Executive Coach, Inclusion Facilitator, Speaker & Recovering Lawyer of 20 years

Executive Coach, Inclusion Facilitator, Speaker & Recovering Lawyer of 20 years

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 Hi, I’m Sadia, and I’m so pleased you’ve found me.

 
 
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about me

 I’m an Executive Coach, Inclusion Facilitator and former lawyer. I was born in Cardiff, originate from Bangladesh, and live in London with my husband and two children. I’ve always been insatiably curious about other human beings. I’ll be kind to myself and admit that on paper, my career is impressive, 10 years as a city corporate lawyer, 10 years as a head of legal of a global management consultancy, now, a successful business owner. I’m very grateful for what I have, and it’s great, but it doesn’t really reflect what’s been going on for me on the inside and the journey I’ve been on to get here!

 
 

Life often feels like a glass house which I created, everybody peering in saying wow, doesn’t that look great.

The reality of what’s going on inside that glass house was quite different.

 
 

 Something changed when I went to secondary school, whether it was that feeling of, not fitting in, being a minority and noticing it for the first time. But something changed, and I didn’t feel as happy and as adventurous and as brave as I’d felt before. My way of dealing with anything was just to work harder. It worked!. I got praise from my teachers, my family, from everyone. Working hard was the key to everything along my journey, and continued through my legal career. But there was something else going on for me inside. I felt stuck. I felt stuck when I went for partnership. I had all sorts of thoughts going through my head. I felt I wasn’t good enough, unsupported, I was never going to get it. I didn’t focus on what those feeling really meant, I just changed jobs and worked even harder!.

I was becoming so much harsher on myself yet my career was flying and the opportunities were coming up. Externally everything was flying high, internally I was drowning. I felt I was surviving, I had low confidence, low self-esteem, low energy but as long as I was producing and everyone thought I was fine, surely that’s enough?

What changed? I got help!

 
 
 
 

Client Feedback

Testimonials

"One thing I have learnt through my coaching with Sadia is that one has to be brave. I started with baby steps to come out of my comfort zone and into the courageous zone – a zone one is fearful of visiting. As with all things in life, practice makes perfect, I’m still fearful of going into the courageous zone, but I practice it – I do it – thus it’s getting easier.

I feel confident in my abilities these days, and take the time to acknowledge myself in the steps I do take to better myself. Thank you Sadia."

Partner Development Manager

"I cannot measure the impact that working with Sadia has had on me both personally and professionally. I did not know what to expect from working with a coach, but in every session I had what I can only describe as ‘lightbulb’ moments that were even physically reflected in the amount I smiled in the session. Sadia has helped me to identify where my passions lie, and provided me with focus on these, which I could not have discovered without her guidance. It was a privilege to be coached by Sadia, who listens to every word and helps you to reflect and push your boundaries."

Global Head of Wellbeing

 
 

I chose a new story. How about, you are amazing, you’ve achieved so much and this is just the start. Now, it’s your time to think about you and what you need and want in your life and your career AND you are not alone.

What would it feel like to reconnect with you and wake up smiling with a spring in your step, excited about the day. Having conversations inside and outside work that not only light you up, they light up others too.

Why isn’t this happening already?

 
 

You need support to change your patterns, your stories. Let’s face it, you’ve received training to be a great lawyer or an expert in your field. But have you received training to spot and change your patterns, your stories?My life changed the most when I had my first coach, got support and learnt that there were tools, know how and expertise out there to help me. I just never heard anyone else talk about it. I’d come up with my own stories, my own patterns, and it was working. I was achieving. I had a great job, great team. Why change it?. Once I started using my new tools. I cleared away the negative noise. I woke up with ideas and I was excited again. I enjoyed walking with the kids, being present, . The negative thoughts, comparisonitis, became quieter. I was kinder to myself. All these things have a huge impact on feeling connected, self- confidence, creating space for new exciting thoughts and ideas.

Although I read a lot of books, had a lot of internal conversations about what wasn’t working and what I was going to do, I needed a coach to create a new space for me to sit with all the things I had been doing over the years, thinking over the years and rediscover if those ways of living and doing were still working for me.

 

You may feel ”stuck” but deep down you know you still have so much to give and do, you just don’t want to continue the way you are.

I get it.

