ABOUT US
We are a premier social enterprise dedicated to providing support to those leading positive change. We offer a variety of unconventional, transformational leadership programmes. We facilitate, coach and consult individuals, change makers, businesses, social enterprises, and community groups. We have been working to plug the gap between a desire to lead change and having the tools and support to do so since 2014.
MISSIONS AND VALUES
Our mission is to support leaders for positive change. This defines the way we collaborate with you and with each other. Using our unique tools and creative, participatory approach, we exist to guide our clients along the pathway to success on an individual, business, and community level. We believe in a process of continuous learning, supporting ideas driven by passion, and inspiring the courage it takes to make your vision a reality.
Each stage of the BUD process is guided by our 5 core values to ensure that your experience with us is illuminating and inspiring.
1. TO LISTEN MEANS TO UNDERSTAND
We don’t just listen to you, we make sure we understand your ideas and exactly where you’re coming from.
2. NO PERSON IS BETTER, ONLY DIFFERENT
This is one of the most important components of BUD’s value system and philosophy. We’re all about building up the strengths that make you uniquely valuable!
3. GIVE MORE THAN EXPECTED
We never do the bare minimum. We care about you and your vision and genuinely believe we should go above and beyond.
4. BE PASSIONATE
We want to be passionate about what we’re doing not only because our work will be of better quality when we are, but because it’s important for us to enjoy what we’re doing! Which brings me to my next point…
5. HAVE FUN!
Community, business, and organisational development can be hard work! But it can also be a lot of fun. We get to spend time with great people like you and watch as your ideas come to fruition. We hope you have fun with this too.
MEET THE TEAM
Georgina Wilson founded BUD in 2014. Georgina is devoted to facilitating real change and uses innovative, outside the box approaches in her programmes, ensuring that they are accessible for all.
“Through my own experience in trying to lead change and not having a clue of how to do it well, I realised that I needed tools and I needed to connect with people, lots of people! I also realised how important it was to understand and take care of myself first, and how essential is it to empower others in the process.
I believe that every single person is special and unique and has something beautiful they can offer this world, we all just need to uncover it.
So here we are, ready to lead positive change.”
Georgina Wilson
CEO & Founder, Master Facilitator
Georgina is the CEO and founder of BUD having started the business in 2014 completely off her own back. She has got years of experience as a Community Organiser, Programme designer, Project Manager, Systems thinking, Facilitator, Host and Coach. Her qualifications include FRSA, Level 3 Certificate Community Organising, Level 5 Certificate in Social Enterprise Support, Certificate in Coaching and Introduction to Project Management, Level 3 Award in Education and Training, Level 3 GNVQ in Business Management.
Her focus is to enable emerging leaders to unearth their potential and power and to move them towards action and creating change. She has previously collaborated with TfL, Local authorities, Semble, Power to Change, Specsavers, Community Organisers Ltd and more, helping business and community become more diverse, inclusive changemakers who can lead positive change!
“I believe that every single person is special and unique and has something beautiful they can offer this world, we all just need to uncover it.”
Lere Fisher
Client Delivery Lead, Master Facilitator lere@budleaders.org
Lere is a unique and experienced trainer who is able to work with a diverse group of people using a range of learning styles which promote Learning and Development to the people he is working with. That’s one of the reasons he’s now working alongside the L&D manager to make sure our client delivery is BUD quality assured!
His expertise in subject matters such as Emotional Intelligence, Customer Service, Performance Management and Leadership Skills promises an personable and engaging experience. He is ILM qualified and has 3 years experience in being the Regional Training Manager for Specsavers, including facilitating training to ensure the technical learning of the group is challenging, accurate and business relevant.
“I’m delighted to work and associate myself with BUD due to being with an organisation that is vibrant, forward thinking and leads with enthusiasm.“
Marilena Dyranis-Maounis
Partnerships Lead
Currently leading our Partnerships department, Marilena aso works as a Production/Event manager and facilitator. Her past experience includes being a Youth in Action seminars organiser, a Global Action Plan ambassador and a Lead Positive Change trainer.
Marilena has dedicated the last 12 years of her life to creating, running and nurturing events. If it includes people, timings, energy and interaction, Marilena feels at home and wants to make it feel like home for everyone participating. Seen as the caring and focused coordinator, Marilena is here to make sure it all runs without a glitch while creating an energetic space that brings out smiles. She is determined to support BUD in any way she can because she feels that
“BUD runs events that bring out the best in all participants! If they are having fun, I am having fun. Because, let’s be honest, fun is as vital to our soul as food is to our body. And here at BUD, I feel full.”
William Washington Welch MBA
Business Consultant
William is an accomplished senior consultant with a collaborative leadership style; adept at guiding companies through their growth phase into exceptional periods of growth, providing market insights and growth opportunities. He is a strategic planner with an impressive track record and has gained key transferable skills from successfully working across a range of industries.
