Who we are
Our company name was inspired by the idea of boxing clever – using savvy, fancy footwork and skill to defeat bigger opponents. Especially in uncertain times, we believe that anybody can compete with the big players if they take the opportunities to upskill and are exposed to new ideas. We use our experience as journalists to discover down the best speakers and tutors to give you honest insight into business and careers.
SIMONE BAIRD
Simone is the founder and CEO of Clever Boxer. Until November 2014, she was head of Guardian Masterclasses and grew the business dramatically in a little over two years, expanding into Australia and corporate training markets. She then left to focus on Clever Boxer, working with Frieze to launch Frieze Academy, The Idler, and Courier magazine project managing their first festival-sized event, Courier Live, in September 2018. Simone has been a journalist for 20 years and was previously Features Editor of Time Out, the London arts and entertainment magazine, and also Cabaret Editor. Additionally, Simone is the founder of Trashed, the online and in-print publication for young creative people, and she has been creating and running talks and workshops in London since 2002.
SONYA BARBER
Sonya is a London-based writer, editor, speaker and woman about town with an enviable contacts book. She is the author of East London: An Opinionated Guide and was the News & Events at Time Out for 7 years. On top of hosting and curating talks for Clever Boxer, she writes about events, restaurants, bars, travel and more for titles including the Guardian, Conde Nast Traveller, Stylist, Time Out, Metropolitan, LondOnTheInside and The i Paper
EDDY LAWRENCE
Eddy is a journalist, copywriter and editor. Eddy writes for the Guardian, Shortlist and Time Out, and regularly runs talks and masterclasses on copywriting for businesses and the public for Clever Boxer and Guardian Masterclasses. Eddy is also available for corporate training.
ALAN RUTTER
Alan co-founded Clever Boxer and departed the company in 2018. He has worked as a journalist, digital consultant, product owner and trainer, and is the founder of Fire Plus Algebra – a consultancy that helps people use technolgy better.