situation happens more than once, that’s a lesson. It’s up to you to change the pattern
17. Sometimes you really do just need a hug from your mom
18. As much as you might not want to, getting a good sweat will fix you right up
19. Finding the right partner will change your life
20. Maintain your individuality and let your partner do the same
21. Don’t mistake ignorance for malice
22. Dress for the type of day you want to have, not the way you feel
23. Skincare is important
24. The gap between theory and reality is where actual business happens
25. One-size-fits-all anything is corporate theater
26. Transformation happens when someone takes the time to actually know you
27. Sometimes the best leadership move is stepping back
28. There is always a solution, you just have to be willing to think outside the box
29. Say thank you more often
30. Record the small moments, those are the ones you’ll hang on to
31. A day of rest doesn’t mean you’re not productive
32. Knowing where your time and energy are best spent is a superpower
33. You don't have to hang onto things that no longer serve you
34. Every day can be a fun adventure if you let it
35. Smiling can change your mood, especially when shared

And as Ricardo Ulises Hernandez Gomez added, last but not least, wear sunscreen. 

Which of these did you need to hear today?

Finding skilled talent is hard.
Integrating that talent successfully is harder.

The Toronto Region Board of Trade recognized this gap and decided to address it directly. 

They brought together 90 employers & PSI's all there with the same intention, to run strong WIL programs and develop skilled talent pipelines. 

I ran a workshop focused on what WIL actually looks like and how to create a successful process from employer onboarding through to providing feedback to students.

Here were some of the key takeaways from the room: 

1. Soft skills are the gap.
Students come in with strong technical abilities. 
What they lack is how to communicate. 
How to problem-solve. 
How to navigate a workplace. 
That's what employers actually need to train.
You're not just training on a task, you're training on a culture.
How you show up, how you handle mistakes, how you receive feedback. 
That's what gets transferred whether you know it or not.

2. Know your capacity before day one.
Who's taking the lead? 
What does success look like at the end? 
What will they actually learn?
Answer these ahead of time and the whole engagement changes.

3. Managers need to get good at feedback.
This is where most programs fall apart. 
Managers hesitate or they soften the message. 
They don't know how to be direct without discouraging. 
When you improve this skill in your full-time staff, your WIL success transforms.

This applies whether you're onboarding an intern or hiring a new manager. 
The fundamentals are the same. 
Intentionality, clarity & communication.

Thank you to my fellow presenters Derek Newton, Amanda Brown, Jason Fung Architect Inc., Peter Odle, Andrew Bieler, and everyone in that room who came ready to think differently.

A big thank you to Saad Usmani, Anahid Najafizadeh & Laura Tocker for putting on an incredibly valuable program! 

Conversations like this are what strengthen a region.

--------------------
At The Venned Group we partner with organizations to upskill managers who can set expectations clearly, give feedback that lands, and create cultures where people actually want to show up. 

If this is on your priorities list for 2026, send me a DM with the word Spark.

There's a line in Hamilton that's been stuck with me.

'Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.'

(Yes, it's a nod to Newton's third law of motion...but it's more memorable when sung)

I've seen that musical more times than I'll admit, and it's served as a constant reminder of how I'm showing up.

Over the years, I've become more and more aware of how my energy creates a response in those around me.

Ex. When I bring stress into a meeting, I feel stress reflected back.

If you're the leader, all eyes are on you.

Your team reads your energy before you even open your mouth.

I started asking myself three questions before every team meeting or client call:

1. What energy am I bringing? Clarity or chaos? Confidence or stress?

2. What do I want them to feel when we're done? Inspired? Clear? Confident? Name it, clearly.

3. Are my actions & my energy matching my words? Urgency & stress through a half-a**ed smile saying 'everything's fine' never lands well.

Many times, the reaction you're getting is information about what you're putting out there.

→ If you're facing resistance, consider how you're presenting ideas.
→ If there's confusion, check whether you're giving direction or just enthusiasm.
→ If there's disengagement, pulse check your energy first.

Self-awareness is never about being perfect OR (and let me be very clear) taking responsibility for everyone else's actions.

It's about recognizing when you're part of the dynamic, and choosing to show up differently.

This is your Monday morning reminder as you head into a fresh week to check how you're showing up. 

Your energy sets the tone. What an opportunity you have ahead of you!

This morning I was unwillingly thrust into someone else's feedback conversation.

I was at a coffee shop, noise-cancelling headphones on, minding my own business...but when you can still hear every word of a performance conversation from three tables away, you've become an involuntary witness to a trainwreck.

The recipient sat with shoulders hunched, eyes down, trapped in a public space while strangers absorbed every detail of her professional shortcomings. 

