About Our President by Executive Oasis International
Meet Our Founder & President
Anne Thornley-Brown, MBA, President of Executive Oasis International, is a professional team building facilitator, keynote speaker, meeting facilitator, writer, and professional blogger.
Anne has designed and facilitated strategy sessions, executive retreats, business team building simulations, team building retreats, meetings, and workshops for executives, managers, and professionals.
In 1996, Anne launched her company in Toronto to help organizations foster innovation and improve team effectiveness.
Anne has shaped the vision for Executive Oasis International. Little did she know that it would take her around the world. Where does she get her inspiration? This profile summarizes her journey.
About Executive Oasis International
We specialize in bespoke face-to-face and virtual team building and executive retreats, custom-crafted to achieve your organization’s specific objectives.
Choose Your Oasis
Career Highlights
Before starting her own business, Anne shaped the management development strategy at 2 major Canadian corporations, Bell Mobility and VIA Rail Canada (TMC). She spearheaded management development, OD, and organizational change initiatives.
Anne speaks English, French, and some Spanish.
Anne has extensive business experience in a variety of industries including banking, wireless communications, high technology, transportation, the non profit sector, and film and television.
Career Profile
- President, Executive Oasis International – re-branding in 2003
- President, The Training Oasis – launched in 1996
- Management Development Specialist, Bell Mobility
- Instructor, York University
- Management Trainer, VIA Rail Canada Inc.
- Commercial Account Manager, The Toronto-Dominion Bank
- Summer Flight Attendant, Air Canada
- 7 1/2 years in the non-profit sector
Anne has served on boards of directors for the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (Toronto Chapter), CSTD (Toronto Chapter), and the MBA Women’s Association.
Education
Anne has an M.B.A. from York University’s Schulich School of Business in Toronto, Canada.
Anne also has an MSW from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Her undergraduate degree is from McGill University.
A Personal Note
Born in Jamaica, Anne has lived and worked in 3 countries. Before embarking on a career in business, Anne was a professional counsellor and family theraptist in Jamaica and Toronto. Anne is the co-author of the book West Indians in Toronto: Implications for Helping professionals.
Anne has travelled to 24 countries on 4 continents. In addition to the countries, where she has done business, Anne has also travelled to Japan, England, Belgium, France, Germany, Antigua, Bermuda, and The Bahamas.
In addition to travel, Anne’s interests and hobbies include horse riding, photography, and genealogy.
From Anne’s Writing Desk
Anne has traced her family tree to 1704 in Africa, 1718 in Jamaica, and 1613 in England. She discovered that Bram Stoker is her 2nd cousin, 3x removed.
Inspired by these discoveries, Anne has written:
Screenplays:
- A Tropical Tryst, Contemporary Drama
- Back a Yard, Coming of Age Story
TV Series:
- 55 Beeston Street: The Saga of a Jamaican Family, Historical Drama
- Seasonal Sisters, Contemporary Family Drama
Novels:
- A Chesterfield Caress, Historical Fiction
- A Tropical Tryst, Women’s Fiction
Career Highlights
After spending so much time cooped up at home, plenty of people already have more than a touch of cabin fever. Time spent on the mountain seems like a good way to dispel it. Safe, too—it is an outdoor activity, after all.
Wall Street JournalWhat our Clients Say About Us
Bio
Nida Hamid, EMP Asia – Conference Producers (Malaysia)
One of a kind presenter and definitely knowledgeable and made the participants very much involved throughout the 2-day workshop. Pleasant and warm person to work with and always a pleasure to work with Anne.
Maurice Benatar, Vice President Business Development & Marketing, Mayhew (Toronto)
Anne organized a cooking event, meeting, and dinner…. She totally nailed the venue choices, presented interesting options, and was instrumental in helping making the event a success. Anne brings unique event ideas and a professional approach to event planning.
Tracey Parnell, C.O.O., Executive Coach, Author & Speaker, Creativity Guaranteed
Anne was the light at the end of the tunnel, when I was in my corporate rat race. She stood for excellence, creativity and personability. I was surrounded by red tape, goverance and systems. I owe much of my success to teachers along the way and Anne was one of the early pioneers who are unforgettable, impressionable and represent a “life defining moment” in my journey.
Miguel Gonsalves, Director, Continuous Learning, Telus Mobility (Toronto)
If you want boring, don’t call Anne!
Donna Edgar, Human Resources Manager (Former), Bell Mobility (Toronto)
“You deliver a Cadillac when a Volkswagen will do!”
Jeannette Lalonde-Bard, Vice-President Human Resources, Bell Mobility (Toronto)
Anne is very thorough in her work, uses creativity in putting together presentations, and follows though on her commitments in terms of quality and time. Anne is a positive asset….
Teri Hardin, Destinations Marketing Editor, Cvent (USA)
Anne’s Event Blog timely, thoughtful content is frequently on the cutting edge of meetings industry issues. However, she doesn’t neglect our fledgling planner audience; she provides many “how-to” features that provide insight into everyday meeting logistics.
International Experience
Anne has had the pleasure of working with corporate clients from 19 countries. She has travelled to 14 countries to serve them.
Anne has toured Asia 18 times and facilitated workshops for over 2000 executives and managers. Petronas, Malaysian Airlines, Samsung, Digi, Mobil/Exxon, and Dell Computers are among the organizations that have sent delegates to her sessions in Asia.
She stays for a few extra days to explore each destination and discover new ideas to bring back and design meaningful experiences for clients.
Where Anne has Worked
- Canada
- USA
- Jamaica
- Barbados
- Dominica
- United Arab Emirates
- The Sultanate of Oman
- Egypt
- The Dominican Republic
- Mexico
- Singapore
- Malaysia (including Borneo)
- Thailand
- India
Linkedin Leadership
LinkedIn:
- Group Owner, International Team Building Network for Executives, members from 30+ countries
- Group Owner, B2B Bloggers Network
- Group Owner, Bell Mobility Alumni Group
- Group Owner, Event Planners Network Canada – Réseau des planificateurs d’événements au Canada
- Group Owner, Caribbean Event Planners Network
- Group Owner, Global Networking and Professional Development
- Group Manager, Event Planning & Management Group, Growth from 4,000 – 350,000+ Members (2008 – 2017)
Virtual Community Leadership
beBee:
- After just 3 weeks of being active on the platform, Anne was granted the distinction of being appointed as a beBee Brand Ambassador
Geocities:
- Right out of the gate, when the Inrtenet was in it’s infacy, Anne was a community leader for Geocities.