Celebrating 20 Years of Impact: Talking Talent Turns 20

On Wednesday 9 October, we gathered at the Iconic Images Gallery in Piccadilly to celebrate 20 incredible years of Talking Talent. The stunning venue, showcasing photographs from pivotal moments in fashion, history, entertainment, politics, and more, provided the perfect backdrop for the evening. The impact captured in those images echoed our own theme for the night: 20 Years of Impact.

It was an evening filled with connection, music, laughter, and gratitude as partners, clients, friends, and colleagues came together to mark two decades of coaching impact. From the moment guests arrived, the atmosphere was electric. The sound of live musicians filled the space as guests enjoyed drinks, canapés, and conversations among the gallery’s iconic artwork. It was a celebration not just of how far we have come, but of the people and partnerships that made it all possible.

The evening began with a warm welcome from Jason Allen, Talking Talent’s new Board Chair, who set the tone for the night with reflection, pride, and excitement for what lies ahead.

Jason then introduced Dr. Mary-Clare Race, our CEO, who spoke about the evolving world of work and why the need for meaningful connection and coaching has never been greater. As she noted, while the workplace has changed dramatically over the past two decades, the human need for support, growth, and belonging remains constant.

Chris Parke, Co-Founder of Talking Talent, followed with a powerful reflection on where it all began. Twenty years ago, Chris and Jo Lyon started Talking Talent with a mission to support women through maternity transitions and help them thrive upon returning to work. Chris shared a striking statistic that women returning from maternity leave often have a 42% drop in average monthly earnings and spoke about how this challenge inspired a movement that has now grown into a global coaching organization with over 90,000 coachees supported.

We were also joined by Kate Richardson-Moore from Linklaters, one of Talking Talent’s longest-standing clients, who reflected on their 15-year partnership. Kate spoke about the tangible impact Talking Talent has had at Linklaters, sharing how coaching has become an essential tool for supporting growth, retention, and inclusivity across the firm.

Henry from Bridges Fund Management, Talking Talent’s investment partner, closed the formal remarks by sharing why Bridges chose to back Talking Talent and how they view our mission as essential to building healthier, more human workplaces for the future.

Jason then returned to raise a final toast to Talking Talent’s journey so far and to the next 20 years of impact.

The speeches gave way to an evening of celebration, with music, laughter, and connection filling the room. Guests enjoyed the open bar, delicious food, and the gallery’s captivating artwork. It was a true celebration of community and purpose, a reminder that what we do matters, and that our story is still being written.

As we look ahead, we carry with us the spirit of the evening: gratitude for our past, pride in our impact, and excitement for the future of coaching and connection.

Here’s to 20 years of Talking Talent, and many more to come.