The manager had her feet crossed under her on the bench, casual and comfortable, seemingly unaware of the damage unfolding.

Sentence after sentence, the same hedging pattern, "I'm not saying YOU do this, but just so you know..." Which of course means you absolutely do this, but I'm too uncomfortable to say it directly. 

Then came the gossip about someone else on the team. The unspoken message of, I'm on your side, we both know Sarah is the real problem here.

Most managers have never been taught that feedback starts with reflection, not delivery. 
What's your intent? 
What outcome are you trying to create? 
What environment supports that outcome? 

Skip this, and you end up hedging, gossiping, and performing care while your team member walks away confused about what actually needs to change.

A few takeaways:
→ Spatial awareness & etiquette matter as much as self-awareness. 
→ Difficult conversations belong in private rooms, not public stages. 
→ And direct, specific, depersonalized feedback isn't unkind, it's the kindest thing you can do.

The leaders I work with are often shocked to discover they've been "giving feedback" for years without ever actually giving it. 

Our S.P.A.R.K. framework starts with that reflection piece because without it, you get frameworks paired with coffee shop disasters.

How much clarity & progress is your team losing to feedback that never actually lands?
-----
Ps. This conversation didn't take place at Wallace Espresso as the photo suggests, but it IS one of my favourite places in the city for coffee & their seasonal London Nog.

You hired someone, gave them a role description, walked them through their responsibilities and by three weeks in, you're already frustrated...

They're not getting it.
Except what is "it"?

You told them what to do. 
You might have even told them how. 
But did you tell them what doing it well looks like in your specific environment? 

With your pace, your culture, your unspoken rules about what matters most when everything's on fire?
Probably not...

And now you're sitting with the disappointment, you engineered yourself.

This is the gap that kills placements, tanks new hires, and makes leaders assume they have a people problem when they actually have a clarity problem.

You can't course correct something you haven't defined. 
You can't praise progress toward a standard that only exists in your head.

In our S.P.A.R.K. Leadership Program, this is where we start. 

Not with 'how to provide difficult feedback' right away.
Not with simply naming expectations (any leader can do that). 
We dig into defining what measuring those expectations actually looks like. 

Building the criteria that turn "figure it out" into "here's what success is."

It's difficult work, especially for middle managers trying to translate senior leadership's vision into measurable criteria they can actually enforce. 

When they get this clarity right, their conversations become remarkably simpler. They finally have language for what they've been trying to articulate and an objective lens for performance.

The disappointment you keep running into is fixable. 
It just requires you to clarify the target before you ask someone to hit it.

Give your team the gift of clarity, this holiday season...send me a DM to see which of our solutions best suits your teams needs!

ZC Social Media - Zoe Cairns

Social Media Marketing / Social Media For Business / Social Media Trainer / Social Media Strategist / Social Media Speaker -Helping businesses to build their presence online with Social Media networking tools and share their knowledge and expertise to become an expert within their field. Specialising in Social Media Strategy Planning.

Social Media Training in Social Media Strategy, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook Marketing and Advertising, Twitter Marketing and Advertising, YouTube and Video Marketing - how to use these social media sites effectively, showing advanced strategies.

Offer training via hands on workshops, online programmes, 1 to 1 mentoring, hour consultations and programmes. We also offer bespoke Social Media Management.

Also put together their Social Media Strategic Plan - a plan for them to go forward and get the maximum from their Social Media activities.

Social Media Trainer / Social Media Speaker / Social Media Strategist / Director of ZC Social Media

The Credibility Formula

Helping speakers gain confidence, get paid gigs and become a thought leader.

Over the last 14 years, I’ve built two successful companies and have spoken in over 14 international countries, sharing my expertise with a growing community of over 100,000 people.

My mission is to help companies create engaging content, generate leads, and profit from social media, and empower speakers to gain confidence, secure paid gigs, and become thought leaders.

I’m the founder of ZC Social Media, where we specialise in social media strategy, content creation, and lead generation, and of The Credibility Formula, dedicated to helping speakers become professional speakers and recognised thought leaders.

