Who’s Broom and who’s Moon?
On the rare occasion when someone asks us “Who’s Broom and Who’s Moon?”, we always tell them story behind the name Broom & Moon. But while we’re good at telling that story, we’re not so good at talking about - or selling - ourselves.
So to celebrate Broom & Moon’s anniversary, which also happens to fall on International Women’s Day, we’ve decided to share a bit more about the two women behind the brand. And because we’re not great at talking about ourselves, we’re introducing each other!
Teresa North on Dr Clare Lynch
One of our clients once described Clare as the smartest (and most direct) person in the room. Both are true. She’s got a PhD from Cambridge in Old English Poetry, where she also teaches writing and presenting to the university’s international students.
Before Broom & Moon, she successfully built an online writing training business, Doris & Bertie, and has more than 300,000 students on Udemy.com.
Clare’s a genius with words. The best work days are those when a message from Clare pops up on Slack saying: I’ve got it. I know that means that a client’s new purpose statement, set of values, company or product name, or strategy blueprint has been born.
And I know when we’ve not quite cracked something we’re working on because she screws up her face at me. It means it’s back to the drawing board. But the work always improves as a result and it’s why our clients love our work.
When she’s not locked away analysing data and crafting beautiful words, Clare plays the flute, sneaks off to Bologna whenever she can (where she practices her Italian), and knits.
She’s the best business partner you could have. We worked together for years before we started Broom & Moon and I feel very lucky she chose me to go into business with.
Career highlight: being mistaken for an Australian half her age.
Clare Lynch on Teresa North
In her formal biog, we describe Teresa as an MBA-trained leader in internal communication. We mention her 28 years’ experience helping senior executives connect with their people through both the written word and compelling TED Talk-style presos.
All this is true, but it really only gives you a fraction of the picture. For starters, Teresa now also brings her skills to a wider range of disciplines than employee comms — branding, marketing and investor comms among them.
But also, the facts and figures of her CV don’t really capture what’s truly remarkable about Teresa: what it’s like to work with her.
For years, I had known I always did my best work in response to a brief from Teresa. It’s only since we’ve formally gone into partnership that I’ve really understood why. It comes from seeing her much more up close with clients.
Because that’s where the Broom & Moon magic begins. With Teresa’s insightful questions that get to the heart of an issue quickly.
With her ability to understand where clients are coming from. The political world they’re operating in. What they’re really thinking and saying (perhaps even more than they do themselves).
With her ability to push for answers (and push back when defending great work). All in the nicest possible way.
I call her the stakeholder whisperer.
What else do you need to know about Teresa? That she’s at her happiest when hanging with her daughter, who also happens to be Broom & Moon’s pricing strategist (“you should charge more than £10 but less than a million”). And is at her most smiley in meetings when still shaking off the chill of Brighton’s icy waters.