Simplifying and empowering ‘the how’

Susan Defazio

We bring you the best of both worlds: our specialist knowledge and hands-on experience. By combining our extensive real-life experiences and leading practices, we create a mix of powerful learning and development opportunities for you. 

Our forward-looking offerings range from online courses, certifications, masterclasses, toolkits and guidance services tailored to your needs. All are designed to give you the techniques and tools necessary for taking your skills and confidence to the next level.

That’s because confidence is a vital ingredient for unlocking success in today’s rapidly changing work landscape. But here’s the thing – real and lasting success is never about one person’s self-assurance, their job title, or the function you belong to.

It’s also not about strutting around like you’re the bee’s knees while everyone else is buzzing in your shadow. It goes much deeper than that. Confidence is having that inner knowledge that you are capable and feel secure in your abilities, staying grounded as you rely on a stable compass. But confidence isn’t always a solo mission.

In our ever-changing work world, we must cultivate collective confidence to survive. Because let’s face it, we all have a role to play in making sure we are prepared and equipped to handle whatever challenges and opportunities come our way. We, like you, know that change is here to stay, so our work is never really finished.

Like many things in life, we can take inspiration from nature.

Take our incredible bees, for example – buzzing around with unwavering determination, manoeuvring their way through complex environments, and working together harmoniously. We believe we, too, need to tap into those same skills. After all, building individual and collective confidence is what sets us up for success as a community.

So, our passion is for sharing the tools and techniques that serve as valuable building blocks for gaining control over your career path, finding clarity amidst chaos, forging important connections, and nurturing both personal growth and collective confidence.Confidence badge

Why waste time – come with us on this exciting journey towards increasing your personal power and business confidence.

Be part of The Confidence Club – trust me when we say it’ll be worth it!”

 

Susan

We bring you the best of both worlds: our specialist knowledge and hands-on experience. By combining our extensive real-life experiences and leading practices, we create a mix of powerful learning and development opportunities for you. 

Our forward-looking offerings range from online courses, certifications, masterclasses, toolkits and guidance services tailored to your needs. All are designed to give you the techniques and tools necessary for taking your skills and confidence to the next level.

That’s because confidence is a vital ingredient for unlocking success in today’s rapidly changing work landscape. But here’s the thing – real and lasting success is never about one person’s self-assurance, their job title, or the function you belong to.

It’s also not about strutting around like you’re the bee’s knees while everyone else is buzzing in your shadow. It goes much deeper than that. Confidence is having that inner knowledge that you are capable and feel secure in your abilities, staying grounded as you rely on a stable compass. But confidence isn’t always a solo mission.

In our ever-changing work world, we must cultivate collective confidence to survive. Because let’s face it, we all have a role to play in making sure we are prepared and equipped to handle whatever challenges and opportunities come our way. We, like you, know that change is here to stay, so our work is never really finished.

Like many things in life, we can take inspiration from nature.

Take our incredible bees, for example – buzzing around with unwavering determination, manoeuvring their way through complex environments, and working together harmoniously. We believe we, too, need to tap into those same skills. After all, building individual and collective confidence is what sets us up for success as a community.

So, our passion is for sharing the tools and techniques that serve as valuable building blocks for gaining control over your career path, finding clarity amidst chaos, forging important connections, and nurturing both personal growth and collective confidence.Confidence badge

Why waste time – come with us on this exciting journey towards increasing your personal power and business confidence.

Be part of The Confidence Club – trust me when we say it’ll be worth it!”

Susan

OUR EXPERIENCE

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Strategic Workforce Planning

With our extensive educational and implementation experience, we help companies improve performance across a triple bottom line by elevating their critical and creative thinking capabilities.

By using practices like differentiation, segmentation, workforce scanning, and scenario planning, organisations can explicitly align strategic execution with their workforce’s needs and abilities in line with market complexities. Ensuring mid-long-term actions are relevant and possess the recognised attributes of high-performing organisations.

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Simplification

We embrace the complexities of the modern workplace and use our expertise in cognitive load theory to help reduce mental stress.
Our designs capture everyone’s interest, sparking curiosity and engagement among colleagues and stakeholders.

Through effective simplification, we believe the power of securing interest and attention is critical to creating lasting engagement and a willingness to collaborate.

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Value Advantage

We work with individuals and teams on their unique opportunities and challenges and use tailored value-based techniques to explore fresh opportunities. Our methods uncover how value is defined and communicated for themselves and other stakeholders.

