Mark James Normand

Managing director

Impress Training

What are your areas of coaching and why did you choose this specialty?

Having been in Singapore for almost 20 years, I keep telling people I’ve gone from “ang moh” to “sing moh” and I think this helps provide some interesting perspectives when it comes to delivering my courses. My two main focuses are on communication for new managers and how they can avoid the management pitfalls and helping people within an organisation improve on their structuring and delivery of presentation content.

What makes your training in presentation content unique?

Using only PowerPoint, participants get to relearn how to use this application from the perspective of it being a visual tool, supplementing the main presentation. Here, they will learn to design like professionals, translate text into professional-looking layouts, in addition to spotting keyword text into diagrams and 3D Infographics (charts). They will get to see many before and after examples of slide presentations, take back free presentation samples and work on a myriad of different exercises covering key presentation topics. They will continue this training with the extension of the blog site, which offers video tutorials even when the course is over.

How much does a session cost?

A two-day course costs S$450 per person.

How will your training benefit your participants?

The great thing about application-based training is you get to see participants putting the lessons that they’ve learnt back in their actual presentation slides. Sometimes, during the class itself when I have a chance to sit with them, I would go through their work and provide recommendations.

What companies have you worked with?

Most recently, we have worked with IDC, Singapore Tourism Board and CAAS.

How long have you been a trainer for?

Two full years since starting Impress Training.

What made you decide to be a trainer?

Initially, I wanted to take those skills I learnt in business and life and see if they were valid for other people. It was a way of endorsing my own business skills, ideas and creativity after years of working for others. It was also a way of connecting with others who shared similar views on the types of training development organisations need.

How can people contact you?

You can reach me at mark@impresstraining.com.