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Vernee Samuel and Alex Dalton

Curious Not Furious 

In these increasingly polarised times, many of us struggle to connect and engage with people who think differently. Our training will give your staff the skills to be curious without fear of judgement, to listen without prejudice, and to have calm conversations about really difficult topics. These skills will help build genuine connections and create a workplace where difference, instead of becoming a point of tension, is something to be celebrated.

Studio Microphone Setup

Our 
Story

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We met while working for BBC Sport in the late 1990s, a world of tight deadlines, strong opinions and big personalities. As producers of live shows and documentaries, our jobs demanded clarity, teamwork and the ability to disagree constructively, skills that have proved remarkably transferable. 

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After many years in broadcasting, we both moved into teaching and training. Alex focused on leadership and innovation, supporting organisations to think strategically and act with confidence, while Vernee specialised in education and inclusion, helping institutions to build cultures where everyone feels respected and heard. 

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Working in quite different sectors, we noticed similar patterns:

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  • Intelligent, thoughtful, well-intentioned people were holding back

  • Fear of saying the wrong thing was stifling creativity and innovation.

  • A commitment to diversity did not always extend to diversity of thought.

  • Colleagues with differing views were finding it harder to connect.

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We came together to create Curious Not Furious: a practical, research-informed approach to helping teams disagree well. We work with organisations to replace fear with curiosity, defensiveness with thoughtful challenge, and awkward silences with conversations that actually lead somewhere useful. 

 

Disagreement isn’t a threat to innovation or inclusion. Managed well, it drives both. 

“Curious Not Furious with Alex and Vernee was more than just a team training — it genuinely shifted how we have conversations. Their facilitation was thoughtful, funny, and refreshingly grounded in real-world situations. The Conversation Compass is one of those tools you find yourself using without even realising — whether you're navigating a tricky meeting, a family disagreement, or just trying to listen better. I walked away with a renewed sense of how to make space for every voice, and how respectful challenge can actually bring people closer.”

Alison, HR Director

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