My portfolio:

→ I'm the founder & CEO of ZC Social Media, a social media agency with a vibrant online community of over 100,000 people
→ I’m the founder & CEO of The Credibility Formula, where I coach speakers to build their confidence and secure paid speaking engagements
→ I offer bespoke 1-2-1 training and consultancy to help businesses and individuals master social media
→ I lead the ZC Social Media Growth Academy, a programme designed to help businesses grow their online presence
→ I am a published author, recognised as a Top Voice on LinkedIn, and have made appearances on BBC, ITV, and BBC World News to share my insights on social media and thought leadership
→ I’ve had the privilege of speaking for NATO, a top brand to work with, further establishing my credibility on the global stage

My results:

→ 100k+ online community
→ 14+ years as the owner of ZC Social Media Agency
→ Speaker at events in 14+ international countries
→ Published author and recognised thought leader
→ TV and radio appearances on BBC, ITV, and BBC World News, Sky News, Ch4 and KMTV

If you want to learn more about how I built this, you can join my newsletter and receive a free video on “How to Get More Speaking Gigs from LinkedIn”:

→ GO HERE: http://www.zcsocialmedia.com/newsletter

If you want to explore 1-2-1 training or consultancy, visit my personal site:

→ GO HERE: http://www.zcsocialmedia.com

If you want to join the ZC Social Media Growth Academy:

→ GO HERE: http://www.zcsocialmediaacademy.com

If you want to join The Credibility Formula to gain confidence, get paid gigs, and become a thought leader, DM me.

Instagram: @zcairns
Facebook: ZoeCairnsUK
Twitter: @zoe_cairns
YouTube: @ZoeCairns

Zoe Cairns

What a quarter it’s been. 

I’ve spent the past few months supporting clients and Growth Academy members as they prepare their 2026 plans, and it’s been brilliant to see ideas developing, strategies becoming clearer, and confidence growing as we approach the new year.

There are still a few planning sessions to work through over the next couple of weeks, but I’m already pleased with how everything is coming together. 

Watching businesses build structure, direction and momentum is exactly why I love doing what I do.

And now it’s my turn. 

Goals are set, and it’s time to move into the creation stage, taking what’s planned and beginning to build it out.

If you still need support or direction for your 2026 social media plan, feel free to send me a message.

To your successes, Zoe 💜

International Social Media Speaker and Trainer |Social Media Consultant | Social Media Strategist | BSc Hons

No alternative text description for this image

Six weeks with an amazing team, it’s been brilliant working together.

I’ve been supporting the Hempstead House Hotel & Spa with their strategy and content plan across the different departments, and then guiding them through clear step-by-step processes on how to create content.

It’s been great seeing everything come together, watching the team grow, ask questions and talk openly about anything they needed support with. They’ve been a pleasure to work with.

I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next. Thank you Michael Wood FIH for the opportunity. 

#SocialMediaTraining #KentBusiness #AquaMandaSpa

AI isn’t replacing marketers, it’s changing how we work.

Some people worry that AI will replace marketing teams.

What I’m seeing feels quite different.

AI isn’t taking away the role of people… it’s simply changing how we work each day.

The businesses making real progress aren’t handing everything over to a tool. They’re the ones using AI to support the way they already plan and communicate.

→They still decide the message.
→They still shape the tone.
→They still guide the strategy.
AI just makes some of the tasks quicker.

Over the past few months, I’ve been looking at how teams use AI for things like planning, research, repurposing and keeping consistent.

One thing stands out more than anything: the process you put around it matters more than the tool itself.

AI becomes helpful when it’s part of a clear approach that already works.

I’ll be sharing more thoughts over the next few weeks on how AI can sit alongside your existing processes without changing your voice.

Do you feel that AI is helping or overwhelming at the moment?

#SocialMedia #AIForMarketing #MarketingStrategy

Community isn’t just a “nice to have”. It’s the heart of everything.

I’m often asked how we bring over 400 people together at ZC LIVE. 

Yes, we’re a social media agency, so we understand how to reach the right audience and speak to the challenges they’re facing. 

We create content, sessions and conversations that genuinely help people progress. 

When people feel supported, they show up.

But the real reason?

Community.

Over the years, I’ve been lucky to bring together people who stay connected, who talk about us, who introduce new faces, and who show up for each other. 

They bring the energy in the room, the conversations that continue long after the event closes, and the feeling that everyone is welcome. 

It’s the community that has shaped ZC LIVE into what it is today.

The same is true for the Growth Academy. 

Five and a half years of people learning together, sharing what they know, and encouraging one another. 

Watching this grow has been amazing and reminds me why I do what I do.

Community gives depth. 

It brings people together who might never have crossed paths. 

It turns events into experiences. It turns learning into progress.

So here’s my reminder to pause and appreciate the people around you. 

If you run a business, how are you bringing your community together? How are you nurturing it so it continues to grow?

To everyone who has been part of ours, thank you. 

You make everything worthwhile 💜 

To your successes, Zoe

One word from each person… and the energy in the room said the rest.

Today’s social media plans workshop was such a good session to run. 

Everyone came in wanting direction and left feeling far more organised, clearer on what they need to do next, and ready to put their plans into action. 

