Lydia Kan’s first scholarship, at 17, was a life-altering year with a Brazilian family in Sao Paulo, through the American Field Service. After returning to America she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in International Affairs from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in 1986. Lydia was a founding member of the GERMS, the university’s iconic ambulance service and a qualified Emergency Medical Technician.

Lydia worked as a senior emergency management consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton from 1987 – 1994. She served as a expert advisor to the Clinton Gore 1992 campaign and administration. From 1995, Lydia raised millions for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, helped launch a new environmental charity, TV-Free America, and created corporate partnerships that supported the Benton Foundation’s key work in communications for the public interest.

In London since 1998, Lydia’s focus is supporting social and serial entrepreneurs. She led the UK government’s seminal mapping of innovation and economic growth and has taught creative industries and new venture development at City University, Kings’ College and to the Danish Kaospilots. Her PhD research at City forms the backbone for a forthcoming book on dignity and globalisation. Lydia also served as a non-executive director for the RIBA and Midlands Arts Centre during this timeframe.

In 2007, she joined UBS AG to advise and coach the bank’s wealthiest clients on making meaningful investments into the environment and society. Lydia’s current work is as an executive coach –- supporting resilient, authentic and ethically sound leaders to meet the shared societal and business challenges of the 21st century. She qualifies with the Strozzi Institute as a Master Somatic Coach in October 2010.

Lydia’s a regular presenter at Vaclav Havel’s annual Forum 2000 in Prague. In addition to her role as a mentor for a Jordanian entrepreneur with Mowgli, a UK charity, Lydia's also advising OnPurpose, a London-based social venture.