William is a strategic consultant with more than 20 years’ experience working in both the private and public sectors, including international donor agencies such as USAid and the European Union Development Fund securing funding for SME and community development projects providing advice to businesses in areas of growth, capacity building, marketing, strategic management and sustainability.
“After years working as a consultant in the private sector, I chose to work in the third sector and joined BUD Leaders and its team of change makers, leading change, supporting leaders, impacting communities and creating livelihoods.”
Lee Stephens
L&D Manager, Master Facilitator
Lee is currently the L&D Manager with BUD. Lee is also one of our lead facilitators, using practices such as art of hosting, appreciative inquiry, theory U and embedding community organising principles when delivering a session.
Lee has been a facilitator and public speaker for over 15 years, he has been designing and delivering training content including workshops and online courses and bespoke content for clients for the last several years. Lee also functions in the consultant role as an L&D lead which includes shaping strategy and designing specific training based upon the audience’s needs both internally and externally.
“I believe in the 5 BUD core values and for me it is important to provide leaders with the tools and training they need to help them continue leading positive change.”
Jennifer Damaris
COO & Admin Lead
jennifer@budleaders.org
Jen is heading up Operations and Admin at BUD as of 2021, a role which encompasses lots of different things but primarily she is focussed on helping BUD operate in a smooth and effective way so that everyone can work to the best of their abilities and focus on the things that make them great! Helping ensure team meetings are productive and that everyone is up to date with the latest software so we can work collaboratively is one aspect of this!
In the past Jen has worn many different hats including Sales and Merchandising, but had spent a good portion of her working life as Training Coordinator both in the adult education sector and in construction. Jen graduated in Philosophy at UCL and is also a yoga teacher and a semi-retired musician, but her main passion is her little girl who she hopes will also grow up to have a variety of passions in life!
“Joining BUD has been eye opening in lots of ways, mainly as it’s the first company I’ve worked for that really practises what they preach! The willingness to listen to every staff member and get everyone involved in contributing to our growth has been most exciting, as I truly believe that when you’re doing what you’re passionate about you’ll never work a day in your life. Fostering growth through collective intelligence is something I’ll always stand by and BUD really honours that promise.”
Roz Thornton
Master Facilitator
training@budleaders.org
As a Trainer, coach and mentor, Roz has been working to educate, inspire and support people to become the best version of themselves, by retaining learners and assisting them to increase their confidence and leadership skills through training in employability/ self employment / starting businesses/ Financial empowerment.
Roz’s international experience includes leading workshops and facilitating motivational speaking engagements. This has led to International speaking engagements and numerous interviews on local BBC Radio and podcasts. Through her award-winning training and powerful speaking she empowers people globally, around the subjects of: confidence, careers and money. Roz has also created ‘Amazing Women Global’ and the ‘Amazing Women Awards’ which provides female specific training and empowerment. In 2016 she won Business Woman of the year and in 2019 she won Trainer of the year.
Tolu Ashiru
Project Lead
tolu@budleaders.org
Tolu has recently started at BUD, working as a Project Lead; co-ordinating the management of the project and team, and delivering sessions and training as a Facilitator.
Tolu has a qualification in Youth Work, Informal Education and Community Learning and development and has worked with young people, across schools in London, for 7 years and as a Youth Work Leader for 3 years; co-ordinating and leading projects and teams and planning programmes tailored to the needs of the participants. In this role she was awarded ‘Outstanding Leader’ by the Jack Petchey Foundation.
In her last role, Tolu supported the Diversity team in their initiative to promote inclusivity, equality and reduce racism in the school environment, creatively presenting information to young people and adults, and celebrating diverse cultures in a safe, educational and engaging way.
Tolu also has a background in creative arts and design and is passionate about using those skills to help provide solutions to challenges and drive positive change. She recently graduated with an MA in Fashion Design and Sustainability -using design as a tool to highlight and discuss the intersections between the environmental crisis, social issues and cultural heritage. Her work has been published, awarded and exhibited and is currently being exhibited at the online Horniman Museum exhibition.
She is excited to be a part of BUD especially because…
“One of BUD’s key values is ‘No person is better, only different’. I love how BUD works to uncover, value and celebrate people’s unique strengths and abilities –not just with clients but within the team too!”
Katherine Kotz
Community Lead & Facilitator
katherine@budleaders.org
Katherine is BUD’s Community Lead and Facilitator, responsible for managing and developing the BLOC platform where members can exchange skills and ideas for positive change. She has extensive experience in project management, primarily in theatre and film where she specialised in bringing artists together to collaborate around a social goal. In 2021 she created a film festival, The Motherhood Project, a ‘significant body of new work’ presented by Battersea Arts Centre that raised money for the charity Refuge and included contributions from artists such as Anya Reiss, Lemn Sissay OBE and Irenosen Okojie MBE.
Prior to that, Katherine was an actor, singer, director and a workshop facilitator with the Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation, a charity that equips young people with crucial life skills, confidence and self-esteem. A natural community builder, Katherine’s focus is to create an environment where people can access their inner strength, playfulness and creativity.
