About us

Rachel Lyons Learning is led by Rachel who is an expert in soft skills, personal development and leadership. For the last 16 years, she has been working with the executives and employees of leading financial institutions and blue-chip companies including the Bank of England, the London Stock Exchange, HSBC, Barclays, RBS, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Schroders, Deutsche Bank and CitiGroup. Rachel is able to bring both subject matter expertise and a confident, enthusiastic and energetic delivery style to the training room. She has studied theatre at degree level and regularly performs comedy in front of a live audience. Using warmth and an ability to command the room, she ensures learners finish their training stimulated and impatient to put into practice what they have learnt. Before becoming a trainer, Rachel worked in human capital management at Goldman Sachs. This experience at a world-leading investment bank means she understands financial services from the inside and can design training which is relatable and relevant.

Rachel is supported by a roster of partners and associate trainers who between them have decades of experience training the executives and employees of leading financial services firms across the globe.

Our associates
and collaborators

Charlie Walters

Charlie has more than 20 years experience designing and delivering training for the financial services sector and has worked with corporate and investment banks, venture capitalist and private equity organisations, hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds, investment management organisations, M&A boutiques and trading desks.

His expertise is in delivering workshops in the core personal development and soft skills. He is also comfortable delivering programmes on relationship management, client management, innovation, recruitment and negotiation.

Equally happy coaching individuals at C-suite level and facilitating rooms of 100-plus graduates, Charlie allows learners the broadest opportunity to explore subject areas. Using theory, case studies, exercises and psychometrics, he makes the training relevant to the learners’ roles, ensuring they get an engaging experience with actionable insights.

Carolyn Jarvis

Carolyn is a highly experienced learning professional, with over 20 years of international experience designing and delivering personal and interpersonal development programs. 

Working with interns to executives, her ability to enthusiastically blend theory with workplace realities means delegates leave her training with actionable behavioural improvements.

Carolyn holds a Diploma in Executive Coaching and an MSc in Occupational Psychology. She spent her early career was with Deutsche Bank as an emerging debt bond trader – and is able to bring insights from this experience to the training room.

The training programs she has worked on include a Leadership Program for Morgan Stanley, an emerging leaders program for JPMorgan, an early identified talent program for Lloyds, an experienced hires program for CA-CIB and early careers programs for Fitch Ratings, HSBC, Macquerie, EBRD and Bank of England. Outside of the financial services sector she has worked with Amazon, Freemavens, Ofwat, Codeverse and White Oak Ltd.

Allison Barnes

Allison Barnes is a New York-based facilitator and an executive coach with over 20 years experience working internationally. She has worked with clients across various industries and sectors including the financial services, retail, advertising, media and non-profit.

In her facilitation, Allison grounds her workshops in research, utilising tools, assessments and models drawn from psychology, neuroscience and social science. Her approach blends the intuitive with the pragmatic, meeting participants where they are while challenging them to grow and reach their full potential.

In her coaching, Allison partners with leaders to disrupt unproductive patterns or behaviours, instigating significant and enduring improvements in their performance.  Her coaching develops leaders by improving their relationships, self-management, comfort with ambiguity and strategic thinking.

In all her work, Allison is highly adaptable and able to quickly build trust with clients, identify challenges and inspire action.

The daughter of a diplomat, Allison grew up in South America and Europe. Before becoming a coach and facilitator she  led Learning and Talent for ALICO (a former AIG subsidiary) in their Middle East, Africa and South Asia region.

AndAlso Improv

Taking part in Improv comedy workshops has proven benefits for social skills – including enhanced social confidence and improved tolerance of uncertainty. Rachel Lyons Learning works with AndAlso Improv to bring these benefits to the workplace.

AndAlso Improv are run by Heather Urquhart and Jules Munns who have over 30 years of Improv experience between them. They have improvised in over 20 different countries, for audiences from eight to two thousand and in venues from the West End to the National Theatre of Malawi.

Their low-pressure, enjoyable classes promote resilience, openness to change and help improve problem-solving and decision-making under pressure. They also improve communication through active listening and clear expression.

Among the organisations they have worked with are Google, Facebook, BP, Johnson and Johnson, The UK Atomic Energy Authority and the NHS.

Testimonials

"Rachel was praised for her strong delivery, preparation and credibility. She was highlighted as a well-prepared and authentic facilitator, especially in virtual sessions."
Goldman Sachs learning and development team
"Going on a training course being led by Rachel? Well you are in for a treat! She is clear, engaging and completely in touch with her audience. She also has a great sense of humour. I thoroughly enjoyed my day on a course which she taught. Thanks Rachel!"
Sarah ShayLearning and development Lead
"Fantastic webinar from Rachel. In webinars there’s usually a nugget or two and a load of boring time to catch up on e-mails, but this webinar had me, and from what I hear through the follow up chatter, everyone else, focused throughout and soaking up the great tips and advice. Straight language that we can use in the workplace right away."
Rupert ShingletonHead of Business Performance and Quality, Kilnbridge
"I found Rachel to be very in tune with the issues we raised and she let the course naturally follow the direction we were going in rather than sticking to a rigid and inflexible order. The other 'value add' was that due to Rachel's experience in other areas she was able to draw on some related topics (i.e. negotiation) to enhance the course. All topics were backed up with credible reference material with good suggestions for further reading etc."
Delegate from a London-based asset management firm
"Confident, articulate and engaged well with the audience."
Delegate from a London-based investment bank
"Lively and engaging and open to receiving questions. Demonstrated depth of knowledge by citing quotes and giving real life examples."
Delegate from a London-based corporate bank
"Feedback from the team has been very positive, with even the most cynical team members saying it was the best offsite and best facilitation session they have ever attended!"
Team leader, London-based corporate bank
"The teambuilding exercises were energising and engaging and great fun. I know Mo and Lars have already fed back very positively to Denise, and will be happy to recommend you for other management teambuilding events."
Delegate from a London-based investment bank
"Please pass on our thanks to the rest of your team. We now need to ensure that we put the best practise into practise, and avoid reverting to type!"
Delegate from US-based investment bank
"It was fabulous. Yes and it was engaging. Yes and it was constructive. Yes and it was a lot of fun....thank you."
Delegate from London-based corporate bank
"Relevant tools to implement change and the psychology behind change. Good interaction and work related."
Senior leader from built environment sector
"Excellent refresher training on change, good for reflection and understanding the psychology elements required for change. Many thanks for an enjoyable training course."
Senior leader from built environment sector
"Rachel is an excellent trainer who kept all attendees engaged and brought the subject matter to life with enthusiasm and positivity. As well as learning a lot about the core subject matter I also picked up valuable tips and techniques on running online training sessions."
Senior leader from built environment sector
"Thanks for carrying out the training so brilliantly. I really enjoyed it and took a lot from it."
Nick PearsonClimate risk analyst, Leeds Building Society
"A brilliantly executed course."
Lorraine WhitbyHead of facilities UK, Stonehage Fleming

© 2025 Rachel Lyons Learning

Rachel Lyons Learning is operated by Three Point Five Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (Company No. 10383412).

You can reach us at rachel@rachellyonslearning.com

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