Meet the London mentors
Laura Brown
Head of Advancing Equitable Access at LIONS
As Head of Advancing Equitable Access at LIONS, I spend my days helping people unlock opportunities and realise their potential. My career has taken me from entry level roles to international stages and I am passionate about sharing the lessons I have learnt along the way. I can help you build confidence, navigate career progression, advocate for yourself and find your own version of success without losing YOU in the process.
Career & Background
What inspired you to do what you are doing now?
Somewhere along the way I let myself become smaller, I stopped believing in myself until I became a version of myself I barely recognised. Slowly I clawed my way back to the ambitious, confident woman I’d always known I was but couldn’t quite unlock. Now I want to make sure others don’t have to work so hard to find their way back to themselves.
Could you tell us a bit about your professional background?
My career hasn’t followed a traditional path. I didn’t go to university, I started in entry level roles, including proudly working as a receptionist and slowly worked my way up, until I was leading the very programme I once dreamed of being part of. But the funny thing was, even when I had achieved everything I thought success looked like, I didn’t really feel successful. That has changed how I have approached my career and life. Today I am a leader at LIONS, a mum of three, and finally finding a balance between a career that fulfils me and a life I love outside of it. It is not perfect but it is my version of success and that’s what matters.
Your favourite food for thought
Books
Confession I am not a reader!!! (unless you include trashy rom coms)
The Squiggly Career is my must have when you feel like you aren’t going in the direction you want to.
Podcasts / Thought Leaders
Shall I be honest here or make myself look better by saying some high brow podcast … Lets go with honest…
For me the best career lessons come from people who aren’t talking about careers at all.
Dish from Waitrose – Angela Hartnett has taught me so much about charisma. Being interesting is great but being interested in other people? SUPER POWER
Table Manners – A reminder that the best connections happen when people feel comfortable enough to be themselves … a little laughter helps too.
The Louis Theroux Podcast – For the art of asking brilliant questions (hello meeting, facilitation, moderation prep) Embracing silence and awkwardness and never losing your curiosity.
What drives and inspires you
What are your core values?
Courage, Optimism, Perseverance
Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My three boys, without a doubt. They inspire me to build a life that doesn’t just look successful from the outside but is actually joyful to live on the inside.
You as a Mentor
Why have you decided to become a mentor?
I want to share what I have learnt from the hundreds of women who have been through our programmes and the many more leaders who have given me their time and expertise.
What are the top skills or qualities you bring to mentoring?
Compassionate, Direct and honest, Empathic, Sees potential in others, Willing to be vulnerable
Ready to apply?
The best time is right now. Take a chance – you never know where an Assisterhood mentor can take you.