“BUD’s vision to disrupt the landscape of leadership is an urgent and important one. As a society we fail to uphold the principle that everyone is equal, furnishing only a privileged minority with the tools, connections and opportunities to lead, and missing out on a great deal of talent and ingenuity as a result. The best-resourced hold on to power, and yet the power to change things lies with all of us. I look forward to dreaming big during my adventure with BUD, and I hope you do too.”
Jose Barco
Master Facilitator
training@budleaders.org
Jose is a Colombian Community Organiser, Art of Hosting Practitioner, Founder of Community CoLab and a founding director of Community Organisers Ltd. He is passionate about people power, social change and justice, creating spaces for meaningful collaboration. He understands the complexity of working with diverse groups with experience as a trainer, group process designer, campaigner and consultant. His work is influenced by his creative practices, musical roots and permaculture principles.
Ivo Ramalho
BUD Ambassador
Ivo initially joined BUD initially as administration support and is now a BUD ambassador. He has supported running workshops and helped coordinate between organisations and partners.
For over the last 10 years his work has been connecting with people and he can now use those skills to support BUD in further expanding its network and form even stronger relationships with their community and its leaders.
“Working with BUD Leaders is fascinating as you experience the work being done having a great impact in the communities it reaches.”
Easimus Jones
Creative Training Specialist and Master Facilitator
Easimus is a dynamic Trainer, Facilitator, Mentor and Coach with an engaging and participative delivery style. She is the founder of ‘Create Training Solutions and Co-founder of Develop & Elevate; an international project working with universities and organisations to deliver career and academic workshops for students and young professionals.
Easimus’ expertise draws from her experience as a drama facilitator, her master’s degree which focused on individual and organisational development and her experience delivering a range of programs including train-the-trainer, course creation and leadership training. Honing her skills as a First Aid Trainer for some of the largest providers in the UK, Easimus has delivered training across sectors for 200+ business and 4000+ managers and employees. She is excited to work with BUD leading the design and delivery of the ROC Leadership Programme for the Happier Healthier Workplaces project. She also supports the L&D team with the design and delivery of internal and external learning solutions.
‘I truly believe ‘what we learn with pleasure, we never forget’ (Alfred Mercier) and I am delighted to work with BUD to create fun and engaging learning experiences that are impactful and transformational’.
Olakunbi (Ola) Ijishakin
Facilitator
training@budleaders.org
Ola is the CEO of Silver Point A-Star, which provides bookkeeping and management accounts service to diverse business in London and the South East. Silver is trusted amongst global leaders, with over two decades plus of experience in providing quality director-led services to all business sectors. Silver champions orchestrating and exceeding key targets, expanding company growth, as well as offering valuable solutions for key business issues.
Ola is a cutting edge accountant, with an extensive portfolio, preparing and providing management accounts to year-end. She works with a team of accountants.
Marcia Jones
Team Coordinator/Ambassador
marcia@budleaders.org
Marcia recently joined BUD as Team Coordinator/Ambassador and loves the ethos, passion, and vision that BUD exudes. Marcia coordinates and supports all Teams with projects, including co-hosting and is excited about this new journey. Marcia brings many skills and experience to her new role and having freelanced with BUD previously is ready to embrace the new perspectives, roles, and opportunities that BUD will offer.
Marcia will also facilitate projects and has vast experience facilitating groups, group dynamics and networking. In Marcia’s previous role as a Bereavement Support Adviser, Marcia facilitated at conferences, and internal events and is prepared for her new role. Being an Ambassador for BUD will be an exciting element to her role.
One of BUD’s visions is “no person is better, only different” and Marcia wholeheartedly believes in a community where we lift each other up. Sharing values, lived experiences and being one’s authentic self is key to who we are as individuals, and embracing those differences with a balanced outlook and the value it can add to that difference.
Cristy Amponsah
Operations & Admin Assistant cristy@budleaders.org
Cristy joined BUD in 2022 to provide operational and admin support to various departments at BUD. She works using her problem-solving skills and her eye for efficiency to help keep things running smoothly and enabling others to perform their roles without having to worry about the fiddly details. Cristy’s background is in logistics and operations management, with a dash of event planning thrown in for good measure. She grew up in South Africa and moved to the UK with her young family in 2018. She’s worked in bulk shipping, jewellery production, and exhibition organisation, and learned that skills are often transferable across different industries. “What excites me the most about working with BUD (and there is a lot that excites me!) is that I’ll get to be part of bringing such positive change to the world. I’ve often looked at the heart-breaking unacceptable levels of inequality that exist in the world and wanted to do something towards correcting it, but I’ve never had the first clue how to get involved. By working at BUD, I’ll be adding my little bit to an organisation that does such vital and excellent work with corporates and communities to build an equal and fair society. Even playing a small part in bringing about change, is a legacy I can be proud to leave for my children and their future.”
