Nicola Cook

Originally from a blue-chip background, Nicola held senior sales positions at American Express, Procter & Gamble and Gucci before joining the board of a fast-growing scale-up and was part of the management team that led it through to a trade sale exit.

She launched her own consulting firm in 2004 and is now a shareholder of three companies, including the fast-growing consulting firm Company Shortcuts. Described as 'the UK's leading sales acceleration agency, Company Shortcuts is solely focused on helping ambitious scale-ups overcome the challenges of scaling the sales function of their business.

She has published two international bestsellers, which have been translated into 16 languages, and her hotly anticipated third book is due out later this year. Nicola is invited to speak internationally, and her firm Company Shortcuts was a finalist in two categories at the prestigious BESMA (British Excellence in Sales & Marketing Awards) in 2016, making the finals in the 'Best sales trainer in the UK' category, and Best Training Centré'.

Nicola is a past winner of the North East Women Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012, is a Fellow of the ISM (Institute of Sales Managers) and most recently has been added to the Smith & Williamson Power 100, which celebrates the top 100 individuals who help shape policy, champion, mentor, support and promote entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in the UK.