Coaches Corner with Aboodi Shabi

1. Who or what inspired you to do what you do?
It’s a good question, and I’m not sure how to answer it, to be honest. I think my background – made in Baghdad, born in London to an Iraqi Jewish father and a Lebanese Christian, and educated in the Home Counties, and never quite fitting in to any of those narratives gave me a deep curiosity about human beings and an insatiable desire to question the narratives people take for granted.

2. What do you find the most challenging about your work?
The usual things, I guess, managing workload, staying on top of things. I’m enjoying the stretch of learning more about diversity, equity and inclusion and exploring how the profession needs to develop to address these issues.

3. What's the biggest lesson you have learnt in recent years?
The pandemic has brought home to me, more than anything else in recent years, just how privileged I am.

4. If you could wave a magic wand and have one wish for you or your coaching practice, what would it be and why?
Honestly, I feel very lucky to be in the place I am – working in a fulfilling role at Henley Business School, being part of a great team, and doing coaching work with people I care about feels about as good as it could be.

5. Tell us a fact that not many people know about you ...
I’m a keen juggler.