Prof Miranda Brawn Biography taken from an editor extract from ‘Diversity Business Magazine’
Written by editor in Q4 2022
You could say Miranda Brawn has everything a successful woman needs: legal and business degrees, a top role at Oxford University focused on ‘The Brawn Review’ to enable boardroom inclusion and sustainability to accompany her portfolio board career, a closet full of power suits that fits impeccably, and — always — a bold lipstick with a smile that lights up a room with her infectious positive energy while turning heads. The businesswoman’s strong pout and natural curls have become engrained into her signature style.
Coco Chanel’s “add more lipstick and attack” philosophy pretty much describes Miranda Brawn to a T. Between absolutely thriving in her own portfolio career, she has yet to reveal her secrets to juggling all her roles so gracefully. She has shattered every stigma that says makeup and stylish ladies like you and me will never be taken seriously.
Multi award-winning diversity, inclusion and sustainability superstar Professor Miranda K. Brawn has had a blockbuster 2022, bagging a few new board seats to accompany her current board roles such as a global electrical vehicle company called Switch Mobility Ltd which is led by Britain’s richest family Billionaire Hinduja Brothers, with Hinduja Group’s Ashok Leyland as their parent company.
Her new board roles include a LawTech start-up, an artificial intelligence start-up based in Singapore and one of the UK’s largest NHS Foundation Trusts while accepting the offer of a top role as a Senior Visiting Fellow at the UK’s number one university, The University of Oxford. She is researching, mentoring and lecturing on “The Brawn Review” which is an independent report on boardroom sustainability, inclusion and corporate governance backed by global organisations and leaders. She has also launched ‘Monday’s with Miranda’ which are group mentoring sessions held at Oxford University on Mondays to mentor our next generation of leaders in an informal setting and to accompany her 60 second success coaching.
Miranda has joined the elite rank of board directors who have served as both executive and non-executive to name a few accomplishments including being a candidate for the Alderman role in the City of London earlier this year. As a media contributor for various global media platforms including as one of Bloomberg’s New Voices last year and an international public speaker for over 10 years, Miranda speaks around the world at various schools, universities, organisations, seminars, conferences and in the media to share her expertise, experience and knowledge. This is mostly on how to make the boardroom and workplace more diverse, inclusive and sustainable through innovative growth with the appropriate risk management and corporate governance techniques. She does this while inspiring and motivating our next and current generation of leaders helping to make the transition from the classroom to the workplace and eventually the boardroom.
Miranda is emblematic of a bold new class of female board director stars (think Ann Cairns, Dame Helena Morrissey, Dame Sharon White in the UK or Melody Hobson, Debra Lee and Ursula Burns in the US to name but a few) who embrace an unapologetically leadership style that once fell exclusively under the domain of middle-aged white male board directors. Thousands of young female and diverse followers —whom Miranda calls “darlings” and “future leaders”—cannot get enough through her award-winning UK registered Charity, The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation (www.tmbdlf.com) which launched the UK’s first black women on boards initiative and first diversity leadership lecture of its kind in 2016.
While rising to the highest ranks within various industries including corporate where CEO’s now report into her within the Boardroom and within Academia, Miranda also has a social media tag called #CurlyHairProfessor. This is because she wants to redefine the way curly hair is perceived within professional environments. She wants to push the message and realisation that curly hair is professional. Instead of trying to fit in Miranda has built a successful personal brand on being her authentic self and on many occasions ahead of her time where she stands out as an innovative trailblazer leader inspiring many from all levels to follow.
Miranda was born and raised in Leytonstone, a diverse neighbourhood in East London where she was educated in Woodford Green and Loughton both based in Essex. A former fashion and beauty model, she entered the world of banking and became one of the first women of colour on London’s trading floor working for one of the top global investment banks. Throughout her career, she has worked with multiple billion-dollar and trillion-dollar global companies with a glamorous style that stands out proving that you can be beautiful and intelligent with a powerful voice that commands respect. She achieved her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer while being called to the Bar of England and Wales in her 30’s where she officially became a barrister-at-law. This proved that it is never too late to achieve a goal after spending the first part of her career as an investment banker, senior financial services executive and hedge fund sales trader. As part of her portfolio career, she has also been a brand ambassador for top luxury brands such as Jimmy Choo, Piaget, Chanel and female led founders The Fold London and Libby London.
