abbiecooke.com
Do you want to inspire the employees in your company to step
up as leaders? Is it time to increase creativity, innovation and enterprise? Are you ready to discover new ways to 'create a difference' and get onboard with corporate responsibility?
If so, Abbie Cooke can help you.
Abbie is a motivational inspirational speaker, social
entrepreneur and co-founder of Gig-Arts and Arts-Org.
She is a British Female Inventor/Innovator of the Year award winner, a former British Territorial Army captain and Britain's only female ships' figurehead carver. Abbie's unique style of performance art presentation has inspired her audiences in Europe and North America.
Abbie's fun-loving persona is a refreshing approach to business and she weaves her academic knowledge and entrepreneurial experience into entertaining educational events.
Leader
In 1991, Abbie attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where she gained her commission in the British Territorial Army (TA). She served as an infantry platoon commander in Manchester Officer Training Corps before becoming, at one stage, the only female cavalry officer in the TA. Taking an unusual leadership role for a woman, she became a troop leader. Abbie later joined the elite Media Operations Group (V) where she served in numerous locations including Salisbury Plain, Germany, Cyprus and the Oman Desert. In 2000 she was awarded the Prothero Trophy at the RMA Sandhurst for her outstanding service to the Group. As a captain in the TA, Abbie escorted a BBC Television film crew across the desert of Oman for three days to film the series Guns and Roses. She also battled monsoon rainfall in the jungle of Brunei as the presenter of a documentary for the Ministry of Defence. Abbie resigned her commission in 2003 to pursue her philanthropic interests.
Abbie studied Creative Leadership at the Creative Education Foundation in New York State. She holds a BA Honours in Design History and gained a distinction for her MSc in Entrepreneurship at BCU Business School where her research paper on 'entrepreneurial learning' won her open invitations to pursue a PhD. Abbie was also recognised for her academic achievements when she won the UK Association of Business Schools Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.
Artist
In 1996 Abbie studied woodcarving and gilding at the Kennington School of Art and is known for her portrait carving of the late Sir Roger Cork, former Lord Mayor of London. The following year, Abbie became the artist-in-residence for the museum battleship cruiser HMS Belfast where she had use of a studio onboard the ship for five years. Abbie's unusual carving career gained wide media interest and the rare title of Britain's only female ships' figurehead carver. In 2002 TV personality Lloyd Grossman and Captain Warwick of the QE2 were amongst the celebrities who unveiled sculptures at her Figurehead Festival onboard HMS Belfast. The event was also featured on GMTV.
Entrepreneur
Abbie worked in marketing for leading shipping accountants Moore Stephens before starting her first business as an international artists' agent in 1999. Through her Company of Carvers Abbie brought together a global network of artists. Spotting a niche in the art market, Abbie innovatively targeted the cruise ship industry. The highlight of her artistic entrepreneurship came in 2003 when she became Britain's largest supplier of artwork to the largest cruise ship in the world, Cunard's Queen Mary 2.
Innovator
Abbie is the co-founder of Gig-Arts and Arts-Org
Gig-Arts inspires young artists, dancers, actors and musicians to make a living and make a difference. Gig-Arts presents free one day workshops, in business and communication skills with the opportunity for participants to create a one-off performance in front of a live audience. In exchange, they give one-day of self-managed time and talent to help their local community. Participants are invited to record their day of giving in whatever way they wish (video, blogs, twitter), this in turn can inspire others to be part of the Gig-Arts Giving network.
Arts-Org represents the UK's leading disabled artists and has gained a reputation for providing high quality inspirational artwork for corporate and private clients. Abbie is very proud of the ethical approach Arts-Org takes in supporting both her clients and artists. As well assisting with the commissioning of art, Arts-Org organise exhibitions, private views and artists-in-residence within corporate offices.
Email Abbie
In 1991, Abbie attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where she gained her commission in the British Territorial Army (TA). She served as an infantry platoon commander in Manchester Officer Training Corps before becoming, at one stage, the only female cavalry officer in the TA. Taking an unusual leadership role for a woman, she became a troop leader. Abbie later joined the elite Media Operations Group (V) where she served in numerous locations including Salisbury Plain, Germany, Cyprus and the Oman Desert. In 2000 she was awarded the Prothero Trophy at the RMA Sandhurst for her outstanding service to the Group. As a captain in the TA, Abbie escorted a BBC Television film crew across the desert of Oman for three days to film the series Guns and Roses. She also battled monsoon rainfall in the jungle of Brunei as the presenter of a documentary for the Ministry of Defence. Abbie resigned her commission in 2003 to pursue her philanthropic interests.
Abbie studied Creative Leadership at the Creative Education Foundation in New York State. She holds a BA Honours in Design History and gained a distinction for her MSc in Entrepreneurship at BCU Business School where her research paper on 'entrepreneurial learning' won her open invitations to pursue a PhD. Abbie was also recognised for her academic achievements when she won the UK Association of Business Schools Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.
Artist
In 1996 Abbie studied woodcarving and gilding at the Kennington School of Art and is known for her portrait carving of the late Sir Roger Cork, former Lord Mayor of London. The following year, Abbie became the artist-in-residence for the museum battleship cruiser HMS Belfast where she had use of a studio onboard the ship for five years. Abbie's unusual carving career gained wide media interest and the rare title of Britain's only female ships' figurehead carver. In 2002 TV personality Lloyd Grossman and Captain Warwick of the QE2 were amongst the celebrities who unveiled sculptures at her Figurehead Festival onboard HMS Belfast. The event was also featured on GMTV.
Entrepreneur
Abbie worked in marketing for leading shipping accountants Moore Stephens before starting her first business as an international artists' agent in 1999. Through her Company of Carvers Abbie brought together a global network of artists. Spotting a niche in the art market, Abbie innovatively targeted the cruise ship industry. The highlight of her artistic entrepreneurship came in 2003 when she became Britain's largest supplier of artwork to the largest cruise ship in the world, Cunard's Queen Mary 2.
Innovator
Abbie is the co-founder of Gig-Arts and Arts-Org
Gig-Arts inspires young artists, dancers, actors and musicians to make a living and make a difference. Gig-Arts presents free one day workshops, in business and communication skills with the opportunity for participants to create a one-off performance in front of a live audience. In exchange, they give one-day of self-managed time and talent to help their local community. Participants are invited to record their day of giving in whatever way they wish (video, blogs, twitter), this in turn can inspire others to be part of the Gig-Arts Giving network.
Arts-Org represents the UK's leading disabled artists and has gained a reputation for providing high quality inspirational artwork for corporate and private clients. Abbie is very proud of the ethical approach Arts-Org takes in supporting both her clients and artists. As well assisting with the commissioning of art, Arts-Org organise exhibitions, private views and artists-in-residence within corporate offices.
Email Abbie
