Part 3 - Meet Cheryl Sutherland - Speaker, Workshop Facilitator and the Founder of PleaseNotes Goods

In the final part of this series, Cheryl shares how her lived experience as a founder and facilitator shapes the way she supports individuals and organizations. From the tools that help people sustain growth beyond a single workshop to what it looks like to bring this work into real-world environments, this section offers a closer look at how insight becomes practice and how meaningful change is carried forward.

17. Your brand, PleaseNotes just hit 10 years of operation in 2025, can you share how your experience as a founder inform your work?

What’s interesting is how similar building a product-based business and a service-based business really are. In both cases, success comes from listening closely to the people you’re serving and responding to real needs, not assumptions. With PleaseNotes, that meant creating products that solve very specific problems and support people where they actually are. I bring that same approach into my speaking and facilitation work. I listen first, then design experiences that address what’s really happening in the room. That blend of lived experience and responsiveness allows me to support growth that’s practical, sustainable, and rooted in reality.

18. How do tools like journaling and the items you've built in PleaseNotes support your speaking and facilitation work?

When I started PleaseNotes, my intention was to give people tools they could pick up and run with on their own. I wanted to make personal growth accessible, simple, and something people could integrate into their daily lives without needing constant guidance. Over time, I realized that while the tools were powerful, many people needed more support to fully engage with the work and apply it consistently.

That realization is what led me into speaking and workshops. I saw how much deeper the impact could be when reflection was paired with conversation, guidance, and shared space. Journaling creates the foundation by slowing people down and making awareness personal. The workshops then help people unpack what comes up, practice communication, and move insight into action. Together, the tools and the live experiences support growth that’s not just inspiring, but sustainable.

19. What should someone know if they’re considering booking you, and how can they get started?

I usually start with an initial call to find out more about what impact you're looking to create and how I can adjust my workshop to hit those goals.  Every engagement is shaped by the people in the room and the outcome they’re hoping to support.

The best way to get started is simply to book an initial call and share what you’re navigating or what you’d like to shift within your organization or event. From there, we can explore the right format, tone, and approach together to make sure the experience is both meaningful and effective.

A huge thank you to Cheryl Sutherland for sharing her time, insight, and perspective in this interview. If you’d like to learn more about Cheryl’s work as a speaker and workshop facilitator, explore her Speaker Kit, visit cherylsutherland.com, or connect with her on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and stay up to date with her latest work supporting individuals and teams through personal growth, communication, and leadership.

Links:

• Speaker Kit: Click here 

• Website: https://cherylsutherland.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylsutherland/