David Gustave

Gustave is of mixed Irish and St. Lucian heritage. He was raised in Peckham, London where he suffered verbal and physical abuse from neighbours.[1] At 16,he left school. That same year, unable to cope with a difficult relationship with his father, he also left home.[1]

At age 30, Gustave enrolled in an adult education course where he took ‘A’ level and undergraduate equivalency courses.[1] Among the external readers of a research paper he wrote was an Oxford University professor who encouraged him to apply to Oxford. At age 32, Gustave enrolled as an undergraduate to study history at Wadham College.[2]

After Oxford, Gustave won a number of scholarships from the Middle Temple to pursue a career at the Bar. [2] He started working with young gang members at Kids Company as an Educational Motivator.[3]

Gustave has been described as a ‘Social Visionary’.[2] He was featured in Channel 4's ‘Disarming Britain’ debate alongside Dawn Butler, Dominic Grieve and Peter Hitchens[4] and in the ‘CNN Heroes’ Series alongside Russell Symonds.[5]

Gustave states ‘he is not content with fulfilling his own ambitions, but is determined to help others to set and reach theirs’.[2] Gustave has been described in the media as the ‘British Obama’[1][6][7] Gustave is a member of the Labour Party.[2]

Gustave founded Reluctantly Brave[8] in 2012[9] to guide leaders and businesses to reach braver goals - to be successful through being their true, radically authentic selves. As CEO of Reluctantly Brave he advises companies from start-ups to multinationals on leadership, strategy and creativity.[10]

• 2018: Financial Times / EMPower Top 100 Ethnic Minority Leaders, placed 30th[11][12]
• 2017: Financial Times / EMPower Top 100 Ethnic Minority Leaders, placed 62nd[13][14]
• 2009: One of the 100 people who make Britain a happier place.[15]
• 2008: Evening Standard's list of the 1000 most influential people in London[16]