Karren Brady 'proud' to receive CBE for services to women Football boss Karren Brady says she was surprised but proud to learn she was to receive a CBE for services to entrepreneurship and women in business. She said things had improved since she started as Birmingham City's managing director and described how it was assumed she was a director's wife and women were not allowed in the boardroom. The Apprentice star and vice-chairman of West Ham also said she had not told her family nor friends about her "awesome achievement" but was "looking forward to telling them."