PI Advisory and The Art of Speaking was founded in 2022 by Paul Walton and Iain Maclean. Paul and Iain met while working on a major transformation programme in 2017 and became great friends. They decided to launch PI Advisory and create a dedicated public speaking course. Throughout their corporate careers, they have spoken to diverse audiences—from individuals and teams to executive boards and stakeholders at every level. They have crafted key communications for staff and leaders to deliver company-wide messages. A consistent challenge they observed was that communications often lacked clarity, impact, or gravitas, leaving audiences confused. Paul and Iain believe that great communication changes lives. It inspires people to follow, believe, and act. Great communication wins business, earns promotions, secures funding, and shapes the future. At its heart, great communication is performance. This belief led to the creation of The Art of Speaking. Paul brings over 25 years of corporate experience, working with organizations from non-profits to global blue-chip companies. He moved from Scotland to London in the late 1990s for a major career opportunity. Communications has been central to his work. In 2018, he earned a diploma in transformational coaching, which he actively applies today. Paul is direct, realistic, and experienced. He lives in North Surrey with his two miniature schnauzers. Iain began his career as an officer and pilot in the RAF. After 15 years, he resigned and travelled the world, including across the Sahara Desert, before studying Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence. He joined PA Consulting Group, where he received professional training in presentations, business writing, and public speaking. Over ten years, he trained consultants and senior clients in the art of speaking, leading teams through storytelling rather than technical skills. Iain has worked across aviation, defense, motor manufacturing, railways, shipping, and finance, achieving three world firsts. Iain lives in East Sussex with his wife and is a father of four adult children. He is a published creative non-fiction author, an avid Scottish rugby fan, and a Strictly Come Dancing enthusiast. Honesty and loyalty guide his work. He treats everyone with respect and believes in giving people two chances. This wealth of experience is what Paul and Iain bring to your public speaking training, providing real-world insights to help you master communication skills. We invite you to book a call to explore your goals and see if this course is the right fit for you. Thank you for watching. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
Meet The Team
PI Advisory and The Art of Speaking was founded in 2022 by Paul Walton and Iain Maclean.
Paul and Iain originally met while working on a major transformation programme in 2017 when they became great friends. They both decided to launch PI Advisory (Paul and Ian = PI Advisory) and launch their dedicated public speaking course. The reason why? Well, throughout their corporate careers, they have had the privilege of speaking to diverse audiences—from individuals and teams to executive boards and stakeholders at every level. They have crafted key communications for staff, as well as messaging for leaders to deliver company wide.
One consistent challenge which has been observed, the delivery of these communications often lacked clarity, impact and or gravitas, leaving the audience confused.
Paul and Iain believe that great communication changes lives. It inspires people to follow, to believe, and to act. Great communication wins business, earns promotions, and gets funding. It creates movements, launches revolutions, and shapes the future. At its heart, great communication is performance. And because of this, The Art of Speaking was born!
Paul Walton
Paul brings over 25 years of extensive corporate experience, having worked with organizations ranging from not for profit to some of the world's largest blue-chip companies. In the late 1990s, he relocated from Scotland to London to pursue a major career opportunity.
Throughout his professional journey, communications have been a central focus. In 2018, Paul further enhanced his professional expertise by earning a diploma in transformational coaching - skills he actively applies in his work today.
He is a straight-talking, low-ego professional who values authenticity and integrity above all. His approach—whether in business or personal life—can be summed up in three words: direct, realistic, and experienced.
Iain Maclean
Iain started his career as an officer and pilot in the RAF. That then followed a tumultuous 15 years where, having decided he didn't want a life defined by combat he resigned his commission and hitch-hiked around the world, including across the Sahara Desert, before heading off to university to study Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence.
At the time of his graduation Iain was more able to write computer code than English. Luckily, PA Consulting Group claimed to see 'a diamond in the rough', and so while they exploited his technical abilities, Iain benefitted from intense professional training and experience in presentations, delivering speeches, and business writing. At the end of his 10 years with PA Consulting, his English was better than his programming ability! Iain trained fellow consultants and senior clients in the art of speaking, and was leading large, multi-discipline teams through story-telling rather than any technical ability.
In terms of industries, Iain has operated across aviation, defence, motor manufacturing, railways, shipping and finance, and has three world firsts to his name (but they are all a bit geeky).
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