Leader Spotlight - Norman Brown

Our Leader Spotlight includes advice and insights from our clients and friends. It is our pleasure to shine the light on leaders who inspire growth, collaboration, and impact.

Meet Norman Brown, Executive Director, J. Jireh Development Corporation.

Most important lesson you’ve learned about building and leading a team:

"Trust. . . I experienced a very traumatic childhood. There was a time I felt jaded and rejected. And I learned over time to trust Jesus Christ and as an adult I built a relationship with Him and relationships with people. I didn’t care for humans, but God turned this around and now I have people in my life I trust. I’ve had health challenges and have had people step up to keep things going in my life. Relationships have become an important factor in my life. Through relationships, I’ve learned how to trust people. As God has loved me, He has helped me to love and serve my community."

Helping people grow and succeed in their roles:

"As a Pastor, I interpret this as discipleship. I purposely engage in their life. If they succeed in the role they are doing, God is fulfilling what I’m asked to do. I’m very intentional and invest in their growth in body, soul, and spirit. I have the habit of asking about their family. Earlier in my career I did well financially and now I invest in the lives of people in my community."

One piece of advice for leaders to create a workplace where people can flourish:

"I’ve learned many lessons by doing urban farming. The tools I use for urban farming are the tools by how the kingdom of God operates. People have to plant positive seeds in the lives of others. The seed you plant has the capacity to bring forth life. Even when we may be surrounded by darkness, we will eventually spring forth into life. A seed becomes a seedling; planting is always connected to the soil. When we build the relationships, we don’t separate ourselves from the soil. When we take a plant out of the soil, it dies. We must always stay connected to people and then step back and see them grow and flourish. It's the Biblical story of the mustard seed."