We treat brand like the infrastructure it actually is.
Talisman Sparro was built on a simple conviction: brand is an investment that compounds, and the businesses that win are the ones whose brand grows with them. So we built a firm designed to stay, not to deliver and disappear.
Paul Kirkcaldy and Natasha McKenzie are co-founders and partners. We lead every engagement together, from the first conversation onward. There are two of us by design. It means the counsel you get is consistent, senior and personal, the same two minds across every decision. When a project needs more hands, we assemble a bespoke team from our own bench of specialists. What we never do is hand you to an agency and step back.
That is the difference. The people you meet are the people who do the work, and the people who stay with you.
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Natasha McKenzie
CO-FOUNDER
I've spent my career with some of the best-known consumer brands, and I'm applying that same rigour to B2B, where it's still rare. What I've learned moving between the two is that scaling a business isn't really a brand problem or a commercial problem, it's the same problem seen from two sides. My focus, as co-founder of Talisman Sparro, is closing the gap between a CEO's vision and what the wider team actually does differently because of it. That's where commercial growth either shows up or quietly doesn't.
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Paul Kirkcaldy
CO-FOUNDER
Twenty-five years working alongside leadership teams at some of the world's most ambitious companies taught me that brand isn't decoration, it's infrastructure. As co-founder of Talisman Sparro, I work with leaders of high-growth businesses at the point where growth stops being straightforward, and where the whole leadership team, not just marketing, needs to own the direction.
Strategy.
Defining your competitive advantage & ensuring defensibility.
By crafting a compelling positioning strategy, we’ll identify clear water between you and your competitors. Distinction and defensibility is key when creating a sustained platform for growth.
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We’ll work collaboratively to build a brand strategy that fully aligns with your objectives. Whether that’s driving preference, building brand equity, attracting talent or maximising ROI.
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Naming is a critical element of brand differentiation. Starting with a brand naming strategy will enable you to improve market exposure, boost brand recall and gain the trust of your target audience.
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Using your brand proposition as a base, we’ll craft a unique identity for your brand. This consists of a distinctive look, a compelling tone of voice and a narrative that makes your brand charismatic and memorable.
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Gain alignment early on. We’ll help you identify stakeholders and engage team members, by highlighting their input in your output. At every stage, we’ll create a sense of collective endeavour and ownership.
Culture.
Creating internal alignment & building culture.
Business growth is driven by great people, aligned by common purpose and while many factors will attract them, organisational culture will keep them on board and driving your business forward.
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An effective Employee Value Proposition (EVP) is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent. We can help you define and communicate a compelling EVP that highlights the unique benefits, opportunities, and values your company offers, ensuring alignment with your employees’ needs and driving engagement and loyalty.
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Personal branding is about presenting yourself consistently and authentically to align with your professional goals. We can help you craft a strong personal brand, highlighting your unique strengths and expertise, to build credibility, expand your influence, and drive career growth.
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Workplace branding is an essential component of your overall brand experience. We’ll design an environment, aligned to the positioning we create that will enhance your workplace culture, attract talent and drive internal engagement.
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Internal communication goes hand in hand with your external marketing. We can help you create company advocates and identify champions that will drive your culture and support business growth.
Experience.
Communicating effectively & building traction in market.
Creating ownership of your position in the market based on authentic expertise and true value creation requires distinctive and consistent brand experience.
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Brand activation is about bringing your brand to life and creating memorable experiences that engage and connect with your audience. We can help you design and execute impactful brand activation strategies that resonate with your target audience, drive engagement, and foster lasting connections, ultimately boosting brand loyalty and business growth.
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Video and motion graphics are powerful tools for captivating your audience and conveying your message effectively. We can help you create dynamic and engaging video content and motion graphics that tell your story, highlight your brand’s unique qualities, and leave a lasting impression, driving engagement and enhancing your brand’s visibility.
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Collateral development is essential for creating cohesive and impactful marketing materials that support your brand. We can help you design and produce high-quality collateral, including brochures, flyers, presentations, and more, that effectively communicate your message, reinforce your brand identity, and drive customer engagement and business growth.
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Content development is crucial for engaging your audience and communicating your brand’s message effectively. We can help you create compelling and valuable content, from blog posts and articles to social media updates and whitepapers, that resonates with your target audience, enhances your brand’s authority, and drives customer engagement and business growth.
Value.
Leveraging value ahead of a financial event.
We’re uniquely positioned to support management teams prepare for an event due to our relationships and experience with VC and PE partners.
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We work closely with investment partners to provide comprehensive due diligence services, analysing existing capabilities, culture, brand, and evaluating potential risks and opportunities to ensure you have the critical insights needed to make sound investment choices and drive successful outcomes.
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Packaging your business for investment involves presenting your company in the best possible light to attract investors. We can help you create compelling investment materials to showcase your business’s track record, potential and positioning to appeal to prospective investors.
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Acting as an interim CMO, we provide strategic leadership and marketing expertise during transitional periods. We can help you develop and implement effective marketing strategies, optimise your marketing operations, and drive brand growth, ensuring continuity and momentum until a permanent CMO is in place.
Sound like a good fit?
If it’s worth doing, do it well
In a world where the ordinary suffices for many, we strive to set ourselves apart by turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Guided by the conviction that if something's worth doing, it's worth doing well, we dedicate ourselves to delivering unparalleled quality to realise your ambitions.
Embrace the uncomfortable
We stand by the belief that true growth stems from embracing the uncomfortable. By fostering a culture where challenges are not just met but sought after, we empower our team to push boundaries, explore uncharted territories, and question the status quo. This relentless pursuit of growth ensures our clients excel in an ever-evolving landscape.
Never stop learning
The pursuit of knowledge is our most valuable tool for innovation and success. We cultivate an environment where curiosity is celebrated, and challenges are seen as opportunities to grow. Our commitment to learning extends beyond the confines of our organisation, influencing the brands we develop, the services we offer, and the communities we engage with.
Our events: supporting your growth
The Foundry
Raising the right investment can be game-changing for businesses. Knowing where and how to access this finance is why we co-founded The Foundry, along with some of the industries most active investors.
The CEO Collective
In a region brimming with dynamic businesses and visionary leaders, we've created a community for CEOs to come together, share experiences, and navigate the exciting yet challenging journey of entrepreneurship.