Meet The Team
Swans is run by Mica MacInnes and Lesley Hunter, two successful entrepreneurs based in the North East.
Having sampled a variety of business networking groups, yet unable to find one which completely met their needs, they decided to set up a new type of networking that provided bespoke support services for all members of the business community as well as those wanting to return to work, develop or change career, or develop personal skills.
Mica MacInnes
| After attending another business networking event which I felt was a waste of time and complaining to my husband, he told me to stop complaining and do something about it, so I did! |
Mica has worked within Learning and Development for almost 15 years and has vast experience of delivering training using a wide range of proven training techniques having worked as a Training Manager within a multi-national Pharmaceutical company for almost 10 years before becoming self-employed.
In more recent years, she has applied research into how people learn and uses 'brain-friendly' learning techniques which are proven to give increased information retention and transferral back to the workplace.
Mica is a qualified MBTI Practitioner, holds a CIPD Certificate in Training Practice, a Diploma in neuro linguistic programming (NLP), Post Graduate Diploma in Learning and Development, an MA in Human Resources Management and Development and is a Chartered Member of CIPD. She can provide Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) accredited programmes.
Mica was part of a small group who formed a local Learning and Development group in 2001 which has since become a special interest group within the North East branch of CIPD.
Mica owns Chrysalis Learning and Development Solutions and her experience within training includes management development, engineering, quality assurance, administration, pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing and packaging to a diverse client base ranging from SMEs to Corporate organisations.
Chrysalis is listed on the North East England Service Provider Register.
Lesley Hunter
| I got really tired of going to all the different networking groups and giving my time and energy to other people who didn't pay any attention and gave me exactly the same speech as last time... I'm not that unforgettable! I wanted to be part of something where longer term relationships were formed and where people supported each other. |
Lesley has over 25 years experience as a professional trainer with particular expertise, and first-hand experience, in developing leadership and management skills in the public and private sectors.
Lesley originally trained as a teacher then moved into further & higher education as a senior lecturer. Her career further developed during eight years as a local council officer, where she held a range of responsibilities including the provision of education and management development training.
Lesley has run her own businesses in the private sector since 1994 including a 12 year period providing nationally accredited training to the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) alongside the inspection of schools and colleges.
Lesley is qualified in personal performance and executive/corporate coaching, and is qualified in management through the Chartered Management Institute. She is a Master Practitioner in neuro linguistic programming (NLP) and specialises in developing leadership behaviours and communication skills.
Through her own business, lesleyhunter.com, Lesley currently carries out public speaking engagements and gives workshop presentations on subjects as diverse as 'motivating your team' and 'NLP - myth, magic or manipulation'. She delivers a range of skills-based leadership training to public and private sector clients, including the use of leadership diagnostics and high impact development techniques.
Lesley also own and runs 'mynx', an online shop providing access to a range of diagnostic assessment tools and selling professional training programmes for managers and leaders to customise and use in their own organisations.
Lesley's businesses are listed on the North East England Service Provider Register and she is an approved training supplier to the North East Chamber of Commerce.
