Brene Brown

Brene Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She began her career looking at leadership and wholeheartedness. Over the years she has done extensive research on vulnerability, shame, courage, and empathy. Brown has written several books on the topics. I Thought It Was Just ME (but it isn't): Telling the Truth about Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power was published in 2007 and caught the attention of readers. She is also credited with writing several other books including Gifts of Imperfection: Letting Go of Who We Think We Should BE and Embracing Who We Are, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, and Rising Strong: The Reckoning. The Rumble. The Revolution. Three of her books have made it to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Over the years, Brown has made several public appearances. Between 2010-2012 she presented a TED Talk and two TEDx talks. Her TED Talk on Vulnerability is in the top five most viewed TED talks worldwide and has had 30 million views. Both Oprah and Elizabeth Gilbert have interviewed her. Brene is also the founder and CEO of Brave Leaders Inc. that teaches courage in leaders and world changers.

Houston Woman Magazine named Brene Brown one of Houston's most influential women of 2009. In 2016, the Huffington Foundation honored her for her work. In her honor they pledged $2 million the fund the Brene Brown Endowed Chair in the Graduate College of Social Work at her university.