I have drawn on James Freemantle’s expertise for a decade. As an exec coach he helped me tackle some of the challenges of running and growing a successful international company and how to engage with high stakes investors, board members, clients and our workforce. I asked James to coach our executive team and to produce media and events for our annual launches (his media background is a bonus!) In 2023, the Smart Parking SLT embarked on a year-long Jonto Adaptive Leadership program run by James. The program included in-person workshops in the UK and New Zealand as well as online workshops, a psychometric assessment, debrief and individual coaching.

For many in the team, this work was transformative. It challenged participants to think differently, act more strategically and build stronger relationships. They’ve increased trust in each other, support and challenge each other and share a language of leadership that is helping Smart Parking to achieve its ambitious growth trajectory.

Jonto has now designed a version of this program for our emerging leaders, for which James is running northern and southern hemisphere cohorts across 2024-25.

I have worked with James Freemantle over the past three years as a co-facilitator of the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program, bi-annual week-long residential intensive course for leaders representing all aspects of the industry in Australia. 

James’s approach is both unique and incredibly powerful. His thoughtful and respectful style builds almost immediate trust. This allows him to gently challenge preconceptions and encourage participants to deeply reflect on both their personal attributes and their leadership style. James is genuinely interested in people and open to all perspectives, which allows him to step back and provide the space for the sharing of stories, which are invariably very powerful to illustrate the core points of his content. He builds an environment that encourages open communication, both from participants and other facilitators with a sense of fun, but also doesn’t shy away from pushing participants to face discomfort. He manages to do this sensitively and supportively, to encourage their growth. I can’t recommend James highly enough to deliver well researched content that will have a deep impact on all participants.

James Freemantle and I worked together for the good part of a year on every aspect of my career. The nurturing from James has made a significant difference in building my brand and becoming a more rounded and authentic broadcaster. 

James educates his clients with compassion as he goes on the journey with you and keeps you motivated whilst challenged and questioned, all the time with your best interests at heart. With an exceptional resume in media around the world, James’s experience, knowledge and intelligence make a great sounding board for those that are tackling any form of performance head on.

In a world where presentation has become vital for success, James is an essential person to have on your team.

I had the privilege of attending a leadership course in 2023 that was led by James Freemantle. The week was crafted in such a way as to build a level of trust within our group that I have not encountered before. James is a skilled facilitator with a deep knowledge of leadership and how to bring out the best in each of us. The course has had a lasting impact on both my business and personal life, and my role in our industry.

James identified my room for improvement areas in the first hour we worked together and from there has given me the tools, confidence and self belief to perform in the next phase of my life.

Open Mike on 3AW

Matthew Lloyd: I had a poor reputation for my media work because… I was bland, dull, didn’t offer too much... So I started to get some media training throughout the year and started planning for life after footy.

Mike Sheehan: What does media training entail? Tell me about that.

ML: I met a guy along the way who’d done some media training with the footy club…

His name’s James Freemantle... and we’d do a three-hour stint on a Monday afternoon and it was pretty intensive. You’d be doing things you’d be too embarrassed to do in front of other people, but it was just about my tone of voice and all the things that I’ve still got to be working on now...

You get to the top in your first field in playing and in a sense you go back to being a rookie in the new walk of life.