The focus is on strengthening market distinction, deepening loyalty and creating a more significant edge in the marketplace.

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Human Systems Design

Designing with humans in mind is the goal of Human Systems Design (HSD).

This innovative interdisciplinary approach combines different fields, like psychology, ergonomics, sociology and anthropology. We use our specialist experience and methodologies to involve key stakeholders and identify where human, digital and physical interactions play a role.

Ultimately determining how work is performed and where improvement opportunities exist so stakeholders experience highly effective and engaging interactions and the business gains superior outcomes.

OUR FOUNDER

I love what I do and am passionate about helping others build their confidence and thrive in the workplace. Perhaps one of the things that shaped me the most was not being particularly successful in my early school years because of undiagnosed dyslexia.

While it certainly wasn’t a pleasant experience, it has, as it turns out, helped me achieve many good things and become one of life’s lifelong learners. Apart from gaining valuable hands-on experience in the private and public sectors, I have studied at Henley, London, and INSEAD Business Schools and become a certified StrengthsFinder Coach, Lego Serious Play Facilitator, Strategic Workforce Planning, and Human-Centred Design Practitioner.

I founded Be Future Ready Today in 2019 because, through my experiences, I found that applying techniques for lasting and effective change was the most challenging for people and organisations. I believe it doesn’t have to be that way, and now I focus on creating ways in which others are invigorated to simplify and empower ‘the how’. In 2022, I created The Joy Factory Podcast, which gives me the honour of working with people from all walks of life and discussing the art of happiness at work.

As a member of the Human Capital Institute and HRD Future’s faculty, I am regularly called upon to deliver organisational effectiveness, Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP), and capability-building programmes throughout the US, UK, Europe, and Southeast Asia. My experience spans multiple sectors, both inside and outside, such as talent acquisition and management.

Susan Defazio

Susan De Fazio is a globally recognised expert in business growth, strategic workforce planning  and organisational effectiveness with 20+ years of experience.

Our client facing team

Jovita Lall

Jovita Lall

Principal

Jovita Lall has over 13 years of experience in HR consulting  aimed at enhancing people effectiveness and workplace productivity.  She has worked across UK, EMEA and India, allowing her to understand how to unlock the potential of a diverse workforce.

Anjana Anugrahaa

Anjana Anugrahaa

Associate

Anjana is currently pursuing her Masters in HR from the London School of Economics and is our Associate Intern

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Our development team

Euan Quach

Euan Quach

Digital Marketing

Specialising in web analytics and optimisation, SEO, PPC, affiliate and email marketing, Euan brings strategic and campaign management expertise.

Neil Cumming

Neil Cumming

Creative & Cognitive design

With 20 years of commercial cognitive design experience, Neil brings simplification without dumbing down.

Recruitment

We are always looking for new talent. Please fill in the form below and we’ll get in touch

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Your Choices

LEGO SERIOUS PLAY

We know solving complex issues requires serious effort; however, using the Lego® Serious Play Method ®, we help teams unlock the power of work-play, improve engagement, and ignite better outcomes.

MAKING WORK, FUN

ONLINE LEARNING

We elevate and ease your learning journey by combining leading practices, videos, thinking tools and quizzes that help simplify complexity and increase your personal power and business confidence. 

MEMBERS ACCESS

THE HUMAN CAPITAL INSTITUTE

We lead development programmes for leaders and HR professionals focused on accelerating business results through strategic human capital practices that fuel high-performing outcomes.

CERTIFICATION

MASTERCLASS

We identify market gaps and formulate masterclasses which help leaders
and practitioners elevate their performance, enrich engagement, and increase their confidence to lead. 

LEADING PRACTICES

RESOURCES

We combine pioneering and leading practices, the science of simplification, human design, value communication and craft tools that help us gain control, making our work lives easier, more fulfilling and empowering confidence. 

TOOLKITS

GUIDANCE

We work with individuals and teams on their unique challenges and opportunities, accelerating and improving how to generate value and confidence for themselves and others.

TAILORED

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I was thrilled to be part of the beta testing group for the 90-Day Toolkit.

Having started a new senior role which is remote, I didn't have the benefit of meeting people face to face and building those relationships in person which would be my preference. The toolkit encourages you to consider all elements of a situation and of relationships. It was invaluable to open my mind to different approaches. The toolkit sits on my desk constantly, a year into the role I still reference it constantly.”

VP of Talent Acquisition, International Region – DocuSign

Working with Susan has been a very rewarding experience for me. Susan offers a superb combination of someone who is an excellent facilitator, a subject matter expert as well as possessing the strength of being an HR practitioner. Her in-depth knowledge of strategic workforce planning and ability to deliver real value through implementation ensures she delivers robust solutions for her clients.

My team and I spent a lot of time interacting with Susan when I was the Global Head for Talent Acquisition at Standard Life. I found her to be detail-focused in all her work as well as extremely personable. Her warm and pleasant manner put people at ease and created a safe space for open and honest communication.

Shona McKenzie

HR Director Talent Acquisition, The Weir Group PLC

Thank you for 2 of the most valuable days of my career so far. What I’ve learned will transform the way I operate. I only wish I’d had this experience 10 years earlier. It would have saved me so much time and heartache!”

Participant, Strategic Workforce Planning Certification Course

Senior HR Leader, Global Pharmaceutical Company, UK .

I could not be happier! It has been a pleasure working with you. I was/am really impressed with your professionalism, dedication and passion for SWP and the course. Your input as an subject matter expert and course facilitator has been great and believe you delivered a really useful course for the attendees (as reflected in their feedback) The level of interaction between us before and after the course has been just right. I was confident throughout that you would provide the best possible outcome for the attendees, and welcomed your openness to tailoring/adapting to ensure the content was well received. Your can do attitude to the payment side of things was also greatly appreciate. thank you.

Katherine Soole

EU Exit Implementation Unit, The Cabinet Office, UK Government

Our group found the workshop very valuable. One in particular was able to uncover a pattern of behaviour that had been holding them back for achieving their goals , but something they were not consciously aware of beforehand. Another member of our group had a big realisation with regards to focusing on smaller goals that will help achieve future aspirations, instead of focusing on the very large goal.

As a group we left the workshop feeling, inspired and positive about the next steps we would want to take towards creating our futures.

Claire Baker, Lego Serious Play Workshop

Launch Lab Mentor, Every One Every Day

Just to say thanks a million 🙂

 

Group Participant, SWP Certification Course

HR Leaders, Central Government Departments, London UK

Susi is incredible! She has been quite clear in her approach and was successful in helping every member of the team learn several new and useful techniques and positive about the next steps.

Laura W Rexford

Senior Director, Value Engineering, Skillsoft, USA

Really engaging, kept the room interested. The right length of time devoted to each subject and tailored to our business context.
Logical structure throughout the model. Good mix of case studies, exercises and videos etc.
Susan was a really great instructor who was able to translate using good practical examples.
Fairly impressive – good in-depth coverage of HCI model I can use in house. Good progression through the model.
Very friendly, informed delivery style.

Group Participants, SWP Certification Course

HR Leaders, Central Government Departments, London UK

This course gave me a number of practical tools and examples of how to use them and was very clearly taught.
The pace of the course worked well. Good use of media and interactions to bring SWP to life.
Manageable division of content into SWP activities. The right balance between teaching and group discussion. Lots of personal insights from Susan. Adequate course materials.

Group Participants, SWP Certification Course

HR Leaders, Central Government Departments, London UK

Gave me really great insight into SWP, the tools, techniques I would need to consider successful implementation.
Very in-depth and relevant to my dept.

 

Group Participants, SWP Certification Course

HR Leaders, Central Government Departments, London UK

This exercise helped me share my workplace experiences, some of which I would have struggled to articulate. It was straightforward and gave me a powerful emotional release. Above all, the exercise’s design reassured me that my feedback was anonymous; therefore, it removed my fear of being entirely candid.

Group Participant

Company Persona Trial Group, February 2020, London

My first interaction with Susan was approximately five years ago when I attended a Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) workshop facilitated by Susan, after which she soon became my mentor and coach and supported me in relaunching SWP at Cigna Healthcare.

In the years we have continued to work together, I have found Susan to be a phenomenal teacher who is always willing to learn, trying to understand my organisation’s needs and helping me put the theory into action. She has always been very pragmatic and working with her has allowed me to break a complex subject such as SWP into relevant and meaningful chunks.

Her caring and engaged demeanour makes working with her a very authentic experience. I find her an extremely insightful business partner who feels as passionately about the world of work and my business outcomes as I do.’

