Lee Chambers (psychologist)

Lee Chambers
Chambers at SXSW London 2025
Born	(1985-05-22) 22 May 1985 (age 40) Bolton, Lancashire, England
Alma mater	University of Surrey Manchester Metropolitan University
Occupation(s)	Businessman and radio host
Relatives	Dwain Chambers
Website	leechambers.org

Lee Chambers (born 22 May 1985 ^[1] ) is a British businessman and radio host. ^{[2] [3]} Chambers has been interviewed by Vogue , ^[4] The Guardian , ^[5] and Newsweek , ^[6] and is known for analyzing inclusion and allyship in the workplace. ^[7] He was born in Bolton, United Kingdom, and is the founder of Male Allies UK and Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing. ^[8]

Early life

Lee Chambers was born and raised in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. He has credited his father Delroy Chambers, a civil servant, and his mother Susan Chambers, a nanny, for his work ethic and academic achievement. ^[9] He is the oldest of three brothers, and the first in his family to attend university. ^[10]

Education

Chambers earned a BSc in international business psychology ^[11] and an MSc in psychology from the University of Surrey. He is currently a doctoral student at University of Pennsylvania. ^{[12] [13]}

Career

PhenomGames

After being made redundant from a corporate finance graduate scheme at the Co-operative Bank, Chambers founded the video game company PhenomGames in 2008. ^[14] Initially trading from his parents' house, the business expanded into Europe. While leading PhenomGames, Chambers' immune system failed, leaving him immobile and having to learn to walk again. The company was sold to a Danish conglomerate in 2020. ^[15]

Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing

Chambers is the founder of Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing, ^[16] a company that provides mental wellbeing initiatives to other organizations. ^[17] Chambers founded the business due to his own health challenges, and market opportunity for data-driven wellbeing. ^[18] For his work with Essentialise, Chambers was selected as a Rising Star at the Hive Business Awards, and received a Great British Entrepreneur Award in 2021. ^[19]

Other work

Chambers is part of the Oppo Color Counsel, alongside actress Amy Jackson. ^{[9] [20] [21]} He has worked as a performance coach for sports clubs, including Manchester City F.C. and Everton F.C. ^{[22] [23] [9]} In 2021, Chambers fronted a campaign for Charles Tyrwhitt, modelling for the launch of their Business of Life collection.

Chambers is the host of the Self Aware Entrepreneur Show and was voted in the Top 50 BAME Entrepreneurs Under 50 in 2020 alongside Nitin Passi, Eric Yuan and Rangan Chatterjee. ^[24] He has also been recognized by Startups.co.uk. ^[25] Chambers is a contributor to discussions in the media regarding mental health and wellbeing and has appeared on the BBC, ITV and Channel 5. ^{[26] [27]}

In 2023, Chambers founded Male Allies UK. He received the Freedom of the City of London for services to equality in business and outstanding contribution to gender equality. ^{[28] [29]}

Awards

• 

  Chambers at SXSW London in June 2025.

  Top 50 BAME Entrepreneur Under 50 (2020) ^[30]
• UN Women Changemaker of the Year (2023) ^[31]
• Great British Entrepreneur Award - Service Industries (2021) ^[32]
• In 2022, Chambers was inducted into the Black Cultural Archives (BCA), ^[33] for services to business and health, as part of a cohort of 40 black leaders from across the UK, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the BCA's opening. ^{[34] [35]} Also in 2022, he was recognised as a Marie Claire "Future Shaper", alongside musician Harry Styles and sportsman Tom Daley. ^[36]
• Chambers was the first Black British scientist to be made a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences in March 2023. ^[37]

Radio

Chambers' life story was the subject of a BBC Radio 4 programme presented by Matthew Syed broadcast on 22 November 2021, named: Sideways 19. Is This What Success Looks Like? ^[38]

Personal life

Chambers is the father of three children. He has two from his first marriage and a third from his current relationship. ^[15]

