About us

Through our mission, vision and values, our people drive this business.

“Chart the uncharted…” is about leaders move through uncertain times with empathy and courage to unearth opportunities that lie in wait.

“…make a difference” is all about the difference-making people on the journey, the diversity of skills and stories, while having a shared common vision supported by our values – to help clients make a positive difference.

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Leah Brown FRSA

Founder and CEO
Bio

Leah Brown FRSA started her legal career working for food industry tycoon, “The Chicken King”. After being called to the Bar, working for a commercial hotel chain, and training at Freshfields, she specialised in mergers and acquisitions at Simpson Thacher in London, being seconded to Melrose Industries and Triton Partners. She moved in-house to a boutique hedge fund where she supported the partnership in a management buy-out, ejection of the CEO from the FCA register, the first litigation on stop-losses, and disputes within the partnership.

At a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund, Leah led on an investigation into embezzlement and fraud. In 2021, she delivered a strategic exit as General Counsel and Company Secretary to the entrepreneur who referred to his entire workforce as “dumb dolphins” in Forbes and later fired 900 employees on Zoom.

She was headhunted for a blockchain-based fractional art start-up whose executive who fired his entire team the day before their equity vested. After supporting a crypto technologist in exiting his CEO from the business, Leah became an accredited mediator.

Since founding The WayFinders Group, Leah has delivered successful complex Board mediations, advised organisations on cultural misalignment, ill-fitting strategy, mission and scope creep, and supported a number of high-profile executives with strategic and operational challenges. She is passionate about creating lightbulb moments where people believe they can achieve things that previously felt impossible, and excels at holding space for egos and conflict. A pioneer at heart and wired for relationship, Leah is unafraid to step with you into the unknown.

What do clients say about Leah?

“Leah possesses an extraordinary range of skill-sets that reflect a unique balance of emotional and intellectual intelligence that delivers world class professionalism and problem-solving for any organisation, institution or entity."
— Chair, international NGO (2023)
“Having worked with Leah Brown recently in delivering Kent Cricket’s submission for the Tier 1 Women’s bid run by the England & Wales Cricket Board I can highly recommend Leah as an innovative thinker, executive mentor and strong team player. In shaping and ultimately delivering Kent’s vision for professional women’s cricket, Leah played a central role in driving the strategic thinking of what good looks like and coached the CEO of Kent Cricket through this journey. The value Leah brings to any project, programme or strategy setting exercise is something I recommend to others seeking the same.”
— Board member, Kent County Cricket Club (2024)
“Leah takes time to build relationships with a wide range of people. She is a people person and is incessantly curious about people and particularly what makes them tick. She is able to identify strengths and expertise quickly. She sees the best in people and does her best to bring out their greatest qualities.”
— Mentee (2024)
“Such an inspiring talk, amazingly gifted as a speaker and leader and brave enough to be vulnerable”
— News UK (2024)
"Leah Brown was truly exceptional during our mediation. She moved quickly against a tight deadline, investing long hours over a weekend to get the job done. This was symptomatic of a desire to get to a successful outcome. This was a complex mediation with a high number of relevant participants who started out with strongly held positions. Leah was able to synthesize a huge amount of information and move the group gradually to an appropriate middle ground and a successful outcome. She demonstrated considerable emotional intelligence and kept matters moving forward with a successful outcome the only objective. I would commend Leah highly."
— CEO, Sports Organisation (2024)

“Leah possesses an extraordinary range of skill-sets that reflect a unique balance of emotional and intellectual intelligence that delivers world class professionalism and problem-solving for any organisation, institution or entity."

— Chair, international NGO (2023)

Board Of Directors

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Krisztina Mair

Bio

Kristi is a philosophical theological educator, author, and speaker, with a focus on truth and trust.

She has worked with people from around the globe finding ways forward in difficult environments. She has a passion for excellent leadership, good governance and the formation of communities of shalom, which is why WayFinders resonates with her strongly.

She has managed multiple stakeholders interests and has worked with people from around the globe to find ways forward in difficult environments.

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Shelley Ruck

Bio

Shelley has over 15 years experience working in the charity sector in numerous and varied roles. She has spent all her career working globally and cross-culturally from Asia to Africa to Europe and Latin America. Her passion for justice and fairness drives all her work and decision-making, yet at the heart of all organisational success lies people. From her experience, she passionately believes that an organisation is only as good as its people and success depends on good relationships.

Shelley brings a wealth of experience in change management, having successfully delivered a number of global digital system transformation projects, as well as having spent time coaching individuals and advising on organisational change and restructuring. She is often found advising and consulting on strategy, governance and compliance, including safeguarding. She spent part of her early career supporting banking and legal sectors in compliance.

Shelley is determined, proactive, pragmatic and wants to see people and organisations thrive. She brings a unique perspective that combines strategy, operations but remains deeply people-focused. Her varied career and diverse background has taught her to listen carefully to both what is said and unsaid, making her a keen observer and problem solver.

Outside of work Shelley can be found running, cooking for friends, enjoying good red wine and serving at church.