Lynne Scott

Principal, Value Engineering, Skillsoft, UK

Thank you for facilitating the SWP training for our team. Your effective communication skills, energy and passion for SWP was OUTSTANDING, and greatly appreciated by all participants.The entire process with HCI from cradle to grave was OUTSTANDING and second to none.

Mike Beando

Director Human Resources, US Army, Ansbach, Germany

I liked the informal atmosphere – very conducive to learning. A good discussion generated an exploration of topics. Requirement driven by delegate needs. Susan communicated very clearly and was a pleasure to listen to. She was engaging ad clearly an expert in SWP. She used lots of practical examples proving she’s not just a consultant but a practitioner too.
Interactive, lots of positive discussion and collaboration. Practically shared – clear how content related to real-life situations.
Helpful toolkits, step approach, case studies
Really helpful – lots of practical tools I can take back.

Group Participants Feedback, SWP Certification Course

HR Leaders, Central Government Departments, London UK

I have had some great workplace experiences; however, I’ve also had ones that went from being mildly troublesome to deeply unpleasant.

The trouble with employee satisfaction surveys is that we all know they are never anonymous. Raising difficult issues is a political minefield and can undoubtedly be career limiting. I know this without a shadow of uncertainty.

Experiencing the Trust Canvas and working through an easy and short exercise was such a revelation. It gave me a safe voice that I wish could be available to all. Thank you!!

 

Group Participant

Trust Canvas Workshop, February 2020, London

“Susi’s passion and enthusiasm for Strategic Workforce Planning was evident from our first meeting. Susi took the time to understand my previous skills and knowledge which led to a truly outstanding developmental experience.

Susi immersed me in SWP, and her deep specialism really challenged my thinking and supported me in making pragmatic linkages. The uniqueness of Susi is her ability to bring SWP to life through her insights, having partnered with many diverse organizations in different cultures.”

Carole Lamond FCIPD, MAC

HR Business Partner, Scotland

The case studies were good and videos. Hearing how is more practical than what.
Lots of tools, thought-provoking content. Ability to consider concepts in our own context.
The comprehensiveness i.e. going through the whole SWP cycle.
The visuals were very good. The instructor made it relatable and was easy to listen to. The group interaction made it interesting.
Very interactive and could use of business so brought to life.

Group Participants Feedback, SWP Certification Course

HR Leaders, Central Government Departments, London UK

Someone who just attended your training in London shared with me the quality of your training and views around Strategic Workforce Planning and I insisted on getting your name so I could reach out.

For context, often when I work with a company, the scope of work that I work on exposes the need for strategic workforce planning - I think it's a key undervalued work effort that doesn't have a true owner - yes, most of the time HR owns it but doesn't often wear the 3–5-year strategy hat - they tend to focus on the execution because 'some issue around budget, profitability, etc... has arisen.

Thank you for the work you do - my former employee had this to say, " she said exactly what you've been saying for years and the quality of her instruction across a diverse group was far better than any training I've ever attended"

Thank you for creating this feeling in someone who is very talented herself and will go far surrounded by the right leaders.

Principal - Aristia Consulting, California, USA

Having attended a masterclass with Susan, I benefited from ingesting the course material in a constructive style where modules related topics were discussed as they occurred. Susan readily flexed her attention depending on those topics which were of specific interest or complexity for me.

The simplicity of the framework and toolkit make them both practical in application but also useful in terms of understanding the numerous dynamic influences at play for building resilience.

Thanks again for taking the time to coach me through the course and I look forward to staying in touch.

Workforce Enablement - Strategy & Transformation Lead, Nat West Bank

Susan clearly has lots of experience in the industry. I’d like to see and hear more of the real-life perspective as it was really interesting and helpful.

 

Group Participant, SWP Certification Course

HR Leaders, Central Government Departments, London UK

Very enjoyable with Susan.

 

Group Participant, SWP Certification Course

HR Leaders, Central Government Departments, London UK

Good course!

 

Group Participant, SWP Certification Course

HR Leaders, Central Government Departments, London UK

More movement around the classroom (I know the classroom was small)

 

Group Participant, SWP Certification Course

HR Leaders, Central Government Departments, London UK

Susan was very authentic and engaging.

 

Group Participant, SWP Certification Course

HR Leaders, Central Government Departments, London UK

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