As part of our Meet the Team series, we’re starting where it all began, with the Founder of London Speech Workshop, Emma Serlin.
Emma is the visionary behind the Serlin Method™, and for over 15 years, she’s been quietly revolutionising the way people communicate. Not just in how they speak, but in how they connect. If you’ve ever wondered about the heart and soul behind LSW, this is your chance to get a peek behind the curtain.
In this special feature, Emma shares the story of how a theatre director turned TV producer found her calling in communication coaching, the unexpected Gumtree ad that launched a company, and the real-life moments that shaped her philosophy – from writer’s block in Ibiza to emotional breakthroughs fuelled by empathy and nonviolent communication.
You’ll also discover what makes London Speech Workshop a little different, what lights Emma up outside of work, and why she believes great communication isn’t just a skill, it’s a path to something much deeper.
So grab a cup of tea, settle in, and meet Emma, our Founder and CEO…
What led you to work in communication training?
Honestly, I didn’t start out with a grand plan or clear intention. It began, as many good things do, quite organically.
Back when I was working as a theatre director, a role I loved but one that, like many in the arts, didn’t pay the bills; I picked up extra work through a tutoring agency. I ticked a few boxes for subjects I felt I could teach: drama, screenwriting, and, somewhat whimsically, elocution.
Fast forward a few years, I was freelancing as a TV producer and once again found myself needing to earn a bit more. I thought, what can I offer? By that point, I’d spent time in theatre, in TV, I’d studied acting, written scripts, and directed plays, so I knew I could teach acting, screenwriting, and, yes, how to speak well.
I bought three domain names on a whim; London Elocution Workshop, London Acting Workshop, and London Script Workshop. I put ads on Gumtree, and to my surprise, London Elocution Workshop was the one that took off.
Soon after, I changed the name to London Speech Workshop, which felt like a better reflection of what I wanted to create.
My background, though, is really a blend. I trained in acting and theatre direction, and later in psychotherapy, psychology, and coaching. That mix of performance and psychology, plus years of working with people on how to create impact, became the foundation of my approach.
It’s that trio, performance, psychology, and a director’s eye for impact, that made communication training not just a good fit for me, but something I absolutely love.
What was the journey to founding London Speech Workshop?
Following on from the journey I spoke about before, a few months in, I started to reflect more deeply on what I was actually doing. At that time, I was mainly helping clients with accent softening. One day, I was working with a French client and encouraged him to put more of himself into the words, into his speech, into his communication.
Then I stopped and asked, “Why are you doing this? You’ve got a lovely French accent. You’re successful. You’re married to a wonderful English woman.” And he replied, “Because I can’t fully be myself in English. I can’t inhabit the words. I feel like they don’t belong to me.”
That hit me.
His accent wasn’t just about sound. It was a barrier to authenticity. It was stopping him from fully inhabiting this language he used every day. And that meant he wasn’t showing up as himself.
I realised then that so many people carry this hidden pain. A feeling that their communication doesn’t truly reflect who they are. And I thought, this is something I can help with. In fact, it’s something I must help with. Because helping people find their voice, literally and metaphorically, is deeply connected to living a more fulfilled, empowered life.
That was the moment that sealed it for me. That was the moment London Speech Workshop really began – not just as a business, but as a mission.
How does the London Speech Workshop approach feel different from other professional environments?
One of the biggest things for me is that our internal culture reflects the work we’re doing externally.
We’re deeply committed to doing good in the world. Helping people become more fully themselves, giving them the tools to be brilliant communicators, and supporting them to achieve their goals, whether that’s building better relationships, having more impact, or simply feeling more confident.
But it doesn’t stop there. We also hold ourselves to that same standard internally. There’s a strong sense of integrity and congruence. We practice what we preach. We do our best by our team and our clients. And I think that level of alignment, that consistency between what we teach and how we operate, is quite unique.
Secondly, we are incredibly purpose-driven. Everything we do is grounded in a genuine desire to make a positive difference. To help people become more authentic, more kind, more empowered. It’s about the health of humanity, really. And while that may sound big and lofty, we bring it into everything we do. That sense of purpose shapes our culture in a really meaningful way.
Thirdly, our methodology is just so tactile and fun. It’s highly kinaesthetic and gamified. We use sticky metaphors like the Empathy Hat, the Meal Plan, the Spice, the Coast (for giving feedback), and The Art of Interruptions where you “create your art.” These tools land because they’re playful and logical – they stay with people. And that makes our approach both accessible and impactful, which I think is rare.
