Jean is a Collaborations Architect and the founding CEO of Virgin Unite, an entrepreneurial foundation that builds leadership collectives, incubates ideas, and re-invents systems for a better world.
Over the last 20 years, she has worked with partners to lead the incubation and start-up of several global initiatives, including:
The Elders, The B Team, The Planetary Guardians, The Carbon War Room (successfully merged with RMI), The Africa Partner Collective, Ocean Unite (now ORRAA), The Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator, 100% Human at Work, The Virgin Unite Constellation, Generations Unite, and The Branson Centres of Entrepreneurship.
She also played a key role in the incubation of many other initiatives such as The Audacious Project.
As part of her work over the last three decades, Jean has helped corporations put the wellbeing of people and the planet at their core, including working with over 25 Virgin businesses across 15 industries to help embed purpose in all they do. Jean also served as a Partner in the Virgin Group, leading their people strategy.
Jean spent seventeen years living and working on six continents to start and help lead mobile phone companies in South Africa, Colombia, Bulgaria, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and the U.S. She was the joint CEO of Virgin Mobile in Australia prior to starting Virgin Unite.
Jean holds several advisory board roles, including:
- The Elders
- Penn State Board of Visitors
- Vatican Humanity 2.0
She also sits on the boards of:
- The Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator
- Virgin Unite USA & UK
- Planetary Guardians
- NOVONIX
She previously served on the board of Just Capital and RMI for a decade, and on the Advisory Board of the Sara Blakely Foundation.
Jean is honored to be a B Team leader and a board member of the B Team as well.
She co-founded Plus Wonder to spark more meaningful, deep connections and collaborations in the world. She is the author of the book, Partnering.
Jean has spoken on TED and TEDx stages as both a host and a speaker. She has received several awards, including:
- The Bernie Glassman Trailblazer Award
- FilmAid Philanthropic Leadership Award
- The Business Excellence Hall of Fame
- The Archbishop John Carroll Hall of Fame
- 2021 Beta Gamma Sigma International Honoree Award
- ACCR Capital Community Engagement Award
- Penn State Fellows Award
- The Gerry Susman Sustainability Award