{"id":68991,"date":"2019-11-08T10:00:57","date_gmt":"2019-11-08T15:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/?p=68991"},"modified":"2020-09-03T05:53:18","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T09:53:18","slug":"how-a-former-teacher-is-helping-wework-members-improve-their-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/community-stories\/member-spotlight\/how-a-former-teacher-is-helping-wework-members-improve-their-english","title":{"rendered":"How a former teacher is helping WeWork members improve their English"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

W<\/em><\/strong>e to We<\/a><\/strong> features members who have built their companies on the WeWork platform. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In today\u2019s competitive global market, it\u2019s critical for professionals from various industries and backgrounds to be able to communicate effectively. When Jen Carmody moved to Miami, a city rich in professional and cultural diversity, she encountered many individuals who were struggling with English and felt self-conscious about it. \u201cI kept meeting people who would say to me, \u2018Oh, my English is so bad!\u2019\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carmody, who has a background in education, realized that people might be missing out on opportunities purely because their English language skills weren\u2019t strong enough to succeed in a business setting. To fill this gap, she launched her \u201cbusiness English\u201d consulting service, JC Language Consulting<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stationed in WeWork Brickell City Centre<\/a> in Miami\u2019s bustling downtown area, Carmody talks clients through everything from grammatical nuances to American pop-culture references. There\u2019s a strong demand for Carmody\u2019s expertise\u2014and she doesn\u2019t have to look far for clients. She uses the WeWork member app<\/a> to find them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI find 100 percent of my new clients by posting advertisements and messaging individuals directly on the WeWork app, which is one of the reasons why I chose WeWork as my headquarters,\u201d says Carmody. \u201cThe community is a wonderful perk of working in the space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her company\u2019s motto is \u201cIndividualized Attention,\u201d she says. \u201cThe WeWork ecosystem includes a strong range of industries, and I serve all types of professionals, from realtors to CEOs.\u201d Carmody works with clients to refine their written and verbal use of English, including on important emails, for presentations, meeting and sales preparation, social media profiles and posts, real estate listings, and other business documents. \u201cIt\u2019s gratifying to see how people\u2019s progress in the language boosts their careers and extends impact in different ways,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carmody\u2019s client Juan Y\u00e1\u00f1ez, CEO of the Americas for NTT Data company Everis<\/a>, originally asked her to proofread and translate his business documents. But she also took the time to learn about Everis\u2019 business so that she could illuminate the various ways accurate English would improve Y\u00e1\u00f1ez\u2019s performance in his role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

English is the common language used at Ya\u00f1ez\u2019s global meetings, so being more proficient amplifies his ability to conduct business effectively. \u201cJen has been a patient English consultant<\/a> who hasn\u2019t made me feel like our work together is simply a translation process,\u201d says Y\u00e1\u00f1ez. \u201cShe has been genuinely happy to learn about the types of conversations I have when I travel and the various types of presentations I give. This helps me feel more confident, and that is instrumental in my business interactions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

For Andrew Stepanchuk, a member along with Carmody at WeWork Brickell City Centre, Carmody has been an ambassador to both the English language and to the WeWork community. Stepanchuk\u2019s app, Bizlect<\/a>, uses a QR code to connect consumers to a company\u2019s promotions, coupons, products, and services. It also facilitates booking appointments, payment capabilities, and direct messaging. Stepanchuk, who moved to the U.S. from the Ukraine last year, recognized the opportunity to market and test his products at WeWork. But as his English isn\u2019t perfect, he relied on Carmody to help him connect with others in the building. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJen has advised on and proofread all the text in the Bizlect app,\u201d says Stepanchuk. \u201cBut perhaps more importantly, she has accompanied me to WeWork events and boosted my confidence and proficiency in using the English language for networking. She understands the value in connecting with the larger community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of Stepanchuk\u2019s efforts and Carmody\u2019s support, members from <\/a>WeWork Brickell City Centre use Bizlect to facilitate operations and improve the attendee experience of their promotional events. It\u2019s that sort of synergy that energizes Carmody. \u201cThrough WeWork\u2019s community, I\u2019m able to help my clients not only navigate the English language but also the larger entrepreneurial ecosystem in general,\u201d she says. \u201cI feel a strong sense of purpose in empowering such creative professionals\u2014and I learn from them as much as they learn from me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carmody\u2019s business has grown since she joined WeWork, and now she employs a team of 10 teachers who speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French. As Miami’s business community continues to support a diversity of cultural and professional backgrounds, Carmody\u2019s expertise will remain a key asset in her WeWork location’s ecosystem. \u201cThe more success stories I witness firsthand, the more I enjoy taking on new clients and understanding the ways I can support their growth,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n