Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston with a PhD in social work, specializing in topics such as vulnerability, shame, empathy, and leadership. Her research is rooted in qualitative methodology, especially grounded theory—a methodology developed by sociologists Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss which emphasizes deriving hypotheses from real-world data rather than seeking data to prove or disprove preexisting hypotheses. Brown has authored several bestselling books, including Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection, and her TED Talk on vulnerability remains one of the most viewed in the platform's history. Dare to Lead represents a synthesis of her prior work, framed specifically for organizational leadership.

While Brown's academic training is not in organizational psychology or business administration, her focus on human behavior and emotional intelligence gives her work considerable relevance to workplace settings. She relies on empirical research, but her approach is more thematic and interpretive than strictly experimental. Her emphasis on storytelling and anecdote makes her work relatable, but may also lead some readers to question its generalizability. Still, Brown is transparent about her methods and intentions, consistently grounding her key ideas in both data and professional practice.