Argumentation is rarely taught in schools or universities, despite being an extremely learnable skill. Rhetoric, which is the art of persuasion, has been practiced since antiquity. Its heir is competitive debate – a sport built entirely around the making of arguments, where classical principles have been applied and refined for decades.
Companies like McKinsey know this, which is why they recruit directly from debating competitions. But most organisations don’t. And so that training stays where it is: siloed.
By drawing on classical rhetoric and the knowledge base of competitive debate, I teach business leaders and entrepreneurs how to make better arguments, how to respond to arguments, and how to cut to the heart of a disagreement.
If you work with me, you will be different in meetings.
Thirteen years in competitive debate. I’ve competed in two World University Debate Championships, ranked second at the largest tournament in Africa, and placed at the Edinburgh Cup, September Open, Queen Mary IV, UCT Open, and Stellenbosch Preworlds.
As a coach: South Africa, the Western Cape, the ESU (UK), and private academies in China and Toronto. My speakers have won the South African National Championship twice, and several have ranked in the top ten in the world.
Outside debate, I’m a writer. I hold an MA in Prose Fiction from the University of East Anglia, and I’ve worked with a UK agency on my debut novel. I’ve also ghostwritten for clients with seven-figure global audiences. Arguments, it turns out, are very close to storytelling.
Groups
A two-hour workshop for teams of six to ten. These sessions introduce debating and rhetoric’s most actionable techniques. Your team will be better at making arguments.
Individuals
A private one-on-one course, delivered over five 90-minute sessions. Deeper theory, and all of it practiced. Tailored feedback to how you reason and argue. You will think differently. The speaking takes care of itself.