Today, she is planning a 2023/24 book and public speaking world tour, where there is also Hollywood interest from film producers to produce a film on her life based upon her upcoming book. This includes the main success tips from some of the richest and most successful people in the world that Miranda has either worked or networked with over the years.
In Her Words on one of her Success Tips: “If you do not ask, you do not get” she says. “I like to spread kindness around like confetti and wish to leave a legacy to help others whereever I go especially through The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation. We have created our own family of amazing leaders who radiate kindness and are just good people. Life is too short to associate yourself with anyone less than that! I love the quote that states: ‘You are a true success when you help others. Be successful!’”
Success Edge: The unique variety that Miranda demonstrates throughout her career, as well as in her personal obligations, makes her stand out with her multi-sector portfolio career proving that having transferrable skills really does work and equate to success in the 21st century.
After nearly 30 years, I am literally just scratching the surface! Watch this space because I truly feel that I have only just began she says with a wink and a cheeky smile followed by her trademark laugh. As a self-confessed hugger, she departs with a warm hug and happy glow on her face on to her next diary appointment. This is to deliver her keynote talk at a ‘Women in the Boardroom’ global conference in her ‘The Fold London’ dress and ‘Jimmy Choo’ heels while clutching her black and gold ‘Hermes Birkin’ bag with her signature bold red lipstick and long naturally curly brown hair flowing behind her.
THE BRAWN REVIEW: BOARDROOM SUSTAINABILITY, INCLUSION AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
An independent research report led by Professor Miranda K. Brawn on boardroom sustainability, inclusion and corporate governance in her role as Senior Visiting Fellow at Oxford University due for publication in 2023.
Further details to follow.
Prof Miranda K. Brawn joins the UK Charity board of the Tessa Jowell Foundation as an Advisory Board Member
https://www.tessajowellfoundation.org.uk/
The Tessa Jowell Foundation is a registered Charity addressing the huge inequalities in brain cancer treatment, research, survival and care following Baroness Tessa Jowell’s call for action prior to her death.
Miranda joined the board of The Tessa Jowell Foundation in June 2022 to advise on diversity, inclusion, sustainability and goverance across the Board and the rest of the organisation while helping to raise of the profile of the Charity’s work including fundraising.
The current board members include high profile global leaders: William Lewis, Elisabeth Murdoch, Baroness Martha Lane Fox, Alastair Campbell, Brent Hoberman, Charles Allen, James O’Shaughnessy, Sir Keith Mills, Kate Ward, Cllr Mahamed Hashi, Mete Coban MBE and of course Professor Miranda Brawn.
Professor Miranda Brawn joins the board of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust as Non-Executive Director
Professor Miranda Brawn has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director at Guy’s and St Thomas’ with effect from 1 January 2023.
Miranda has wide ranging experience as a Non-Executive Director spanning financial services, law, academia, technology, engineering, health, policy and the charity sector. Prior to joining the Bar of England and Wales as a barrister and senior banking lawyer she worked as an investment banker.
She has served as an Equality Commissioner for Lambeth Council and is President and Board Chair of The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation. Miranda is also a Senior Visiting Fellow at Oxford University lecturing, mentoring and researching The Brawn Review on boardroom sustainability and inclusion.
Nilkunj Dodhia has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 July 2023. He is currently a Non-Executive Director at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, a position he has held since November 2015. He is also a Director at Oracle Cerner, and has a particular interest in digital transformation with experience across telecommunications, healthcare and financial services.
Both appointments were approved by the Council of Governors at their meeting on Wednesday 23 November and are for a 4 year term.
Trust Chairman, Charles Alexander, said: “I am delighted that we will be welcoming Miranda to the Board in the new year, and that Nilkunj will be joining us later in the year.
“Miranda brings a wealth of experience to the role with her background in the financial, legal and business sectors, and also as a champion of equality, diversity and inclusion. Her strong links to the communities we serve in south east London will be invaluable.
“Nilkunj will join the Board in the summer, and we look forward to benefiting from his experience of digital technology and transformation as the Trust seeks to ensure maximum benefit for patients and staff from the implementation of a new electronic health record system.”
Professor Miranda Brawn said: “I am delighted to be joining the Board of Guy’s and St Thomas’ and look forward to playing an active part in the delivery of NHS services to the diverse local communities in south east and north west London, and also the many patients who come to the Trust’s hospitals from a wider area for highly specialist care.”
