Recorded on 1st March 2024, Dame Neslyn Watson-Druée was awarded a Dame Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to Women and to Ethnic Minorities in the King's 2023 Birthday Honours List. She has been recognised for making significant contributions in the fields of leadership, personal and career development for staff in the public, private and third sectors through voluntary organisations, local government, banking and commerce.
She arrived in the UK at 19 years of age from Jamaica with 5 Ordinary Levels. From her initial training as a nurse, she overcame obstacles of prejudice and discrimination as a young Black woman to become a Senior Leader within the National Health Service. She has received 25 Awards acknowledging her impact on society. In this highest award of DBE, Dame Neslyn was recognised for her selfless support of young people in the Black community to move away from the influence of gangs and crime, as well as personally funding employment to young Black people and establishing a community radio station intended to help young Black people (Colourful Radio). She has excelled as a mentor, coach and role model for ethnic minority NHS staff.
She has developed training programmes which have been sustained over decades to contribute to the advancement of people from Black and ethnic minority communities, enabling many of them to break through the glass ceiling. For example, she designed the template for the Black and Minority Ethnic Leadership Programme which has been running for over 20 years in NHS hospitals and Community Trusts. She said: "Over the years I have grown into a leader, a pioneer nurse, entrepreneur, a business angel for the ethnic minority community Premier executive coach for his majesty’s government. I have had the honour of spending over 40 years empowering and developing women and people of colour to release their creativity, vision, intelligence and to stand in their power. It has been a wonderful journey. I seek to encourage young people to know that they can succeed at whatever they put their mind to provided it is rooted in unshakable, kindness, generosity and courage."
Listen to 'The D.A.R.E. Podcast' Episode Nine to learn more about the following and so much more as Dame Neslyn speaks to the host and producer of The D.A.R.E. Podcast Prof Miranda K. Brawn who is also known as the world's fastest success mindset coach - "The 60 Seconds Coach".
- From Jamaica to the UK as part of the last Windrush Generation to navigating the workplace as a trained nurse and teacher before becoming an entrepreneur after being blocked in her career by a woman before rising to become an executive coach for the UK Government
- Finding the love of her life at the Opera and the influence of her father in her childhood
- Winning 25 awards including Windrush Medal Award at Mansion House in the City of London to becoming a Dame at Buckingham Palace
- Success tips which include resilience and determination as a few examples
- Discussion about the Universe and whether it can help to make your dreams a reality
- How to get into the boardroom with tips to make the boardroom more sustainable and inclusive following her 35-plus years board experience
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Jun 6 202440 mins