PRESS & TESTIMONIALS
Strategy / culture / leadership
Leadership / media coverage / SpotlighT
Leadership / media coverage / culture
Business Insider, November 18, 2020
“I loved the work I did at my last job, as well as the people. But I wanted to address workplace culture more explicitly, so I started Pencil or Ink. Before any learning-and-development engagement, we partner with organizations to understand how they work and where the internal strengths and opportunities lie. That might mean a conversation, a series of company-wide interviews, widespread personality profiling, or something else entirely.
“Without fully understanding workplace culture and ‘the human side’ of work, even the best workshop or coaching engagement won't do much.”
workshops / facilitation / remote work / culture
“I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this workshop, but it was incredible. I learned a lot about my coworkers that I would've never known given the fact that I've only worked with them virtually. It was great to see how everyone thinks and feels instead of just how they work.” —participant in a remote workshop, November 2020.
media coverage / remote work / communication
“There are also awkward and often unpredictable dynamics of giving feedback over video when you’re both working from home. As Ellie Hearne, the Founder and CEO of the consulting firm Pencil or Ink, notes, ‘No one wants to be told they’re underperforming when their kid suddenly appears in frame.’”
workshops / communication / remote work / culture
Ellie facilitating a Leadership Savvy workshop (pre-pandemic), New York City, 2019
“Ellie understood everyone's behaviors in the room and tailored the workshop to their pace. It was great that we were able to benefit from the full time but not have it feel that way.
“I attribute this to Ellie's agile approach with the group. Often, it can feel like workshops last forever and this did not feel that way.”—participant in a remote workshop, April 2020.
media coverage / entrepreneurship
Business Insider, November 14, 2019
Founders share the one thing they wished they'd known before starting a business.
View the feature here.
Media coverage / communications / workplaces
New York Times, September 17, 2019
“According to Ellie Hearne, founder and C.E.O. of the leadership communications agency Pencil or Ink, which, among other services, teaches companies and executives how to have better internal communications, ‘people don’t remember what you say — they remember how they felt when they were with you.’”
workshop / offsite / Leadership
“Prepared, knowledgeable, and efficient. You are quite excellent at what you do.”
- Senior Nonprofit Leader - and participant in an offsite we facilitated in October 2018.
“If you’re having a bad day and don’t want to talk, that might be best for everyone involved. Enter headphones. ‘It’s fine to take a step back from engaging. Most people know the new workplace etiquette, à la earbuds in means “give me some space”,’ [Pencil or Ink Founder Ellie] Hearne said. A simple smile or nod to acknowledge your co-worker will still go a long way.”
Coaching / Founder / C-Suite
My coach "was fantastic - intuitive, helpful, and strategic. In our first hour working together, I got targeted advice for issues I was having with my communication and sales approach. I walked away with 4-5 strategies I could implement right away. I recommend Pencil or Ink coaching to anyone in a leadership position or looking to grow their business.
Workshops / leadership / facilitation
“As someone who aspires to monetize their work [and grow their business], I found Pencil or Ink’s workshop incredibly practical and reassuring. Ellie’s style was generous and inclusive. It was heartening to hear from someone who isn’t the loud and brash stereotype.”
"No questions from the group were too small. Her well-structured session demonstrated not only her professionalism but her skilled practice building relationships with diverse people and companies. Throughout she illustrated her vast proven business experience of creating paid clients. It helped to spur me on to keep going with my own business ambitions and I have begun to practice more of the communication techniques offered."
"Her follow up materials arrived as promised, demonstrating her commitment to provide fantastic service."
Coaching / leadership / C-Suite
“Ellie is a thorough, empathic, and practical coach. Her notes helped me put everything into practice and I felt fully supported.”
workshops / facilitation / Leadership consulting
Pencil or Ink "helps teams work better together and achieve stronger results. They facilitated a strategic offsite meeting for my own team earlier this year, and we were impressed by their command of the content, their authoritative approach, and their ability to guide a productive (and fun!) discussion among our cross-functional group. I recommend Pencil or Ink without reservation."
Communications / strategy / Coaching / Founder / C-Suite
"When it comes to communication the voice of expertise is Pencil or Ink. I have worked with Ellie one-on-one and hired her and her team to do a number of projects for Bamboo Talent over the years - and with good reason. Under her leadership, Pencil or Ink has helped create written content we use every day, prepared us for public-speaking engagements, trained our leadership team and staff, and conducted insightful personality assessments.
"What differentiates Ellie is that she is incredibly smart and able to strategically align herself with your business or mission. Her approach is always considered and she is our go-to example of what makes someone professional - a true student of her craft who genuinely 'walks the walk'.
"After working with Pencil or Ink, we are highly attuned to the impact good communications can have. It is the core of great leadership after all, and Ellie and her team bring years of research, training, and hands-on experience to help her clients get results."
Coaching / Founder / C-Suite / sales
“We worked on sales and the interactions during the sales process. [The coach’s] unique approach combined personality analysis and traditional ‘tricks of the trade.’ This allowed for more effective and impactful results as we focused both proven methods and the psychology of counter-parties.”
strategy / communications / consulting
"Ellie’s authoritative approach to communications is a breath of fresh air. She knows what works, what does not, and how to diplomatically push back when required. I’ve worked with her a few times over the years and have been continually impressed by the insights she offers - she always has an eye on the big picture."
