Testimonials
“Nisha has a unique understanding of the essentials of communication and more importantly how to adapt those principles to different executive situations. We asked Nisha to work with more than 200 senior executives who requested help to improve their communications and in a single half hour Nisha energized the room to help them see their strengths and their opportunities for improvement. The results were immediate and dramatic. Something I have seen few people do with such an audience." Mark McDonald, Head of Research, Gartner Executive Programmes.
“On 10 September 2008, CERN launched a new research machine, the Large Hadron Collider in what was possibly the most visible scientific event in history. Nisha Pillai played a vital role in the launch, teaming up with a member of CERN staff to provide a stimulating running commentary for the first nine hours of the start up process.
This was webcast around the world. Nisha's job was to make good television out of an event at the cutting edge of one of the most esoteric of sciences, and which furthermore did not benefit from the kind of visual imagery of space programmes: in a way, she made gripping television without pictures. Through a combination of careful explanations of the event and an ability to convey a genuine sense of excitement, Nisha succeeded brilliantly.”
James Gillies, Director of Communications, CERN, Geneva.
"I would like to thank you personally for your contribution in making our EMEIA partners conference such a success. You brought a great deal of warmth and energy to your role as host and your professionalism in handling multiple hand-overs and last-minute changes was particularly welcome!
I would also like to thank you for the coaching your gave to (two E & Y partners). We have received excellent feedback on their session and I know they really appreciated the help you gave them with both their content and delivery. " Mark Otty, Area Managing Partner, Ernst & Young.
"I want to thank you sincerely for your brilliant contribution to the Ministerial Roundtable, during the AGM08. There is no way the Ministerial Roundtable would be successful without your competent absorption of the issues and your skillful handling of the discussion.Your ability to infuse energy and solicit participation from the audience was masterful. We always envisaged an open inclusive discussion with African leaders and the participants of AGM, and you delivered just that. I need not remind you of the accolades from President Obasanjo - he spoke best for us when he complemented you on a job well done.”
Alystra Antoine, CGIAR, World Bank.
"Thank you for carrying out such a smooth event - managing the glitches, the time issues, the near 'speeches' and the diverse opinions - with such good cheer and dynamic participation. That bit I have started taking as a given. More importantly, your very quick mind ensured perfect digestion of the material and ensured that the many-layered content of the report got a good airing. " Anuradha Rajivan, United Nations Development Programme.
“Nisha Pillai served as the master of ceremonies for the inaugural conference sponsored by the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Featuring an unprecedented five Nobel Prize winning economists, as well as entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world, this was a unique event that required a best-in-class moderator.
This is exactly how Nisha performed. She began the morning with an opening that set the tone for the rest of the day, and in the process energized the audience and trained their attention on the event’s objectives. As a moderator of panels in the morning and afternoon, she asked probing questions that engaged the panelists in a discussion among themselves and with the audience. This is the very type of interactivity that made our event special.
At the conclusion, Nisha delivered a summation that connected the panels together in an engaging and thoughtful way, providing the ideal end to the event. Nisha receives our very highest recommendation to serve as a moderator or Master of Ceremonies.”
Michael Maltese, MD, Legatum Centre for Development & Entrepreneurship, MIT.
“Thank you for your participation as moderator in the Climate Justice Dialogue in South Africa. Your consummate professionalism and intuitive steering of the debate contributed significantly to the success of the event. We look forward to working with you again in the future.”
Marcus McKenzie, Global Humanitarian Forum.
"Complex topics need simple, easy to follow and convincing communications. Your expertise and professionalism helped us to sharpen our messages and bring them across successfully. Thanks for being our coach."
Tassilo Galitz, BASF Crop Protection.
“After final closing of IDRC Davos 2008, I would like to thank you once again and very warmly for your top-level professional moderation of the first day of the conference and for all your efforts and support to make the conference a big success. As you know, the first day of a conference is the most important one – you made it a success. Thank you very much!”
Walter Ammann, President, International Disaster Risk Reduction Conference.
“I found it a real pleasure and, may I add, a great satisfaction to see you moderating at our Global Humanitarian Forum in Geneva. I am certain I am expressing the opinions of all the 300 participants at the meeting in telling you how effective, forceful and charming you were in your role. When the meeting flagged, you brought it to life with humor, wit or a pointed remark. When the meeting threatened to get out of hand with too many articulate people wanting to speak at the same time, you calmed things down and pushed the discussion along in the right direction. You were largely responsible for the successful tempo and tone of our initial annual conference and I wish to thank you warmly for your work. “
Cordially yours, Kofi Annan.
‘Nisha recently spoke at our 3rd Annual Analyst and Advisory event, about the TATA group. She did her own research and presentation which was creative, thought provoking, colourful and relayed subtle messages. She spoke eloquently, articulated important messages simply and effectively and made it very interactive and interesting.’
Ross Roy, Tata Consultancy Services.
“The Human Development Report Unit and the UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo would like to thank you whole heartedly for making our event "come to life." Your professionalism, dedication and drive both before, during and after the event helped to make it an overwhelming success. Your ability to quickly pick up on the subject matter and convey it in terms which engaged the audience members made for a dynamic and extremely substantive discussion on human development and corruption in Asia and the Pacific.”
Omar Siddiqui, United Nations Development Programme.