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about laura brown

I’m an Executive Coach and Mentor who has spent over 30 years building a career in luxury retail, from Sales Associate to CEO. I've held senior leadership positions at some of the world's most recognised luxury businesses, including Harrods, Bicester Village, Dubai Mall and Aspinal of London. I've led teams of five and teams of 4,000, been responsible for businesses generating up to £2 billion in sales and navigated some of the most challenging periods the industry has ever faced.

Throughout that journey, I've experienced the enormous responsibility that comes with senior leadership. I've stepped into roles that stretched me beyond what I thought I was capable of, faced unfamiliar challenges and felt the pressure of being the person everyone expected to have the answers.

One of the most valuable investments I made was working with a coach. Having someone I could speak openly with, who would challenge my thinking and help me recognise my own capabilities, made an enormous difference. I genuinely don't believe I would have achieved what I have without that support.

It's a big part of why I've dedicated this next chapter of my career to helping others achieve more than they thought possible.

EXPLORE WORKING WITH ME

30+ years of leadership in luxury retail

From sales associate to CEO

International Keynote Speaker

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My career in luxury retail began on the shop floor, when I was just 13 years old.

I took my first management role at 18 and continued to progress from there. I didn’t go to university. My education came from working alongside extraordinary people, learning from their experience and gradually taking on greater responsibilities of my own.

As my career took me from the UK to the Middle East, the teams grew, the decisions became more significant and the expectations changed. I had to adapt to different cultures, navigate unfamiliar situations and learn how to get the best from people with very different backgrounds.

There were successes I'm incredibly proud of, but also difficult decisions, setbacks and situations I wish I'd handled differently. I learnt just as much from those experiences, particularly from the people who guided me, challenged my thinking and encouraged me along the way.

I also came to understand just how much good leadership influences the success of a business. Particularly in luxury retail, where expectations are exceptionally high and the relationships between colleagues and clients matter enormously.

EXPLORE WORKING WITH ME
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By far, The most rewarding part of my career has been developing people.

I've worked with incredibly talented individuals who struggled to recognise their own abilities. People who hesitated over promotions they were more than capable of taking on, questioned their judgement or held themselves back because they didn't believe they belonged in the room. Often, I could see their potential long before they could see it themselves.

I loved helping them work through those doubts and seeing that change translate into real results; a stronger leader, a more engaged team, an opportunity someone finally felt ready to pursue.

Over time, I realised these were the moments I valued most. After more than three decades leading luxury retail businesses, I wanted to dedicate my experience to helping others achieve that same sense of progress and possibility.

And so, I began the next chapter of my career as a coach and mentor.

Logo of Paul Smith's Foundation with text in dark green font on a black background.
Black Harrods logo
Black Aspinal of London logo
Black BONHAMS logo
Black FARFETCH logo
Black "The Dubai Mall" logo
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Today, I bring that experience to the people and businesses I work with.

I support ambitious leaders who want to succeed in their roles, navigate challenges and make the most of their abilities. My approach combines coaching with practical mentoring, offering a trusted space to speak openly, work through difficult situations and benefit from advice grounded in real leadership experience.

I also work with organisations to develop their teams, drawing on what I've learnt about building successful businesses, developing exceptional leaders and creating meaningful client experiences.

Through keynote speaking, I share my career journey and the lessons I've learnt with wider audiences, encouraging people across industries to reconsider their perceived limitations and recognise what's possible for themselves.

Whether I'm working with an individual, a team or an audience, what I find most rewarding is seeing people go on to achieve things they once doubted were possible.

EXPLORE WORKING WITH ME

  • Education & Credentials

    Certified Practitioner in NLP & Time Line Therapy
    Trained in approaches that explore how our thinking, beliefs and experiences influence our behaviour, confidence and decisions.

    30+ Years in Luxury Retail Leadership
    From Sales Associate to CEO, with senior leadership experience at Harrods, Bicester Village and Dubai Mall, managing teams of up to 4,000 people and businesses generating up to £2 billion in sales.

    Board & Mentoring Experience
    Former member of the NSPCC Fundraising Board and current mentor with the Paul Smith charitable foundation, supporting emerging business leaders.

    Strategic Advisory & Business Leadership
    Strategic Advisor to The Luxury Retail Circle and Founder and Partner of The Orian Collective, bringing my experience in luxury retail leadership into wider business and industry collaborations.

    International Keynote Speaker
    Sharing personal experiences and insights on leadership, self-belief, human connection and achieving your potential with audiences across industries.

    Areas of Expertise:

    • Executive coaching and mentoring

    • Leadership development and team performance

    • Executive presence and personal branding

    • Confidence, self-belief and career progression

    • Navigating change and career transitions

    • Stakeholder relationships and communication

    • Luxury retail and exceptional client experiences

    • Keynote speaking and corporate workshops

  • Professional Background

    Over 30 years of leadership experience across some of the world's most recognised luxury retail businesses, managing large teams, driving commercial performance and delivering exceptional client experiences.

    CEO - Aspinal of London (2024-2025)

    Led a £50 million business and team of 260 across retail, e-commerce and international wholesale.

    CEO - The Dubai Mall (2022-2023)

    Led one of the world's most visited shopping destinations, welcoming 105 million visitors in 2023, overseeing operations, brand partnerships, marketing and customer experience.

    Retail Director - Harrods (2014-2022)

    Led retail sales, service and operations across Harrods Knightsbridge, airports and H Beauty stores, including Personal and Private Shopping.

    Senior Retail Director - Bicester & Kildare Village (2013-2014)

    Worked with over 200 luxury brands to strengthen commercial partnerships, improve performance and elevate the client experience.

    Earlier Career - Harrods & Kurt Geiger

    Progressed through store management, retail operations and senior commercial leadership roles.

Whether you're looking for support in your own career, want to develop your leadership team or are planning an event, there are several ways I can share my experience and expertise.

How we can work together

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01

1:1 Executive Coaching & Mentoring

For individual leaders

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02

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & WORKSHOPS

For organisations and leadership teams

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03

Keynote Speaking

For events, conferences and organisations across industries

Explore here →