Lesley Slaton Brown

Lesley Slaton Brown, an award-winning marketing executive, is the Chief Diversity Officer for the National Basketball Association (NBA). With over 20 years of experience in the technology industry and strong business background, Brown has demonstrated a proven track record in relationship management and cross-functional collaboration. She has developed and driven business strategies and brand narratives into B2B, B2C, start-ups, and non-profits. She is a master builder and servant leader with the ability to influence and lead authentically and with integrity. Brown has a unique ability to align and build strategy across organizations and drive business outcomes.

Brown couples her global marketing, branding, communications, corporate communications/PR, and diversity and inclusion experience with a deep passion for social entrepreneurship and leadership development. She has led key efforts to address the digital divide and build sustainable enterprises in Senegal, West Africa. With her expertise in racial equality and social justice, she served as the Principal Investigator for the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), “Go West” Computing Project. This project focused on broadening the representation of women and minorities in computing education and careers.

In recognition of her contributions, Brown was awarded the 2016 Woman of the Year in Technology by Silicon Valley’s Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., in addition to the 2016 Multicultural Leadership Award by the National Diversity Council. Brown was twice recognized by Black Enterprise as a Top Executive in Marketing and Advertising, Savoy Magazine as a Top Influential Woman in Corporate America, and was featured in Diversity Journal’s Leaders Publication.

Brown believes strongly in giving back to the community and has focused her expertise on sustainable impact. As a former Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor, Charter Co-founder, and Chairperson of Volunteers For Youth, Brown has also sat on the Board of Directors for The Boise State University Foundation, Boise State University Alumni Association, and the Idaho Black History Museum.

Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with an emphasis in Marketing from Boise State University. She was a NCAA Scholarship recipient where she lettered in Women’s Basketball.