The governors also approved the appointment of Baroness Sally Morgan for a further 4 year term, to 31 December 2026. Prior to the merger with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in February 2021, Sally was appointed as Chair of the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust Board of Directors on 1 January 2017. She is currently Master at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge. Sally also chaired the House of Lord’s Select Committee on Digital Skills and was a member of the Science and Technology Select Committee.
At their previous meeting the governors extended the current term of John Pelly, who chairs the Trust’s Audit and Risk Committee, by six months to 30 June 2023.
Background:
The Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust are one of the UK’s largest and most successful NHS Foundation Trusts which comprises of 5 of the UK’s best known hospitals with long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research, education and innovation, accountable to Parliament and regulated by NHS England. NHS Foundation Trusts devolve decision making from central government to local organisations and communities providing and developing healthcare.
More than 2.5 million patient contacts, 127,000 day cases, 101,000 inpatients, 186,000 emergency attendances, 641,000 community services patience contacts, more than 6,600 babies born with nearly 24,000 staff as one of the biggest local employers and management of £2.6 billion annual turnover.
Miranda is using her expertise and transferable skills on how to approach the operational/strategic challenges through performance monitoring while working towards meeting agreed targets and opportunities. Helping to achieve the set objectives by using her lived experiences and knowledge to formulate fresh ideas, make a positive difference and bring an independent oversight with constructive challenge and management support while focusing on diversity and inclusion, risk management and internal controls in a highly regulated environment.
Five hospitals forming the Guy’s and St. Thomas NHS Foundation Trust
Inclusion and Sustainability in the Boardroom: Introducing The Brawn Review | Ep. 61
Professor Miranda Brawn shares her work on The Brawn Review: Boardroom Sustainability, Inclusion and Corporate Governance, and The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation, along with the outcomes she is working towards through each of these initiatives.
Our conversation spans diversity, sustainability, and inclusion, particularly as it applies to the boardroom; the role that boards play in improving their and their organisation’s diversity, sustainability, and inclusion; why there hasn’t been faster progress in board diversity despite the many programs and initiative available; and how diverse individuals can put themselves forward for leadership roles, particularly board roles.
If you want to participate in The Brawn Review survey, reach out to Professor Brawn via Keble College, Oxford University before 16 December 2022.
Miranda K. Brawn joins X0PA AI Tech Company as Board of Advisor
https://x0pa.com/news/miranda-k-brawn-joins-x0pa-ai-board-of-advisors/
X0PA AI is delighted to announce Professor Miranda K. Brawn has recently joined as member of our Advisory Board in Q4 2022.
Leading business expert and lawyer Professor Miranda K. Brawn is a highly sought-after board advisor and non-executive director for various corporations and some of the fastest growing start-ups. With experience and insights spanning across different sectors including law, financial services, technology (e.g., artificial intelligence), engineering (e.g., electrical vehicles), arts, charity, media, education, government, and public policy.
Alongside her consultancy, coaching and international public speaking work, she provides advice on strategy, growth, and innovation especially regarding diversity, equity, inclusion (DE&I), sustainability, ESG, corporate governance and risk issues in her areas of expertise.
Also sharing her career journey and success tips to inspire and empower others from students to the boardroom via her registered charity The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation (TMBDLF). She is also a Senior Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford researching “The Brawn Review” while lecturing at the world’s number one university. Prior to joining the Bar of England and Wales as a barrister and senior banking lawyer, Miranda worked as an investment banker for top tier investment banks and then as a hedge fund sales trader.
“We are thrilled to welcome Miranda to our Board of Advisors and excited to work with her and leverage her experience as we scale X0PA to next phase of its growth.” said Nina Alag Suri, CEO- Founder of X0PA AI. “Miranda is as passionate about inclusion as we are at X0PA, and we look forward to working together to build on our mission of bias free and equitable hiring.”
About X0PA AI
X0PA AI offers B2B SaaS solutions powered by AI that enhance people’s decisions through predictive analytics on big data. Using AI, Machine Learning (ML), and Automation, X0PA automates routine tasks and offers predictive analytics and data-driven insights, bringing productivities and efficiencies of selections at scale. X0PA is a long-term Microsoft partner developing cloud-based tools and products to enhance the hiring process and selection processes for governments, academic institutions, and enterprises.