It’s amazing what happens when you take the time to map things out properly instead of trying to guess your way through it.

Thank you to all of the growth academy members that attended today! You are such a pleasure to work with! It’s been such a fabulous day!

If you want support, ideas and a space to build your social media with confidence, the Growth Academy is always open.

Hanna Longstaff Angus Fraser Terri Cliffe-Harrison Tawa Dowling Fiona Shoults Medical Tattooist Sarah Grant Michelle O'Brien Angel Thomas Dr Ant Webb Clare Wilders Joanne Slaughter Jude Hill Paul Wren Darren Woolway Youssouf Ouattara Adama Bridgewood Manor Hotel & Spa  

#growthacademy #socialmediaplan #socialmediastrategy

Thank you Emma Doniger Richmond Events for the opportunity to speak at The Richmond Market Insight Forum it was great to share key insights and my knowledge on building thought leadership LinkerdIn.

I’m looking forward to speaking at The Richmond Retail & eCommerce Directors' Forum next year.

#speaker #socialmediaspeaker

View company: The Richmond Market Insight Forum

“Consistency beats perfection.”

That was the key message from Zoe Cairns, founder of ZC Social Media - Zoe Cairns, at the 2025 Richmond Market Insight Forum, and it resonated deeply with every professional in the room.

Zoe reminded us that thought leadership isn’t about being everywhere or chasing flawless content. It’s about showing up regularly with ideas that help others think differently. Over time, those consistent moments of value build visibility, trust, and authority.

Perfection may capture attention once, but consistency sustains it.

#ThoughtLeadership #PersonalBrand #MarketingInsights

AI tools are everywhere right now.

But without structure, they can easily make things feel more complicated than before.

I speak to so many teams who sign up for the newest platform, hoping it’ll save them time…

And within a few weeks, they’re back where they started.

→Too many tools.
→Too many tabs.
→No real change in workload.

The truth is, the tool is rarely the problem.

It’s that there isn’t a simple workflow holding everything together.

When you’re content planning, creation and repurposing follow a clear rhythm, AI finally starts to help rather than overwhelm.

It fits into the way you already work instead of pulling you in a new direction.

One of the best places to begin is surprisingly low-tech.

Before you decide which AI tools to use, spend a few days looking at what you already do.

Here’s a tip for the week ahead:
→Write down every digital task you complete each day — content planning, research, drafting, admin, editing, posting, reporting.

At the end of the week, colour code them under three headings:
→tasks you could delegate
→tasks an AI tool could support
→tasks that truly need you

Most people are surprised by what they uncover.

They spot patterns.
They see where time is disappearing.
And they realise that AI doesn’t need to replace everything, it just needs to support the right areas.

Start there.

Small steps, clear categories, and a better picture of where AI genuinely helps.

It’s one of the simplest ways to build a workflow that actually works for you.

Have you ever mapped your tasks like this before?

#SocialMedia #AIForMarketing #ContentStrategy

It was great to see you Megan Morley.

I love your video! Thank you for capturing the day. So pleased you enjoyed it!

Marketing & Communications Coordinator for Conferences and Events at the University of Kent

I had the pleasure of attending ZC Live 2025 last week with my lovely colleagues Ana and Phil.

It was a day full of learning, connecting and feeling inspired to get creative with social media. I loved being in a room with some faces I haven't seen in years and connecting with new people throughout the day.

Thank you to Zoe Cairns and the amazing ZC Social Media - Zoe Cairns team for organising such a great event. I'd also like to thank the speakers for sharing their knowledge on the day - Zoe Cairns, Molly 'Moodle' Smith, Yannick Weinberger, Susie Warran-Smith CBE, Rachael Bryant, Ben Bryant, Dr Tim Aker, María José Serrano Carbajal, and Mark Jennings.

Here are some key takeaways from the event:
- Using trial reels on Instagram can help get your content in front of a new audience and expand your reach.
- Exploring the 'People also ask' section in Google can help you generate video ideas and create relevant FAQs for your audience.
- Adding captions to your reel within the platform will help with search.
- Repurposing your video content into multiple formats will give you a library of relevant content to use i.e. carousels, blogs, snippets and more.
- Consistency across your brand, tone and content is key.
- Utilising creator insights on TikTok can help you find relevant trends for your niche.

Looking forward to putting these tips into action and trialling new content. Watch this space 👀 

#ZCLive2025 #ZCLive #SocialMedia

It was lovely to meet with Carol Ford, WeAreMedway, yesterday at The Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern to chat about all things Medway.

Some great ideas and a new project set!

Looking forward to sharing with everyone.

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The Battle

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Zoe Cairns

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Posts

Engagements

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