References

1. "Lee Chambers". scholar.google.com.
2. "Coronavirus: Will people be rushing back to the gym?". BBC News . 23 July 2020.
3. ""I've got a back-up plan in case I don't qualify for the self-employed funding"". The Times .
4. Valenti, Lauren (18 January 2021). "How to Cope With Lockdown Fatigue This Winter". Vogue.
5. Cernik, Lizzie (17 December 2020). "'I took my ventilator camping in the Sahara': how to enjoy life with a long-term illness". The Guardian .
6. "'I was in a wheelchair, now I'm walking and coaching a disability soccer team'". Newsweek . 16 June 2020.
7. Beaney, Abigail (2 June 2021). "Mental health coach and entrepreneur nominated for national business diversity award". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
8. Clarke, Liv (7 November 2020). "Bolton entrepreneur expands firm with Chorley New Road office". The Bolton News. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
9. Clarke, Liv (10 August 2020). "Bolton entrepreneur shares his advice as students get results". The Bolton News.
10. Houghton, Tom (10 October 2021). "From debilitating illness to becoming one of the UK's top black entrepreneurs". Business Live.
11. Kelliher, Eve (22 January 2021). "Wonder walls: Boost your home and your mood with colour". Irish Examiner.
12. Drake, Kimberly (7 May 2021). "What is COVID-19 anxiety syndrome?". Medical News Today .
13. "Lee Chambers". Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
14. "PhenomGames Company Profile: Acquisition & Investors | PitchBook". pitchbook.com.
15. Aziz, Fatima (5 October 2021). "The businessman using his challenges as a young black man to help others". LancsLive.
16. Baker, Hannah; Finch, Hannah (19 November 2020). "The black entrepreneurs under 35 you should know about". Business Live.
17. Longworth, Laura (8 February 2020). "Preston-based life coach says crippling arthritis left him unable to walk at age 29". Lancashire Evening Post .
18. Borresen, Kelsey (26 April 2024). "6 Things You Should Do At Night If You Want To Be Happier In The Morning". HuffPost. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
19. "Blackburn businessman highlighted in Startups 100 Index". Yahoo News. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
20. "Colour Counsel". oppostore.co.uk.
21. Clarke, Liv (21 February 2021). "Bolton entrepreneur joins panel of wellbeing experts". This Is Lancashire.
22. Medlicott, Lauren Crosby (12 July 2021). "Even in defeat Gareth Southgate's squad still brought football home". Metro.
23. Prior, Harriet (26 January 2021). "Having no fans might decide who wins the Premier League". British GQ.
24. "Covid vaccine scams: What should you look out for?". ITV News. 2 February 2021.
25. Bradshaw, Aimee (16 November 2020). "Five great businesses born in hospitality venues". Startups.co.uk.
26. Beaney, Abigail (30 September 2020). "Blackburn entrepreneur nominated for two business awards". Lancashire Telegraph .
27. "Lee Chambers – ABP". theabp.org.uk.
28. "40 'remarkable individuals' awarded Freedom of the City of London in group ceremony". news.cityoflondon.gov.uk. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
29. Chambers, Lee (11 February 2022). "Who is Lee Chambers? British Psychologist - Autistic Entrepreneur - Wellbeing Advocate". www.spectrumlife.org. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
30. "Lee Chambers named in Top 50 BAME Entrepreneurs Under 50". Lancashire Business View. 29 October 2020.
31. "Lee Chambers". www.koganpage.com. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
32. Farnworth, Amy (30 November 2021). "'Ferocious entrepreneurial spirit' wins Blackburn's Lee 'gold standard' of awards". Lancashire Telegraph.
33. Farnworth, Amy (26 October 2022). "Blackburn's Lee Chambers inducted into Black Cultural Archives". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
34. "Chamber member inducted into the Black Cultural Archives". North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
35. "Lancashire entrepreneur Lee Chambers inducted into the Black Cultural Archives". Lancashire Business Views. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
36. Marhall, Jack (27 January 2023). "'One of the proudest moments of my career': Lancashire business following in the footsteps of Hellofresh, Deliveroo, and Monzo". Lancashire Post. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
37. "East Lancs businessman becomes only Brit to win US Science Academy award". Yahoo Finance. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
38. "Sideways 19. Is This What Success Looks Like?". BBC Radio 4. November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.