Inclusion and sustainability champion seeks key City Alderman role
Dr Miranda Brawn, former vice-chair and patron of Brixton’s Black Cultural Archives and Lambeth equality commissioner, is bidding to become an alderman of the City of London.
She is the only person of colour in the election for a seat on the City’s Court of Aldermen.
The Court of Aldermen has 25 members. At present four of them are women. They are elected at least every six years and not all at once. Only an alderman can become Lord Mayor of London.
Dr Brawn, who is a non-practising barrister, non-executive director and philanthropist. is running with her “ICHANGES” vision for greater inclusion and sustainability in the City of London and has highlighted 10 reasons to vote for her.
She is contesting the Cordwainer ward election on 26 May. The seat is vacant following the death of Sir Roger Gifford, who had been alderman of the ward since 2004.
The election is taking place after years of intense scrutiny for the City’s elected body over its lack of gender and ethnic diversity.
Should she win, she would be the second woman of colour in more than 900 years to hold the coveted role of Alderman if the City of London.
The Rt Hon the Baroness Patricia Scotland of Asthal, QC, became the first Black female alderman when she won her seat in 2014.
London born and raised, Dr Brawn has worked in the City for decades and is a former investment banker, hedge fund sales trader and senior banking lawyer. She is currently non-executive director and strategic board advisor for global corporate boards in and out of the City of London.
She is ranked as one of the leading women in finance and business, and was one of the first women of colour on the City’s trading floor.
She was named in the Women in Finance Award’s Woman of the Year and Ambassador of the Year categories.
She is also the founder and president of the Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation.
Dr Brawn said she was “humbled” by the support and encouragement from both inside and outside the City, including from former Lord Mayors of London, to put her name forward for the Aldermanic elections.
The City of London has 25 wards. Each elects one alderman and a number of members to the Court of Common Council.
Aldermen represent their wards in the Court of Aldermen and represent the City of London globally at senior levels to encourage international business.
Professor Miranda Brawn announces ‘The Brawn Review’ and lecture during Black History Month in new top role at Oxford University
ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE title for the activist and champion of diversity, inclusion and sustainability as she joins the world’s number one ranking university.
The University of Oxford’s Keble College has elected Professor Miranda K Brawn as their new Senior Visiting Fellow on 1st September 2022. Exceptional and distinguished individuals join the University of Oxford’s Keble College as Visiting Fellows and Professor Miranda Brawn is no exception. She is set to launch ‘The Brawn Review’ and will be lecturing and leading the research for it. This is an independent research report on boardroom sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and corporate governance intended for publication alongside her upcoming book in 2023. This will also include her “iCHANGES” model which she created during her City of London’s Aldermanic candidacy elections for more inclusion and sustainability.
The prestigious and senior academic role will see Professor Brawn participate in University life by sharing her expertise on the research topic with Keble College and other University of Oxford college students, faculty, professors and fellows in seminars, lectures, workshops, study groups, and meetings. She will contribute to the goals of advancing the critical importance of these topics facing society today. In this role, she also partners with global organisations and leaders to advance boardroom inclusion, sustainability and governance efforts.
Professor Miranda K. Brawn said: “I am delighted and humbled to be joining our wonderful community of students, professors, fellows and staff to contribute to the success of Keble College and the University of Oxford overall. It is an honour to be elected as a senior visiting fellow at the world’s number one university. I am looking forward to working with the students, professors and fellows alongside global organisations and top leaders to produce ‘The Brawn Review’ while sharing my expertise and experience.”
She is the Founder, President and CEO of award-winning registered Charity ‘The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation’. In 2021, the Foundation partnered with the University of Oxford for an initial five years to offer the Dr ‘Miranda Brawn Award’ to UK Black, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and mixed heritage undergraduates from low-income households. The Foundation has been making UK history since 2016, when it launched the first diversity leadership lecture of its kind, alongside offering innovative leading education and career scholarships to diverse students while also launching the UK’s first Black Women on Boards initiative.
