Lee Chambers (born 22 May 1985[1]) is a British businessman and radio host.[2][3] Chambers has been interviewed by Vogue,[4] The Guardian,[5] and Newsweek,[6] and is known for analyzing inclusion and allyship in the workplace.[7] He was born in Bolton, United Kingdom, and is the founder of Male Allies UK and Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing.[8]
Lee Chambers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 22 May 1985 Bolton, Lancashire, England |
| Alma mater | University of Surrey Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman and radio host |
| Relatives | Dwain Chambers |
| Website | leechambers.org |
Early life
editChambers was born and raised in Bolton, Greater Manchester. He has credited his father Delroy Chambers, a civil servant, and his mother Susan Chambers, a nanny, for his work ethic and academic achievement.[9] He is the oldest of three brothers, and the first in his family to attend university.[10]
Education
editChambers earned a BSc in international business psychology[11] and an MSc in psychology from the University of Surrey. He is currently a doctoral student at University of Pennsylvania.[12][13]
Career
editPhenomGames
editAfter being made redundant from a corporate finance graduate scheme at the Co-operative Bank, Chambers founded the video game company PhenomGames in 2008.[14] Initially trading from his parents' house, the business expanded into Europe. While leading PhenomGames, Chambers immune system failed, leaving him immobile and having to learn to walk again. The company was sold to a Danish conglomerate in 2020.[15]
Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing
editChambers is the founder of Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing,[16] a company that provides mental wellbeing initiatives to other organizations.[17] Chambers founded the business due to his own health challenges, and market opportunity for data-driven wellbeing.[18] For his work with Essentialise, Chambers was selected as a Rising Star at the Hive Business Awards, and received a Great British Entrepreneur Award in 2021.[19]
Other work
editChambers is part of the Oppo Color Counsel, alongside actress Amy Jackson.[20][21][22] He has worked as a performance coach for sports clubs, including Manchester City F.C. and Everton F.C.[23][24][25] In 2021, Chambers fronted a campaign for Charles Tyrwhitt, modelling for the launch of their Business of Life collection.
Chambers is the host of the Self Aware Entrepreneur Show and was voted in the Top 50 BAME Entrepreneurs Under 50 in 2020 alongside Nitin Passi, Eric Yuan and Rangan Chatterjee.[26] He has also been recognized by Startups.co.uk.[27] Chambers is a contributor to discussions in the media regarding mental health and wellbeing and has appeared on the BBC, ITV and Channel 5.[28][29]
In 2023 Chambers founded Male Allies UK. He received the Freedom of the City of London for services to equality in business and outstanding contribution to gender equality.[30][31]
Awards
edit- Top 50 BAME Entrepreneur Under 50 of 2020.[32]
- UN Women Change marker of the year (2023)[33]
- Great British Entrepreneur Award - Service Industries (2021)[34]
- In 2022, Chambers was inducted into the Black Cultural Archives, for services to business and health, and was recognised as a Marie Claire Future Shaper, alongside musician Harry Styles and sportsman Tom Daley[35]
- Chambers was the first Black British scientist to be made a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences in March 2023[36]
Radio
editChambers life story was the subject of a BBC Radio 4 programme presented by Matthew Syed broadcast 22 November 2021, named: Sideways 19. Is This What Success Looks Like?[37]
Personal life
editChambers has a son and a daughter. They live in the Ribble Valley.[15]
References
edit- ^ "Lee Chambers". scholar.google.com.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Will people be rushing back to the gym?". BBC News. 23 July 2020.
- ^ ""I've got a back-up plan in case I don't qualify for the self-employed funding"". The Times.
- ^ Valenti, Lauren. "How to Cope With Lockdown Fatigue This Winter". Vogue.
- ^ "'I took my ventilator camping in the Sahara': how to enjoy life with a long-term illness". The Guardian. 17 December 2020.
- ^ ""I was in a wheelchair, now I'm walking and coaching a disability soccer team"". Newsweek. 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Mental health coach and entrepreneur nominated for national business diversity award". Lancashire Telegraph.
- ^ "'I want to show how great Bolton is': Entrepreneur brings his wellbeing firm home". The Bolton News. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ Clarke, Liv. "Bolton entrepreneur shares his advice as students get results". The Bolton News.
- ^ Houghton, Tom (10 October 2021). "From debilitating illness to becoming one of the UK's top black entrepreneurs". Business Live.
- ^ Kelliher, Eve (22 January 2021). "Wonder walls: Boost your home and your mood with colour". Irish Examiner.
- ^ "What is COVID-19 anxiety syndrome?". Medical News Today. 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Lee Chambers". Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "PhenomGames Company Profile: Acquisition & Investors | PitchBook". pitchbook.com.
- ^ a b Aziz, Fatima (5 October 2021). "The businessman using his challenges as a young black man to help others". LancsLive.
- ^ Baker, Hannah; Finch, Hannah (19 November 2020). "The black entrepreneurs under 35 you should know about". Business Live.
- ^ "Preston-based life coach says crippling arthritis left him unable to walk at age 29". Lancashire Evening Post.
- ^ "6 Things You Should Do At Night If You Want To Be Happier In The Morning". HuffPost. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Blackburn businessman highlighted in Startups 100 Index". Yahoo News. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Colour Counsel". oppostore.co.uk.
- ^ "Bolton entrepreneur joins panel of wellbeing experts". This Is Lancashire.
- ^ "From the 2008 financial crash to losing this ability to walk, this Bolton entrepreneur shares his story". The Bolton News.
- ^ Medlicott, Lauren Crosby (12 July 2021). "Even in defeat Gareth Southgate's squad still brought football home". Metro.
- ^ Prior, Harriet. "Having no fans might decide who wins the Premier League". British GQ.
- ^ "From the 2008 financial crash to losing this ability to walk, this Bolton entrepreneur shares his story". The Bolton News.
- ^ "Covid vaccine scams: What should you look out for?". ITV News. 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Five great businesses born in hospitality venues". Startups.co.uk. 16 November 2020.
- ^ "Blackburn entrepreneur nominated for two business awards". Lancashire Telegraph.
- ^ "Lee Chambers – ABP". theabp.org.uk.
- ^ "40 "remarkable individuals" awarded Freedom of the City of London in group ceremony". 40 “remarkable individuals” awarded Freedom of the City of London in group ceremony. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ "Who is Lee Chambers? British Psychologist - Autistic Entrepreneur - Wellbeing Advocate". www.spectrumlife.org. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Lee Chambers named in Top 50 BAME Entrepreneurs Under 50". Lancashire Business View. 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Lee Chambers". www.koganpage.com. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ "'Ferocious entrepreneurial spirit' wins Blackburn's Lee 'gold standard' of awards". Lancashire Telegraph.
- ^ https://uk.news.yahoo.com/businessman-inducted-black-cultural-archives-040000079.htm
- ^ "East Lancs businessman becomes only Brit to win US Science Academy award". Yahoo Finance. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Sideways 19. Is This What Success Looks Like?". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 22 November 2021.