Biography

Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at The Graduate College of Social Work.  Brené is also a visiting professor in management at The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business.

She has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy, is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers, and is the host of the weekly Spotify Original podcasts Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead.

Brené’s books have been translated into more than 30 languages and titles include:  Dare to Lead, Braving the Wilderness, Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection.Most recently Brené collaborated with Tarana Burke to co-edit You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience.

Her TED talk – The Power of Vulnerability – is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world with over 50 million views. She is also the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix. The Call to Courage special debuted on the streaming service in April 2019.

Brené lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve. They have two children, Ellen and Charlie.

Brené’s Highlights:

  • Research professor at the University of Houston, where she holds the Huffington Brené Brown Endowed Chair at The Graduate College of Social Work
  • Visiting professor in management at The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business
  • Author of five #1 NYT Bestsellers:The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, Braving the Wilderness, and her latest book, Dare to Lead, which is the culmination of a seven-year study on courage and leadership.
  • TEDx Speaker and one of TED’s top 5 most viewed TED talks in the world
  • Hosts the Unlocking Us Podcast and the Dare to Lead Podcast
  • First researcher to have a filmed talk on Netflix: The Call to Courage special debuted on April 19, 2019
  • Client List includes Google, US Air Force, Slack, Pixar, MD Anderson Cancer Network, Salesforce, Microsoft, Nutanix, Shell Oil, IBM,  Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, LinkedIn, Stella + Dot, Ford
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Videos

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We have been fortunate to have Brené Brown as a keynote speaker at Workhuman in consecutive years and she has already garnered “rock star” status. Our attendees line up hours before her talk and literally run to their seats to get as close as possible to one of the most dynamic speakers in the world today. Undeniably authentic, inspiring, and motivating, Brené has solidified her place as one of the highest-rated speakers in Workhuman conference history.
– Kevin Mullins, VP of Global Communications, Workhuman
Brené Brown far exceeded our expectations. Her ability to engage and hold the audience was incredible and attendees were talking about it for the remainder of the event. Attendees came away with a new understanding of the importance of vulnerability, that it is the birthplace of innovation and creativity, getting into the arena, having a go and being a participant not a spectator, and being courageous is not always comfortable. She has an amazing ability to draw out the key findings of her research on vulnerability and courage, and present them in a way that strikes a chord with all attendees and leaves them contemplating their own lives, professional and personal, and making instantaneous meaningful changes to their actions and behaviours.
– Commonwealth Bank
Our session with Brené was overwhelmingly positive and our leaders commented on what a great experience it was. Our survey results indicated she received the best ratings for external speakers that we’ve had in the last two years. Her content is applicable to our professional and personal lives, men and women alike. Her message about vulnerability is re-shaping our conversation about what it means to be a good leader – we were surprised by how engaged and excited out team was about the message!
– Home Depot
A unique experience for hard-charged senior executives – one which allowed the team to look at leadership from a very different, very personal perspective. The concept of Daring Greatly, combined with wholehearted and being vulnerable opened up their willingness to step out of their comfort zone and step change how they will lead in a high growth company.
– Mondelez International
One question we had when we hired Brené to speak to our audience of more than 3,000 business people from 90 countries was, ‘Would her topic and style be effective for business?’ My answer is a resounding YES. While many speakers try to motivate, Brené actually inspires people in business by helping them identify and free themselves from what blocks them from their reaching their potential. Her delivery was deeply personal yet it was relevant for all, including those in our culturally diverse audience for whom English is their second language. The universal comment from our attendees was, ‘I felt she was speaking directly to me.’ That is the ultimate endorsement.
– Virtuoso Ltd.
Today’s global economy is forcing businesses to increase productivity and efficiency while reorganizing to reflect the global landscape. Brené’s research on connection, empathy, and vulnerability in the workplace helped us better understand how the emotional consequences of change play out in the workplace, and how to more effectively engage with one another. She delivers a critically important message that is supported by original research and does so in an engaging and intelligent way. Leaders at all levels of the organization come away with a new framework for looking at these issues and making effective changes to how they lead.
– Shell Oil Company

Booksby Brené Brown

You Are Your Best Thing

I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn't)

The Gifts of Imperfection

Rising Strong

Daring Greatly

Braving the Wilderness

Dare to Lead

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