Chris Barez-Brown Profile
Things that Chris loves: People, Creativity, Life, Cider, Guitar. The first four he excels at, the latter he is working on.
Chris is a master of transformation. He is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. By teaching folk how to think differently, Chris makes their lives and businesses more technicolour in hue. Chris was recently described by The Guardian as a long haired twinkly eyed cross between Richard Branson and a wizard. It is this relaxed, entertaining, yet challenging style that instills in people the understanding of who they really are and what makes them jump out of bed every morning.
When you learn how to reconnect with your inner genius, you have the skills to make good stuff happen. You will feel more confident, energised and alive. All in all, it delivers a shinier, happier version of you. More creative, productive and inspired.
Chris's work has featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and Fast Company, and he writes monthly columns for Psychologies, The Huffington Post and British Airways' Business Life magazine. Chris spoke at TEDx Utrecht in January 2016 and the world's largest leadership event Leadercast in May 2016 where he also interviewed Apple's co-founder Steve Wozniak live on stage. He shared his life mission at the intimate inspirational ideas festival Do Lectures in June 2015.
Chris began his career in the army (yep), took a u-turn into brand management and subsequently innovation and leadership development. He established the Creative Leadership Consultancy Upping Your Elvis in 2010, and works with his partner Jim Lusty on their mission of unlocking individuals' innate creative genius. Clients include Nike, Unilever, Britvic, Diageo, The Guardian, Mediacom and ITV. Upping Your Elvis is inspired by U2 singer Bono's signature question "who's Elvis around here?", meaning "who's the maverick that breaks the rules and gets stuff done."
Chris has worked with The Nike Foundation to help teenage girls escape the poverty cycle in Africa. His other philanthropic venture is as co-founder of Street Wisdom, a social enterprise which explores the idea that urban environments are full of wisdom and answers which people can learn to tune into. He also acts as an executive partner to the women's empowerment programme his wife Anna runs, Shine4Women. He lives in Dorset with his other life partners; his two children Harvey and Louli, a 35 year old Land Rover, two Cocker Spaniels and a selection of paddleboards and guitars.
He is quite simply, Loving Living.