What’s your favourite London Speech Workshop memory so far?
There are so many moments I could choose from, but one that really stands out is our 15-year anniversary party. We held an award ceremony and created a little trophy for every single member of the team. Each trophy was personalised and celebrated something special and unique about that person.
As we handed them out, the person giving each award made a short speech honouring their colleague’s particular magic. Everyone clapped, cheered, laughed, and there was just so much love in the room.
It was pure joy. I felt so proud in that moment. We were living our values, creating a space that was inclusive, supportive, quirky, authentic and warm. It was everything I had hoped London Speech Workshop would become.
Why is great communication important to you?
Great communication matters to me because I believe in people. I really do. I believe in their innate goodness.
Carl Rogers once compared people to potatoes in a dark cupboard. How, even in darkness, they send out little shoots that angle themselves towards the light. And I just love that image. Because to me, that’s what we do as humans. We lean toward growth, toward connection, toward the light.
When people are given the right tools, tools to express themselves more fully, to listen more deeply, to connect more meaningfully. It brings out the best in them. Not only do they expand and shine more brightly, but they also give others permission to do the same.
That ripple effect is powerful. You feel amazing in that connection; empowered, joyful. You can see it in someone’s face, hear it in their voice, feel it in the room.
To me, great communication is about grace. It’s about respect and care, for others and for ourselves. It’s about putting humanity first.
I believe we’re all capable of that. Sometimes we just need a little support, a little guidance, to get there.
Tell us about a time that really inspired how you communicate today.
I spent six months in San Francisco and while I was there, I did a course on Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg. It was clunky. It was difficult. Honestly, it felt awkward and painful at times. I remember trying to practise it with my mum and halfway through, she got completely irritated with me. She could tell I was “using a technique,” and let’s just say, she was not impressed.
But even though it felt a bit unwieldy in practice, the underlying philosophy really landed for me. The idea that you can be an advocate, not just for your own values, but for the other person’s too, was a beautifully articulated game changer.
It helped me give structure to something I already had instinctively: the ability to empathise and put myself in someone else’s shoes. Once I had that framework, everything shifted. I began actively articulating what I sensed the other person was feeling or needing. And when I did that in tough conversations, I noticed something remarkable. When people feel understood, the tension eases. The heat dissipates. And suddenly, you can really connect.
A very personal example of this happened when I was pregnant and writing The Connection Book. I had hit a wall with the final chapter on navigating conflict and I found myself completely blocked. I’d told myself I wasn’t allowed to go home from Ibiza until the first draft was finished, but I just couldn’t write it.
At the same time, I was experiencing friction with the father of my unborn child. The dynamic was emotionally charged, and I realised I wasn’t practising what I was writing. I had to use the tools, really use them.
So I took a deep breath, stepped into empathy, and made the decision to fully see things from his side. I articulated it, shared it. And of course, it shifted everything.
And just like that, the writer’s block lifted. The chapter flowed. I finished it. And I could finally go home.
That moment cemented it for me. These tools aren’t just ideas, they work. Even in the hardest, most personal moments, they can transform.
What are you doing outside of London Speech Workshop?
I absolutely love cooking and feeding people. It brings me so much joy!
I’m also a huge fan of experiencing other people’s culinary brilliance, especially passionate chefs and their tasting menus. There’s something magical about someone expressing their creativity through food.
And then there’s nature. I adore going on adventures like hiking, kayaking and exploring beautiful landscapes. Just this morning I found myself daydreaming about a trip to the fjords. That sort of thing fills me with excitement.
What advice would you give to someone considering communication coaching?
I’d say this: understand where your strengths are, and don’t be afraid to outsource in areas where others have more expertise.
I’m a big believer in going for the fishing rod, not the fish. Invest in learning the skills so you can grow, rather than constantly relying on someone else to do it for you.
Get support. Lean on other people’s talents. Use your own skills to invest in those areas where you want to grow.
And honestly, I’m a fan of all kinds of coaching. Tennis coaching, life coaching, you name it! Wherever you have pain points, aspirations, or areas where something just isn’t working the way you’d like, coaching can make a huge difference.
If communication is something you struggle with, or something you want to master, then absolutely go for it! It’s a powerful, life-enhancing investment.
Connect with Emma on LinkedIn to keep up with the exciting developments at London Speech Workshop.
Emma also provides CEO to CEO coaching, for leaders looking to transform their company with powerful communication techniques. If you are interested in learning more, take a look at the course here and get in touch with our team for more information.
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