So, who am I really?

I grew up here in the UK and was born in the Midlands. I was a very hardworking an intelligent student at school with not too many friends. I always felt like I was different to every other person in my school. I was fascinated by words and read a lot. I also loved animals and horses specifically. I then moved half way across the world to the Middle East where my father worked. I did my undergraduate degree in language  and literature and  then went on to work in the education sector in Saudi Arabia delivering a variety of subjects such as soft skills, business management, entrepreneurship, English for specific purposes and English as a second language. 

When it was time for me to do my masters and with the required years of management in education as a pre-requisite, I moved to Istanbul to complete my MBA there. I am no stranger to change and moving once more was challenging but I was up for learning a new language, navigating a new culture and a new chapter. 

I covered many areas of management and gained an appreciation of the workings of entrepreneurial startups in the incubator where I was able to pitch to the likes of Heathrow Airports and other large organisations. It was an exciting time. unfortunately, as a start up in the incubator, my idea was sold and implemented! 

 I ended up having to go home to the UK with my hopes and dreams of that particular venture dashed. I learned about USPs, pivoting, growth hacking, pitching to investors and all about elevator pitches and many more skills that have been vital to my consulting career. 

This is how I came to consulting. I have retained my entrepreneurial spirit and have learned from that experience immensely. I have also gained some vital strategies that apply to life as a whole. 

I am not deterred and have some exciting ventures on the way that I will share in due course!

Of course, hroses have always been with me anywhere I went and I was fortunate to ride in many countries. Now that I am back here in the UK, I have the best memories and I am able to navigate cultural differences very well. 

Being on time, presentable, driven and disciplined,

Seeking improvements in all areas of life 

Seeking knowledge and learning opportunities 

Looking after my heath with a healthy routine, eating well and working out.

Delivering and excelling in quality and standard

Honesty, trust, humility and integrity 

 I am first and foremost an equestrian. That is how I see myself. I am on of the herd of horses and they are my people so to speak. I am a rider and trainer of a young PRE horse. We are on the most incredible journey together and he is the best teacher for me in life. I went to his school and that of his species. He has taught me leadership, trust, love, courage, perseverance and gratitude. 

 I love freedom and collaboration with an animal that transcends language and species. 

I am also a photographer, writer, entrepreneur and creative personality. I have a very versatile skill set and enjoy trying out new things. I am a fast learner and have always got a creative solution to a complex issue. 

Hobbies are very important for awetistic people and can be a great source of inspiration. I use my hobbies as a motivator for me to complete tasks that I may not be as enthusiastic about at work. I also take time out by going away and focusing on my hobbies for a time to ‘charge‘ ‘my batteries, Horse riding has helped me overcome my fears and be a better leader and increased my confidence in tough negotiation scenarios. Horses are the ultimate teacher that shows us where we are in terms of our leadership style.. I also use photography to understand the world around me. I have learned that challenges are just opportunities in disguise. 

I am a D365 functional consultant and I feel that this career is very well suited to me. It brings together some of my strengths and previous experiences of coaching and training, designing a path that I can navigate with my client, passing the industry standard or ‘exam’ and delivery of a client that is now more empowered through a system that works! 

There is a lot of adaptation required and I work well under pressure. I am also very drawn to attention to detail and applying creative and unique ways to work around the challenges and opportunities. 

I have an MBA which I studied in Istanbul, Turkey. It required me to move to Istanbul, learn Turkish, study some very difficult subjects such as corporate finance, managerial statistics, financial reporting and analysis, operations management and more. Thankfully, I passed with distinction. I also have an undergraduate degree in Language and Literature with joint honours in Social Sciences.
I have Microsoft Qualifications as well. 

Fun Fact: during my time as a lecturer in Saudi Arabia, I also became a Cambridge Written exams Examiner

I speak a number of languages and believe in the universal language of respect.

I have worked in all sorts of projects in many industries; food and drink, fruit retail, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, Education, sales development, plastics, services, telecommunications, luxury goods and more.. I have worked in the UK and abroad. 

I am a polite personable person who stays calm under pressure and I do all I can to go above and beyond to deliver results. At the same time, I understand that my role as a consultant is to lead so I have fantastic leadership skills. I am able to push back when needed and ask the questions. I specialise in supply chain and production and really enjoy my work. 

I work in my own routine and take breaks to think when I can, Being in front of a screen all the time and thinking intensely about complex challenges can cause extreme fatigue so I break up my day with some activities that refresh my mind,. I am also a believer in resting after days where I travel by breaking down tasks and planning so I can pace myself. I often take breaks to walk around the room.  I work a flexible schedule to avoid overload.. I am a quick learner so that always helps me. I have some strategies in communication that ensure that I am most effective and these are: clarify my understanding by repeating in my own words instructions, take aways or tasks. I write follow up emails and break them down into chunks to get answers back on specific points, I take points and can sometimes ask for recordings of conversations and I love love love process maps and diagrams. 

Here are some principles I live by: 

Always treat people with respect and look for the lessons to learn from every person. 

There is no such as thing as failure, as long as you are willing to find a way to succeed you will make it! 

Listen to your intuition but don’t listen to the voice in your head that is made to keep you where you are in your comfort zone. It is there to help you repeat unhelpful patterns and limit you! 

When a door closes a new one opens.

Always take care of yourself and speak to yourself with the same kindness you would use for your friend. 

Change is tough so be patient with yourself. You will grow out of it

Accept who you are and your reality and this is how things will change. 

You are not your label, condition, diagnosis. You can go above and beyond where no one else has been so long as you have the desire to! Push yourself to do a little better each day! 

Have faith - it will all be okay