About Us — Proud Wellness

INTRODUCING

Sarah Taylor
(she/her)

I think I always knew I was a lesbian, and yet growing up in the 80s at the height of the AIDS crisis and Section 28, I was so afraid of judgement and rejection from others, that I ended up repressing my sexuality for over three decades of my life!
Living a lie took it’s toll on my mental health and although I've been out now for over 20 years it's taken me a long time to feel genuinely proud of all that I am, not just including, but especially my queerness!
My professional career spans over 25 years in senior HR and leadership roles at some of the biggest corporate organisations in the UK, doing what I love - helping people achieve their potential.
Five years ago I’d had enough of the corporate bs and started my own life coaching and training business!
That's when I started to build the most incredible community of business owners with a collective passion for LGBTQIA+ inclusive and affirming mental health and wellness services.
And it grew into a Vision where all LGBTQIA+ people have equal access to the wellness services they need so they can live happier, healthier, and more fulfilled lives.
That Vision is Proud Wellness…
Welcome to the LGBTQIA+ Wellness Inclusion Movement!

Amit Chowdhury
(he/him)

Hi I'm Amit, and I'm excited to be joining Proud Wellness as a Director.
I studied Pharmacy and began my working life at Boots initially as a Pharmacist moving into a career in Store Management and then into HR.
This was followed by a spell as an Senior HR Leader with a national retail fashion company and then working as an HR Consultant and Executive Coach supporting the Third Sector.
I was a trustee of a Children's charity for parents and carers who have worked in Fashion, supporting innovation and good practice in inclusivity.
LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and wellness matters hugely to me. Everyone should feel equally included, affirmed and welcome when accessing wellness services.
Sadly, at the moment this is not the case and in joining as a Director of Proud Wellness, I’m looking forward to helping to drive this change.
Not only will we be helping our LGBTQIA+ community but we will strengthen the support of our allies to provide vital wellness services and understand the benefits and positive impact of LGBTQIA+ inclusivity.

Kirsty Kianifard
(she/her)

Hi there, I’m Kirsty
I’m a business coach for wellness entrepreneurs, host of The Wellness Entrepreneur Podcast, wellness festival co-founder (with Sarah!) and I own an organic day-spa in Hove, UK.
I’ve been in the wellness industry for twenty years so as you can imagine I’ve seen a lot of change. However one thing I’ve not seen changing and progressing as much as it needs to, is diversity and inclusion for marginalised communities.
I’m a mum of three and a fierce neurodiversity advocate through my personal experiences of raising my non-verbal autistic son, Sohl.
I believe that the wellness industry has the power to change, and literally save lives.
The LGBTQIA+ community struggle more than twice as much with their mental health and yet many wellness businesses feel ill-equipped to support them or understand how to be inclusive and welcoming to their LGBTQIA+ clients.
I’m looking forward to helping create a community that thrives on acceptance, inclusion and accessible wellness for everyone.

Musa Francis
(he/him)

I’m a mental health coach who helps LGBTQIA+ creative business owners to bloom into happier, healthier, more resilient versions of themselves.   
As a queer trans man and founder of BLOOMING QUEER, I’m passionate about helping other LGBTQIA+ folks to live boldly, to love themselves fiercely, and to care for themselves radically so they can feel their best doing what they love.
I have experience as a trainer, consultant and speaker, and love speaking about inclusive branding, reclaiming radical resilience, and creating a positive mental health culture.
Past clients include the NHS, My Body Back Project, and SKY.

Gem Kennedy
(they/them)

As a coach and facilitator with a background in alternative education and recruitment, I'm passionate about creating and supporting spaces that allow people to feel affirmed and able to live in alignment with their abilities and needs.
Since 2019, I have been running my own practice with 1:1 clients, as well as developing and delivering training on neurodiversity, gender, sexuality and sustainable activism. I also work closely with Thriving Autistic, an Autistic-run community-driven organisation, where I run programmes and post-diagnosis sessions for late-identified Autistic adults.
Since 2020, I have been a Co-Lead at The Cabin & a Facilitator at The Lodge; two pioneering settings for home educated young people, where consent and self-direction are at the forefront of our practice and way of being in community with each other. The guiding principles deeply inform my work and are a helpful counter-balance to what is so often missing in wellness spaces, where power-over dynamics are common and informed consent is absent.
I am also a podcaster and am about to start recording the next series of my podcast Queers & Co., which shares the stories of queer and neurodivergent people working for social change.
Social change is something I spend a lot of time thinking about and working towards, which is one of the reasons Proud Wellness' cause is so close to my heart. As a neurodivergent, queer and trans person myself, I've experienced first-hand how frustrating and at times damaging the wellness industry can be for marginalised people. I'm always thinking about ways I can collaborate with others to affect change and this feels like an excellent chance to do just that.

Leo Collins
(he/him)

I am a qualified Transactional Life Coach working with primary members of the disabled and queer communities. I have Cerebral Palsy which affects my speech and movements.
I have two main focuses which underpin my work as a coach and speaker:
1. To raise awareness by speaking and training about intersectionality, discrimination and lack of understanding that members of these communities face.
2. To empower by coaching and mentoring people in these communities to feel their value, find their voice and improve their self care.