Walpole: Tell us about your company…
Lucy Gordon Lennox: AGL is where the best come to get real about human communication. We design and deliver coaching and training programmes for individuals, leaders and teams, helping them to communicate in whatever context at work with clarity, confidence and judgement.
I have always believed that quality shows itself in care; in how closely you listen, how well you understand, and the importance of landing your message so it is actually heard. Organisations that improve their communication can transform the way they inspire action, lead change, resolve conflict, and deliver better results. We work closely with CEOs, leadership teams and the next generation of leaders.
AGL was founded by my late brother, Antony Gordon Lennox, in 2010. His approach to communication was the antithesis of spin. His years working behind the scenes on Question Time on ITV taught him that building trust by being real was rather more interesting than being on screen perfectly polished. He concluded that you become believable and, most importantly, relatable. Humour and playfulness are often forgotten, too, yet a lightness of touch and being vulnerable are all indicators that we are human.
What is your area of expertise, and how can luxury brands benefit from working with you?
We listen to our clients at a very profound level, challenging and stretching them in developing how they communicate to ensure they connect with their audience. What people think and feel needs to be translated clearly and consistently through how we all speak, behave and make decisions.
Our expertise is in developing human communication from leadership presence at a company, right through to young employees. Training may be around storytelling to pitching, presenting, influence and judgement. We help luxury brands elevate their people and bring their stories to life, supporting leaders and teams to build trust and work effectively together.
What luxury brands has your company worked with previously?
Luxury brands are very receptive to our work, driven by a constant pursuit of excellence in their products and services and to communicate this effectively to their clients. We are proud to work with some fabulous luxury brands, including Fortnum & Mason, LVMH Beauty, Moët Hennessy, The Lanesborough, Foster + Partners, Goodwood, and Belmond. We also supported Amber Valetta in pitching and presenting a business idea.
Most people already have the means to communicate effectively; though we can help in shaping and refining their messages, so that people can express themselves with clarity, confidence and impact in whatever situation.
What has been a significant achievement in your company’s timeline?
Supporting a leading architectural firm’s pitch to win a $200mn contract for the design of a major financial institution’s global headquarters. It opened last year and is a tangible sign of our impact.
But often it is the anecdotal personal stories that are just as rewarding, such as the future leader at LVMH who recently told us that our coaching has transformed her career, and a leader at an iconic British luxury brand who received the funding she needed to transform her department by implementing the skills she learned at our pitching workshop.
This work can change how people and whole organisations communicate, by cutting through the noise and figuring out what really matters.
Why was it important for your organisation to be involved with Walpole?
Walpole represents British luxury brands and stands for excellence, bringing people together who share common values in how they work. Collaboration is key, so much good can come from it, and it is often where new ideas happen.
We are closely aligned with Walpole, sharing an uncompromising commitment to quality and a people‑first approach to shaping exceptional products and experiences at the highest end of the market. Walpole is a community that embodies exactly what we stand for at AGL, helping people and brands to be the very best they can.
Walpole’s focus on emerging talent is also very exciting. We know this generation has so much to offer, and we need to listen to them, support them in being resilient, and help them to give the best of themselves at work so they feel fulfilled and have purpose. Young people have always been a crucial part of the growth and evolution of any business.
Tell us about an exciting development or new launch for your brand in the coming months?
One of our most exciting recent developments is our collaboration with the Trusted Advisor Associates, the organisation behind the renowned book The Trusted Advisor, now in its 20th year.
Trust is the most powerful driver of effective client relationships and performance. We are fortunate to have one of the few accredited Trusted Advisor coaches working for us at AGL.
Trained in The Trust Equation, we are able to identify credibility, reliability, intimacy, and self-orientation as the four components of trustworthiness. Understanding and applying this equation allows people to increase influence and recognise the link between taking appropriate personal risks and building genuine trust.
At the end of the day, when clients trust us, collaboration improves, opportunities grow, and outcomes are much stronger.
aglcommunication.com
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