Valerie Brown is an acclaimed international facilitator, leadership coach, speaker, and award-winning author dedicated to fostering personal and societal transformation. As the founder of Lead Smart Coaching, LLC, Valerie integrates her deep expertise in leadership, mindfulness, and social justice to empower individuals and organizations to lead with clarity and compassion. A Quaker and Zen practitioner ordained in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, she uniquely bridges contemplative practices with professional development. Valerie holds a Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law and is a former lawyer and lobbyist who transitioned to focus on heart-centered leadership and equity.
Through her work, Valerie has inspired countless leaders to navigate complexity with wisdom and cultivate cultures of inclusion and well-being. She co-directs Georgetown University’s renowned Transformational Leadership for Change program and is a passionate advocate for integrating mindfulness and justice into everyday life. Visit her website.
