Turning complexity into connection.
About
Cultivating human skills
Communication, collaboration and generosity of spirit can turn expertise into influence, and ambition into collective achievement.
Have you ever attended a presentation and within minutes thought, you lost me at hello? The audience wants to engage, yet the message still doesn’t land.
We all can be compelling and influential, but many talented professionals never learned how to share their knowledge in a way that truly connects. Too often the focus is on informing rather than communicating. Today more than ever, experts need to turn expertise into clear, memorable messages across disciplines, cultures, and organizations.
With more than twenty years of international experience in some of today’s most complex organizations, I’ve worked in the trenches. I’ve seen communication done brilliantly and teams collaborate smoothly across borders, even under pressure. But too often those are the exceptions.
What I know for sure is this: we need to get better at expressing important ideas, sharing knowledge, collaborating effectively, and keeping smart people motivated. In organizations solving our biggest challenges, communication and teamwork must be treated seriously — and done with care.
Through bespoke, dynamic trainings using interactive theater techniques, one-on-one coaching, and hands-on communication leadership, I help people express their ideas clearly and organizations bring ambitious work to life.
Services
Customized support,
tailored for your specific needs
Brilliant communication starts by listening. I begin by understanding your challenges, and ambitions, then work with you to design a customized approach that fits your organization, culture, and goals.
Below is a sample of the services I offer:
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- Finding your unique storytelling style
- Building confidence in front of an audience
- Communicating complex ideas clearly
- Structuring compelling presentations
- Speaking with authenticity and influence
- Engaging international and technical audiences
- Handling questions and difficult discussions
Using powerful theater-based methods these interactive trainings help individuals and teams build confidence, trust, communication skills, and greater understanding of one another.
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Delivered in collaboration with experienced theater professionals, the trainings are tailored to your organization's challenges.
- Build confidence in public speaking, presence, and authentic self-expression
- Strengthen team trust, connection, and psychological safety
- Improve communication in challenging conversations and high-pressure situations
- Explore intercultural awareness and collaboration across diverse teams
- Address inclusion, unconscious bias, and respectful workplace behaviours
- Raise awareness of harassment, social tensions, and psychosocial risks
- Develop empathy, resilience, and practical tools for healthier team dynamics
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- Intercultural awareness and communication styles
- Working effectively in international teams
- Leveraging diversity in culture, professional experience, disciplines and perspectives
- Navigating misunderstandings and cultural differences
- Building trust and collaboration across boundaries
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- Leadership presence and communication
- Communicating vision and strategy
- Navigating complexity and uncertainty
- Building trust within teams and organizations
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- Working with the media for the outcomes that you want
- Creating the messages that communicate your goals
- Interview preparation
- Communicating science and policy to wider audiences
- Handling sensitive or high-stakes communication
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- Developing organizational culture and values from the ground up
- Defining shared values in a collaborative team setting
- Turning organizational values into lived behaviors and daily practice
- Building trust within teams to improve collaboration and delivery
- Strengthening team communication and interpersonal dynamics
- Increasing motivation, engagement, and shared ownership
- Aligning around purpose, priorities, and collective impact
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- Public speaking confidence
- Executive communication
- Influencing senior stakeholders
- Communication style and presence
- Navigating complex institutional environments
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- Strategic communications planning
- Messaging and narrative development
- Stakeholder communication
- Science and policy communication
- Institutional positioning and reputation
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- Interim communications leadership roles
- Strategic communications project leadership
- Launching new initiatives or programs
- Building communications capacity within teams
- Supporting major announcements, events, or campaigns
Biography
A career at the frontier of complex communication
Shira Tabachnikoff's work draws on more than twenty years of leadership in global communications across the private sector, consultancy, and international institutions.
As Creative Director at Edelman in Amsterdam, she led business development, mentored communications teams, designed media training programmes, and helped multinational companies articulate clear and credible messages.
At Elsevier, as Global Director of Corporate Relations, she crafted key narratives that translated complex scientific and publishing activities into a clearer reputation strategy. At the European Science Foundation, she built a communications and public affairs function that navigated the complexities of the European research and policy landscape.
At the European Food Safety Authority, she helped build a collaborative EU-wide communications network, developed guidance for effective risk communication, and led cross-border crisis simulation exercises.
Most recently, as Deputy Head of Communications at ITER—the world's largest fusion energy project—she worked at the heart of one of the most complex international scientific collaborations ever undertaken, cultivating culture, leading internal communications through change, and developing intercultural awareness programmes.
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ITER — Deputy Head of Communications World's largest fusion energy project. Intercultural programmes, internal communications, values and culture development. -
EFSA — Communications & Risk Communication EU-wide communications network, risk communication guidance, cross-border crisis exercises. -
European Science Foundation Built communications and public affairs function for the European research and policy landscape. -
Elsevier — Global Director, Corporate Relations Reputation strategy and narrative development for a global scientific publisher. -
Edelman — Creative Director, Amsterdam Business development, team mentorship, media training, and strategic communications.
Testimonials
When brilliant minds meet
Shira has a remarkable ability to cut through complexity and help people find their voice. Our team left her workshop with a completely different understanding of how to communicate across disciplines — and with each other.
Working with Shira transformed the way I present to senior stakeholders. She helped me understand not just what to say, but how to make people care. The confidence I gained has been invaluable.
I would highly recommend working with Shira. Her creativity, positive energy, high level of professionalism and deep understanding of team dynamics make her an exceptional partner for complex, international organizations.
Her undeniable communication skills coupled with her shining personality made these trainings concrete and engaging, contributing to the development of this important values in our Organization. I would strongly recommend working with Shira, she brings not only her professional skills but adds a unique, fun and energetic personal commitment.
As a scientist, I always assumed communication was someone else's job. Shira showed me that the ability to tell a clear, compelling story about your work is as important as the work itself. A genuinely eye-opening experience.
We brought Shira in during a period of significant organizational change. Her strategic communication guidance helped our leadership team speak with one coherent voice at exactly the moment it mattered most.
Shira has a remarkable ability to cut through complexity and help people find their voice. Our team left her workshop with a completely different understanding of how to communicate across disciplines — and with each other.
Working with Shira transformed the way I present to senior stakeholders. She helped me understand not just what to say, but how to make people care. The confidence I gained has been invaluable.
In twenty years of leading international teams, I've rarely encountered a communications trainer who genuinely understands the complexity of large institutions. Shira does — and she makes it actionable.
Shira's intercultural communication programme changed the dynamic of our entire division. People who had been talking past each other for years started genuinely collaborating. The difference was immediate and lasting.
As a scientist, I always assumed communication was someone else's job. Shira showed me that the ability to tell a clear, compelling story about your work is as important as the work itself. A genuinely eye-opening experience.
We brought Shira in during a period of significant organizational change. Her strategic communication guidance helped our leadership team speak with one coherent voice at exactly the moment it mattered most.
Contact
Let's talk about your goals
Ambitious work deserves communication that rises to the occasion. Get in touch to explore how we might work together.
All programs are bespoke and designed around your organization's specific context, challenges, and goals.