DENISE BROWN

CEO
Timely Direction

NEW member Denise Brown is an author, attorney and CEO and owner of two consulting firms, Timely Direction and Legal Direction.

The Kentucky-based performance strategist helps individuals at all levels identify and maximize their strengths and take their performance to new levels. She also provides legal support to business and clients who have started their own businesses.

Brown is the author of Work With Who You Are: Timely Direction To Transform Your Life, a step-by-step coaching guide to clearing out clutter, discovering your values and identifying your strengths. She is also a contributing columnist for Louisville Today’s Woman Magazine and Louisville’s African American Journal.

Brown's career development practice is designed to empower people to reach their full potential, equipping clients as they identify and maximize their strengths for consistent peak performance and productivity, map success strategies to navigate within corporate political environments and develop a personal brand strategy.

Brown is a graduate of Howard University and has a law degree from the University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law. She is Myers Briggs Qualified Administrator, DISC and PIAV Certified Professional Analyst and a member of the Christian Coach Network.

She recently donated her time to NEW's Express Coaching event at VNU's Consumer 360 conference, talking one-on-one with industry executives about their careers.

Q. Thanks for donating your time and insights at NEW's Express Coaching event. What patterns, if any, emerged from your conversations? Where there issues that continually cropped up?

A. Issues managing diversity in the workplace predominated the discussions. Gender, generational and racial diversity were the areas that were most often questioned.

Q. You're an expert in career development and a lawyer as well. How can companies avoid exposure to costly class-action discrimination lawsuits and, more important, address the underlying problem?

A. Companies should have employee and manager training on company policies and EEO workplace laws. Diversity and EEO management should not be one-time events, but integrated into the culture as a routine part of the company’s compliance with federal, state and local laws.

Q. You've said that many women of color are angry about their treatment in the corporate world. How can that be turned into a positive?

A. All employees should feel that their ideas and contributions are valued in the workplace and that the company’s commitment to their growth and development is more than lip service. Reach out to others that can contribute to your career development. Be willing to make the necessary changes to increase your promotability within the organization. If your company is not committed to your future development, don’t be afraid to look for additional career opportunities.

Q. What other strategies do you recommend for women executives who are still working environment dominated by male leaders?

A. Know your playing field and understand what is important to the overall company goals. Determine how you fit into those goals and make sure that you deliver on your promises. Leverage the relationships to build additional internal networks.

Q. How can women and people of color make the business case for diversity management?

A. It’s unfortunate that the business case is not obvious in 2006. The business case for diversity management is determined by how important the company considers increasing their bottom-line business profits. It is clear that we are in a global economy and that reaching all markets requires that we have insight into diverse cultures as well as employ diversity of thought, ideas and approaches. To reap the richness of diversity, we need to hold on to the common goal while allowing creativity in how we arrive at the goal.

Q. You work with both entrepreneurs as well as corporate executives. What do people need to know before they consider a transition from one world to the other?

A. Develop a business around your strengths, start small, and provide excellent service. Develop a dynamic business plan that includes an in-depth analysis of your chosen industry, financial needs, marketing plan and, most importantly, the time commitment required.

Q. Some research indicates that women are abandoning their corporate careers to raise families and start businesses. Do you see this among the people you work with?

A. Yes, I see it more and more every year. Many empowered women are making the choice to live the life of their own choosing. When the workplace fails to appreciate, value and recognize their contributions, many women make a choice to have the personal satisfaction of controlling their own destiny rather than having someone choose it for them.

Q. One of the things you talk about in your book is "personal branding." How do people do that?

A. Personal branding is being known for your strengths and leveraging those strengths to achieve personal and professional goals. Every person should be known for the value that they add to the organization. Don’t let others define who you are, but discover your personal brand and market your message within the organization. Be sure to “walk the talk.”

Q. Your book also talks about "clutter." It's a serious subject for many people, isn't it?

A. Clutter can be the difference between success and failure. It has been said that overloaded people fail. Clutter can appear in your physical or mental space. Get rid of the clutter, release the emotional baggage and make room for a much better tomorrow.

Q. NEW is a big promoter of networking, but this is a skill that many people have trouble with. What do you recommend?

A. Networking is an absolute must and it should be reciprocal. It’s not one-way communication -- it is a mutual exchange of information that benefits both parties. The best way to increase your networking is to find “common ground” with others. Common ground allows you to genuinely be involved in conversation.

Q. We know you're a professional coach. Do you have a coach or mentor?

A. Yes, I often retain the services of a business coach to keep me moving forward on my business plan.

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