London-based Leah Brown was a presenter and participant in the 2022 GlobalMindED Conference. Her unique connection to countries around the world has led her to work closely with various cultures and communities. Currently, she is working with companies in London. She is a leader on GlobalMindED’s Executive Leadership Council and directs our organization strategically, financially, and thoughtfully.
With three passports, I have a diverse heritage. I grew up in the north of
the United Kingdom. I suppose I was extremely driven from an early
age excelling musically, in sports, and academically. As often is the
case with overachievers, I had an extreme tendency towards people-
pleasing and due to a litany of adverse childhood experiences, I
developed complex PTSD. Thankfully I had also established a pattern
of tenacity which enabled me to unlearn many of the things that held
me back from progressing in my legal career and in my faith. As a
gifted problem-solver with an in-built desire to effect social change, I
finally found enough courage to establish myself as the legal and
strategic version of “Olivia Pope” and launched a consultancy business
solving unsolvable problems for corporates and charities earlier this
year.
What did you learn from being at the GlobalMindED conference in 2022?
Two things: the power of networking and the opportunity to impact lives with lessons learned in your own career. I met so many incredible and inspiring people at the conference, several of whom I have either met up with in person or had meetings with since. I really enjoyed speaking to funders and founders about the current FinTech and investment landscape and was surprised by how pertinent my experience as a General Counsel was on the panel.
How can you and/or your company help GlobalMindED’s mission to connect First Gen and poverty-affected students connect to role models, mentors, internships, and jobs?
As part of GlobalMindED’s Executive Leadership Council, I want to and establish a presence in the UK. As someone who works with Tech businesses and asset managers in London, there is a huge range of mentoring opportunities, internships, and jobs on offer. I believe collaboration in the first instance is likely to be more impactful than trying to create new programs from scratch. I would like to establish some brand partnerships here and continue the conversation on this side
of the pond.
What else can the GlobalMindED Inclusive Success Network do to inform and advance your equity goals?
As a self-employed businesswoman, I’m always on the hunt for new and interesting clients with perplexing conundrums. I believe I have a unique opportunity to use the skills I have been given to grow and scale a business that in time will be able to have an even greater impact. A considerable part of business development includes speaking at conferences, so if institutions are looking for speakers on governance, corporate dysfunction, or how to unstick their leadership teams, please get in touch!
What advice do you have for the next generation of inclusive, inspiring leaders?
Know thyself and work hard to discover thy purpose. I have been much helped by executive coaching and counseling as it has enabled me to know who I am, what my values are, and what matters to me. Self-awareness allows you to engage cleanly with others and properly attribute responsibility and maintain good boundaries. But equally important is to figure out what drives you and to keep that in mind as you progress intentionally through life and your career. Purpose, wielded well, can be an incredibly transformative tool on both a micro and macro level.
