Sheila Brown CEO and Co-founder of Newlife is being featured as part of the CEO Stories podcast, launched by Great Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, which takes a look at some of the regions established and up-and-coming CEOs.
Hosted by Henrietta Brealey, who became the youngest CEO in the Chamber’s history, the podcast series delves into what makes them tick, who inspired them – and advice they have for those wishing to follow in their footsteps.
Sheila has had an extremely varied career, to say the least, ranging from market trading to hairdressing and working as a private detective, but, as a parent with two disabled sons, she took her most important career step in 1991 when she co-founded Newlife, The Charity for Disabled Children (previously the Birth Defects Foundation) after deciding ‘something had to change’.
Fast-forward three decades and at its Cannock-headquarters Newlife employs nearly 600 staff, working across a vast commercial retail operation and the charitable side of the business which seeks to ensure disabled and terminally ill children have access to vital equipment and support.
In the podcast Sheila talks to Henrietta about the charity’s extraordinary journey, surviving and adapting through the pandemic and how a people-centric approach is at the core of the organisation.
The Podcasts are now live, from just about everywhere you get your podcasts, including:
·  Apple Podcasts
·  Spotify
·  Google Podcasts
·  Anchor
·  Breaker
·  Castbox
·  Stitcher
·  Pocket Casts
·  RadioPublic