Karren Brady – Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge CBE is recognised as the UK’s most high-profile business woman. This, together with her natural wit, honest and down-to-earth approach, witnessed by millions through her starring role on The Apprentice, has made her one of the world’s most sought-after motivational business speakers.
Baroness Brady is Vice-Chairman of West Ham United FC and Non-Executive Chairman of Sir Philip Green’s Taveta.
She is a former UK government Small Business Ambassador.
Career:
Born in Edmonton, North London, Karren started a career in advertising sales straight after leaving school.
Starting at Saatchi & Saatchi, she swiftly moved onto LBC as a sales executive before joining David Sullivan’s Sport Newspapers Ltd, becoming a Director within a year.
In 1993, aged just 23, she was appointed MD of Birmingham City FC – when the club was in administration. Four years later, she became the youngest managing director of a UK plc, when she floated the club on the London Stock Exchange.
Having turned Birmingham City FC around, Karren negotiated the club’s sale in 2009 for £82 million.
In 2010, Brady was appointed Vice-Chairman of West Ham United FC, and led a successful bid for the club’s move to London’s iconic 54,000-seat Olympic Stadium. Under her leadership, West Ham has become one of the five fastest-growing brands in world football.
Appointments and Awards:
Karren’s wealth of experience and passion for supporting entrepreneurs and business led to her appointment as the government’s Small Business Ambassador by the Prime Minister in 2013.
Karren has won many awards for services to business, including:
- Business Woman of the Year
- Most Inspirational Woman of the Year
- Spirit of Everywoman Award
In December 2013 she was awarded a CBE for services to Women in Business and Entrepreneurship; the following August, she was elevated to the House of Lords by the Prime Minister, taking the title Baroness Karren Brady of Knightsbridge.
Books:
To date, Karren has written five books, these include novels and business titles. Karren’s most recent book ‘Strong Woman‘ traces her incredible rise from selling ad space to running a Premier League football club, and how she balances her professional life with the demands of being a mother of two.
“Karren’s story is an inspiration to women everywhere. She is a champion for women. Her story explains to others how to find that balance between family and being a top business woman at work”
Lord Sugar
Television, Radio and Press:
Karren is a columnist for The Sun newspaper; the UK’s biggest selling national daily newspaper. She is also a columnist for Women & Home.
Karren has attracted much media attention throughout her career, and was the subject of an hour long documentary ‘Inside Story’ – The Real Life Manageress’ shown on BBC 1. She regularly appears on prime-time shows such as The Jonathan Ross Show and Piers Morgan’s Life Stories.
In 2010 following appearances as one of Lord Sugar’s interrogators on the popular BBC show ‘The Apprentice’, Karren replaced Margaret Mountford as Lord Sugar’s right-hand woman.
Karren Brady – Motivational Speaker:
Passionate and straight-talking, Karren Brady has become one of the business world’s most popular motivational and after-dinner speakers.
Karren gives a compelling account of her unstoppable success, with plenty of insights, advice and anecdotes gained from her colourful career in football, publishing and business leadership.
Speaking Topics include:
- Change Management
- Leadership
- Sport & Business
- Business
- Entrepreneurship
- Management
- Women in Business
Visit Karren’s Official Website: www.karrenbrady.com
For further information, please contact Baroness Brady’s agent:
Gordon Poole: gordon@gordonpoole.com