You have a choice, get some support and choose new ways that work for you or stay as you are. It’s the old habits and patterns that need to change, you are still the amazing woman you have always been and I’d love to meet you, support you and share all that I have learnt on my journey.

 

Curious?

book a curiosity call so I can chat to you more.

 
 

Turning stuckness into happiness, growth and increased confidence.

 
 

Sadia qualified as a solicitor in 2000 and practiced as a corporate, mergers and acquisition lawyer. After 10 years in private practice, she left Osborne Clarke to move in-house to global management consultancy, Oliver Wyman where she built and headed up the legal team in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific region for another 10 years.

Throughout her years as a lawyer, Sadia has sponsored, mentored and coached others. Having achieved her own career aspirations, and seen and experienced the need for more support for diverse leadership, Sadia founded her own business and now works full time as an Executive Coach and Inclusion Facilitator.

 

Qualifications

  • LLB. Hons law degree from Reading University and a post graduate diploma in Legal practice from the College of Law.

  • Sadia is a Certified Leadership Coach, a member of the International Coaching Federation (“ICF”) and is an ICF trained coach.

  • One of Many Certified Women’s’ Leadership Coach.

  • Voice Dialogue Facilitator

  • In compliance with industry practice, and as part of her own continuing professional development, she also receives regular supervision which affords clients an additional level of quality assurance. She also subscribes to a strict code of ethics (in compliance with the ICF’s Code of Ethics).

 
 

THE SERIOUS STUFF

 
 

Client Feedback

Testimonials

“I have found the coaching programme to be really effective on making positive changes in my life and it provided great tools and insight on how to implement these changes in my personal and professional life.

I never really had any kind of coaching to date and I felt lost and unable to move on from past negative experiences. I was unaware of my own negative thinking patterns and how to work beyond that.

I decided to take the coaching programme, as I felt it came at the right time in my life. I was ready to make the necessary changes and I wanted to work with someone who reflected confidence and empowerment and who would have an understanding of my own personal culture and a positive female role model.

My life now is more purposeful and I can take action to gain clarity in situations and look forward to a better future and make better lifestyle choices.

I would say to someone who was thinking of doing the coaching programme to absolutely do it, but only if you are willing to take the time to follow up on action and do the work.

The biggest mindset shift I have made is to be more compassionate and kind towards myself and to be more forgiving.”

HR Professional

"Sadia has a wonderful way about her, in that she makes you feel extremely comfortable right from the beginning. This meant that despite feeling nervous at first, the nerves didn't get the better of me. I can't remember a time where I have been so open about my innermost feelings and thoughts, but Sadia helps you to explore your own thought processes and issues in such a constructive way, that every session ends with you feeling healed in some way and that much more empowered. Sadia holds you accountable and gently helps you tackle the difficult areas so that you make active progress each week - no session is wasted and you undoubtedly increase your self awareness with Sadia's guidance. The rise in my own self-awareness has been essential in making me mentally and emotionally healthier and has helped me regain my self-confidence and recognise my worth.

The biggest shift in mindset I have had is to believe in and love my true self and to let go of worry and stress over situations that I nor anyone else can control. I have committed to giving myself the alone time I need to recharge and to place less importance on what other people think of me and more energy on acknowledging my strengths and loving who I am in the present. "

Associate, Law Firm

“Sadia made me understand myself better. She gave me the confidence to go beyond my comfort zone and ask, instead of waiting to receive”.

Chief of Staff

"I decided to start coaching with Sadia soon after joining my organisation in a newly created role and as I set out to build a new team. An important aspect of the role was the need to make an impact very quickly, influencing directly and indirectly, the work of hundreds of people across the division and driving change in uncertain circumstances. My coaching sessions with Sadia were filled with lightbulb moments that have stayed with me long after the sessions and which I have often referenced in conversations with others. She brought to life the topics we discussed by painting verbal pictures that really resonated and stuck with me. A year later, the biggest benefit for me has been the overall step change in my confidence and, accordingly, the impact that I make on the people I work with. In particular I think about how best to adapt my personal style to different situations and requirements; I embrace being outside of my comfort zone, especially when managing difficult conversations at all levels of the organisation; and I spend time considering the different aspects of leadership that will most inspire and motivate my team. "

Head of Marketing