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Leah Brown FRSA

Bio

Alongside her role as a social entrepreneur and a recovering corporate M&A lawyer, Leah brings a wealth of experience as a professional speaker, podcast host, mediator, non-fiction writer.

Leah was called to the Bar at Middle Temple in 2011, and qualified as a solicitor at Freshfields LLP in 2015. After working in public and private M&A at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Leah had a successful career as an in-house lawyer culminating in the delivery of a successful exit in 2021.

In addition to running the business, Leah hosts The WayFinders Group’s weekly leadership podcast called The Longest Day, and is a regular political commentator on Mid-Atlantic Podcast 

She is scheduled to deliver a TEDx talk in November 2024. Her debut novel, Breach, and debut memoir, Citizen of Nowhere are awaiting publication. She is also an accomplished musician.

She sits on the faculty of the Society of Mediators, is on the board of Unseen UK, is a trustee of Big Green Heart CIO, and is a board advisor to Kent Cricket.

She is based in Broadstairs with her micro dog, Saphy.

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name

Krisztina Mair

Bio

Kristi is a philosophical theological educator, author, and speaker, with a focus on truth and trust.

She has worked with people from around the globe finding ways forward in difficult environments. She has a passion for excellent leadership, good governance and the formation of communities of shalom, which is why WayFinders resonates with her strongly.

She has managed multiple stakeholders interests and has worked with people from around the globe to find ways forward in difficult environments.

Read more
name

Shelly Ruck

Bio

Shelley has over 15 years experience working in the charity sector in numerous and varied roles. She has spent all her career working globally and cross-culturally from Asia to Africa to Europe and Latin America. Her passion for justice and fairness drives all her work and decision-making, yet at the heart of all organisational success lies people. From her experience, she passionately believes that an organisation is only as good as its people and success depends on good relationships.

Shelley brings a wealth of experience in change management, having successfully delivered a number of global digital system transformation projects, as well as having spent time coaching individuals and advising on organisational change and restructuring. She is often found advising and consulting on strategy, governance and compliance, including safeguarding. She spent part of her early career supporting banking and legal sectors in compliance.

Shelley is determined, proactive, pragmatic and wants to see people and organisations thrive. She brings a unique perspective that combines strategy, operations but remains deeply people-focused. Her varied career and diverse background has taught her to listen carefully to both what is said and unsaid, making her a keen observer and problem solver.

Outside of work Shelley can be found running, cooking for friends, enjoying good red wine and serving at church.

Read more
name

Leah Brown

Bio

Alongside her role as a social entrepreneur and a recovering corporate M&A lawyer, Leah brings a wealth of experience as a professional speaker, podcast host, mediator, non-fiction writer.

Leah was called to the Bar at Middle Temple in 2011, and qualified as a solicitor at Freshfields LLP in 2015. After working in public and private M&A at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Leah had a successful career as an in-house lawyer culminating in the delivery of a successful exit in 2021.

In addition to running the business, Leah hosts The WayFinders Group’s weekly leadership podcast called The Longest Day, and is a regular political commentator on Mid-Atlantic Podcast 

She is scheduled to deliver a TEDx talk in November 2024. Her debut novel, Breach, and debut memoir, Citizen of Nowhere are awaiting publication. She is also an accomplished musician.

She sits on the faculty of the Society of Mediators, is on the board of Unseen UK, is a trustee of Big Green Heart CIO, and is a board advisor to Kent Cricket.

She is based in Broadstairs with her micro dog, Saphy.

Read more
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Bio

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Other advisors include Stephen Ruttle KC, Mal Fletcher, Ray Mia, and Rosemary Nuamah-Williams.

Principal Consultants

Delivery Partners

Client Testimonials

"We were advised on an organisational skills audit across our small charity. Each team member found the process thought provoking and strengthening, making us more aware of who we were, where our strengths and weaknesses lie and it has empowered us to find the skill set to fill the gaps. We are stronger and more confident as a team having been through the self assessment process and being able to refer to the very well presented and thorough document to find a game plan for the way ahead. Highly recommend engaging with this organisation."
— Governance client (2024)
“As Co-Chair, I was astounded by BroadStairs’ ability to draw out the essence of what we are trying to achieve as an organisation and to use all of that information to determine the most appropriate structure for us. It was invaluable to us and set us on a path to ensuring that from the beginning we have excellent governance and will avoid the pitfalls that can so often creep up on you when you don’t have good operational structure in place. We would recommend The WayFinders’ Group to any organisation, whatever size, whatever industry, whether at the start of their journey, or wanting to improve on what is already in place. They will inevitably up your game in ways you didn’t even imagine.”
— Governance client (2024)
"Leah was very professional and transparent with her capabilities, giving clear and constructive advice as a consultant with a strategic eye for finding solutions to a complex organisationally threatening situation. We would highly recommend Leah and BroadStairs if you need advice or support in assessing and creating realistic workable plans and implementing change in complex situations.”
— Trustees, London-based sports club (2023)

Get in touch with us

Don’t hesitate to contact us to see how we could help you

Get in touch with us

Don’t hesitate to contact us to see how we could help you