Mark Cosgrove
Director of Instruction - Dale Carnegie Training November 2011-Present

We focus on giving people in business the opportunity to sharpen their skills and improve their performance in order to build positive, steady, and profitable results.

In this role, I oversee the trainers in Hong Kong, including grooming future trainers; organize and schedule workshops; support the sales process by leading in-house training and meeting with clients. This role includes leading Dale Carnegie training courses in APAC.

Clients: OSRAM, Gucci, GRI, Schroders, Benetton, The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, The Institute of Human Resources Management (Hong Kong), EDB, LVMH.

Senior Trainer & Business Development Manager Language Key (Asia), 2008-2011

The Language Key Training Ltd. provides communication skills training & coaching. I was the Senior Trainer with responsibility for delivering training, coaching and workshops with corporate clients and leaders. As Business Development Manager, I was responsible for the launch of the Mastery Program soft skills programs, meeting with clients to develop hard and soft skills business.

  • Responsible for delivering workshops, seminars and intensive 1:1 coaching to a variety of learners
  • Design course material, assignments and reports
  • Meet with potential clients as part of business development 

Clients: Bank of China, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, HKMA, HKAA, Hongkong Post, Societé Generale, Philip Morris, Ernst & Young, Benetton, Polytechnic University, Panasonic.

Owner – Spark Creative Communications, 2001-2008

Spark Creative was my own marketing and communications consultancy. I worked directly with a diverse group of clients on communication strategy and execution. Working with other creative professionals and strategists I provdided copywriting, ghostwriting, communications consulting and training for  internal, B2B and B2C audiences.

Web Copywriting

Researched, interviewed, wrote and edited copy for George Brown College. Developed and wrote websites for RethinkIT, Lee & Company, Farrago Crystal, Cynthia’s Chinese Restaurant, Ontario Chinese Canadian Association, Stone Orchard Software and others.

Advertising

Created advertising material for a wide range of clients including The YMCA of Greater Toronto, Mitel, Choice Magazine, Superior Glove, Wintrip Wolkoff Shin. Specialized in creating copy and advertising for professional services (law, accounting, consulting etc.)

Branding

Led corporate branding efforts, including company name, taglines, corporate identity. Created the brand, and advertising identity for nationally recognized charity event.

Ghostwriting

Wrote book proposals, presentations and speeches, including political and motivational speeches. Ghostwrote The Power To Connect: How to Create Communication that Gets Results, currently selling well in Canada; recently picked up by major US publisher. 

Marketing/Consulting

Provided marketing and communications consulting services, including researching and writing marketing plans, strategic execution, 

Clients: George Brown College, RethinkIT, Lee & Company, Farrago Crystal, Cynthia’s Chinese Restaurant, Ontario Chinese Canadian Association, Stone Orchard Software, The YMCA of Greater Toronto, Mitel, Choice Magazine, Superior Glove, Wintrip Wolkoff Shin. 

Editor - Automotive, MSN Canada, 2004-2005

MSN/Autos is the automotive web portal for MSN Canada and is the largest online automotive publication in Canada. I served as content creator, writing copy and providing live coverage of the Canadian International Autoshow. I was responsible for editing wire stories and the contributions of other writers. Utilized extensive content management systems and image editing software to update and upload content.

• Provided coverage of the 2005 Canadian International Auto Show, providing immediate editorial coverage of the show during its 15 day run. I updated complex databases or the online selection and comparison of current vehicles.

Senior Writer,TMP Worldwide, 2000-2001

TMPW (parent company of Monster.com) is one of the largest ad agencies in the world, serving clients in many fields, including hi-tech, service, healthcare, automotive, manufacturing and others. I led teams that created award-winning strategy and creative and presented it to the clients in a formal pitch meeting. We handled internal employee communications, external market communications, public relations, shareholder communications as well as advertising, web, print and marketing material. Working with designers, other writers, planners and account staff, I wrote and co-created from concept to execution. In addition, I coached the junior writers and liaised with designers, web programmers and production staff.

  • Managed projects from creative inception to client presentation, and final delivery to client including overseeing print production for tendering quotes, printing/web production
  • Created a recruitment brochure for a law firm which was successful in increasing their ranking in the marketplace

Clients: Nortel, OC Transpo, Sunnybrook & Women’s College Hospital, Aird & Berlis LLP.