Miranda
Brawn
is an award winning business and diversity leader. Named one of the Top 30 most
inspirational women by Brummel, featured in CityAM’s WomenInTheCity Powerlist,
BE Mogul Winner and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Miranda drives companies to
achieve strong financial performance and public engagement, built upon her
extensive experience working for some of the world’s biggest companies. With a background as an investment banker and
a barrister, over 15 years’ experience in
philanthropy and diversity work, Miranda wanted to go the extra mile and
founded the Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation. This provides future
BAME leaders with opportunities and incentives. She has recently partnered with The Prince’s Trust
to provide one of her scholarships to a young BAME person from the Trust. The
aim is to help increase
race diversity and equality in Britain.
She
has co-founded General Counsel Diversity Leadership Forum and Color In Tech to
help increase race and gender diversity. She is on the committee board for City
Women Network that helps to increase gender diversity. She is also part of the
Thomson Reuters Legal In-House Advisory Network and Business Law Consultation
Advisory Board. Miranda
is on the board as Vice Chair of the Black Cultural Archives, Patron of the
Black British Academics and board adviser for other organisations. Read our inspirational interview with her and be motivated to live your best life too!
Please tell us what is a typical business day for
you? I do not have a typical business day. It varies
on a day to day basis. It may include board meetings, drafting and negotiating
legal agreements, mentoring, networking events, photo shoots, commentary on
television, public speaking plus much more.
What made you start the business and how
did you get started? With over 15 years’ experience in diversity,
philanthropy and community work, I wanted to go the extra mile and launch the
‘Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation’. This is to provide the next
generation of Black, Asian and minority ethnics (BAME) future leaders with
incentives and opportunities via scholarships, work experience, lectures and
mentoring/coaching programmes. The aim is to help increase race diversity and
equality in Britain and beyond. There
will also be a tailored scholarship in association with the Prince’s Trust to
help young BAME people from disadvantaged backgrounds get
into jobs, education and training. The
scholarships will be awarded at the Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Annual
Lecture where Dame Jocelyn Barrow will deliver a keynote address prior to my
diversity leadership lecture. Further
information can be located via
What would you say has been your
greatest accomplishment in the business world to date? My greatest accomplishment is being in a
position to be able to give back to society in many ways which include the
Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation.
What
has been your biggest challenge in business so far?
There have been many challenges however one has been underestimation. If others underestimate me or
lower their expectations because I am a woman of colour, that just means they
are all that more disadvantaged or ill-prepared when they inevitably see and
experience how much more capable I am than them. If some people correlate low
expectations with me because I am a woman, there is no question that I will
over-deliver, and that is always highly satisfying.
What
are your future plans for the business?
I would like to expand on a global level.
If you
had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I would have started at an earlier age.
Why is it so important to inspire young women in
particular to follow their dreams? I think it is very
important for young women to be inspired and see successful females following
their dreams to help them achieve their own.
After my motivational talks, it is highly refreshing to see young women believe
they can really do anything that they set their minds to.
What
advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your
industry? BE SAFE!
Believe
in yourself and exercise confidence.
Exercise
persistence and determination when things take longer than expected.
Sky
is the limit so aim high.
Authenticity
is important for relationship building and leadership.
Focus
on your own goals.
Expose
yourself to your comfort zone challenges.
What
or who inspires you in business and why?
I
am inspired by those who rise above their challenges like a phoenix through
strength, determination and courage to reach a successful place.
What is your favourite inspirational quote? This is a tough question because I have so
many favourite inspirational quotes. That said, one that comes straight to my mind
is Napoleon Hill’s “Whatever
the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
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