Her inaugural lecture in her new role will also be The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation’s 7th annual lecture event. It is an occasion for the University of Oxford and its associations to celebrate UK Black History Month in October 2022. Students and professionals from across the UK and globally will be attending. Global organisations like Goldman Sachs, Hogan Lovells, KPMG and Reed Smith are supporting Professor Brawn’s research work and Foundation. Students from across the UK are encouraged to apply for registration. Further details: https://www.keble.ox.ac.uk/events/7th-annual-lecture-of-the-miranda-brawn-diversity-leadership-foundation/
Visiting Fellowships are offered to people of distinction for their outstanding achievements beyond normal academic circles. They include eminent figures in law, politics, culture, the arts and media, business and public service. They have made an outstanding contribution to their respective fields. In Professor Brawn’s case, this is within banking, finance, law, business, STEAM, public service, charity and of course education. Life in an Oxford University College offers a wide range of social, intellectual, cultural, and artistic experiences; people are sought out who would embrace and enhance life at the University of Oxford. A bevy of celebrities have been invited over the years including screen stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Emma Watson to share meals with students as visiting fellows. The University of Oxford’s Keble college alumni list includes politicians, lawyers, bishops, poets, and academics. The majority of this list are male; from its foundation in 1870 until 1979 Keble only admitted male students. Keble College Alumni include Imran Khan, 22nd Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistani politician, former cricketer, James Hunt, barrister and High Court judge, Ed Balls, Labour politician, MP for Morley and Outwood 2010-2015, previous Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer and Katy Brand, actress, comedian and writer.
Professor Miranda Brawn to launch ‘The Brawn Review’ during lecture in top new role at Oxford University
Professor Miranda Brawn, former vice chair of the board and patron of the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton and Lambeth equality commissioner, is to launch a boardroom governance, inclusion and sustainability initiative in her inaugural lecture as a senior visiting fellow at the University of Oxford during UK Black History Month.
Professor Brawn’s charitable foundation last year partnered with the university to offer the Dr Miranda Brawn Award to Black, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and mixed heritage undergraduates from low-income households in the UK.
Her inaugural lecture will also be the seventh annual lecture of The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation (TMBDLF). She will announce “The Brawn Review” as she takes on a new senior academic role at the university.
Students and leaders from across the UK are encouraged to apply for registration.
The review will be an independent research report on sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and corporate governance in boardrooms.
It is intended for publication next year alongside her new book which will both be completed at Oxford incorporating her “iCHANGES” model for more inclusion and sustainability that she created during her candidacy in City of London aldermanic elections.
Professor Brawn a long-standing and award-winning activist and champion of diversity, inclusion and sustainability, has gained another important role.
Earlier this month, Oxford University’s Keble College elected her as its new senior visiting fellow, a post reserved for exceptional and distinguished individuals. While in the post, she will be lecturing and leading research for The Brawn Review.
She will share her expertise on boardroom diversity, inclusion, sustainability and corporate governance with Keble College and other University of Oxford students, lecturers, professors and fellows in seminars, lectures, workshops, study groups, and meetings.
Professor Brawn will also partner global organisations and leaders to advance boardroom diversity, inclusion, sustainability and governance efforts.
“I am delighted and humbled to be joining our wonderful community of students, professors, fellows and staff to contribute to the success of Keble College and the University of Oxford overall,” she said.
“It is an honour to be elected as a senior visiting fellow at the world’s number one university. I am looking forward to working with the students, professors and fellows alongside global organisations and top leaders.”
Professor Brawn is the founder, president and CEO of TMBDLF, an award-winning registered charity.
The foundation has been making history in the UK since 2016, when it launched the first diversity leadership lecture of its kind, alongside offering innovative leading education and career scholarships to diverse students, while also launching the country’s first Black Women on Boards initiative.
Professor Brawn’s inaugural lecture in her new role will also be the TMBDLF’s seventh annual lecture.
It will be an occasion for the University of Oxford and its associations to celebrate UK Black History Month in October this year.
Students and senior leading professionals from across the UK and globally will be attending. Global organisations like Hogan Lovells, Goldman Sachs, KPMG and Reed Smith are supporting Professor Brawn’s research work and foundation.
As a senior visiting fellow, Professor Brawn joins other eminent figures in law, politics, culture, the arts and media, business and public service who have made outstanding contributions to their respective fields.
In her case, this includes banking, finance, law, business, public service, charity and education.
Other visiting fellows who have shared university life include screen stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Emma Watson.
Keble College alumni include politicians, lawyers, bishops, poets, and academics.
Most on this list are men; from its foundation in 1870 until 1979, Keble only admitted male students.
Among them are former cricketer Imran Khan, 22nd Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Sir James Hunt, barrister and High Court judge; Labour politician Ed Balls; and Katy Brand, actor, comedian and writer.