Joan Laine was born and raised in the UK, and her parents are Jamaican. She lived in France for 20 years before moving to Johannesburg in 2001, where she now resides with her three children. An autodidact and solopreneur, Joan is passionate about change and transformation, which is influenced by the diversity of industries that she has worked in.

Starting in catering, then spending ten years in FCMG working for Polo Ralph Lauren in Paris, she has also worked in the Mining, Finance, Construction and Entertainment industries.

Her change journey is also influenced by the number of restructurings, mergers &
acquisitions and SAP projects that Joan has participated as Change Agent, SME, or Lead. She has acquired a depth of knowledge about OD practices and the people side of change over her 30 years of experience.

Today, as the owner of Embracing Change, Joan consults and coaches her clients
through their transitions, as she also transitions her business online, and focusses on developing Compassionate Leaders.

She is also in the process of publishing her first book The DNA of Change, which will be available at the end of October.