WomenEd: Connecting Hearts and Minds Across London

Today I want to share my Leadership Story and how WomenEd has supported me in becoming 10% braver as a leader.

I discovered #WomenEd one day as I was scrolling through Twitter trying to find more photos of Ed Sheeran. Instead I found the profile of the wonderful Hannah Wilson.

By following Hannah on Twitter, I was able to learn more about the work of WomenEd and find out about events happening near me. Through WomenEd, I started following all the co-founders and of course, Bukky Yusuf.

Bukky was the first visibly Muslim woman I was following on edutwitter. I was inspired from afar and who isn’t inspired by Bukky?

So when I realised that Bukky was a coach for the DFE’s Women Leading in Education Coaching Programme, I connected with her straight away and asked if she would kindly coach me to help build my self confidence.

Bukky’s coaching challenged me to think differently, to become more aware of myself and helped me to tackle my inner critic which told me I had to be perfect all the time and regularly told me that I was not good enough!

Bukky supported me in becoming more confident because, believe or not, 5 years ago, when I used to speak in public, my legs and voice would shake and I would stumble over my words. Bukky’s coaching helped to find my inner strength beyond anything I knew even existed within me.

It was through Bukky’s coaching, I realised I could and should be a senior leader and so I took the leap and was 10% braver by leaving my comfort zone as an LP as SB and taking on a senior leadership role at FGCS and becoming a Deputy SENCO. I had limited experience in the field but Bukky reminded me that even though I didn’t have the practical experience YET, I was a learner so I would read and build my theoretical knowledge while I built up my experience on the job. And that’s exactly what I did.

Bukky told me I was gold dust, and through her coaching, I began to believe it.

Alongside Bukky, I have connected and collaborated with many inspiring women, including Hannah Wilson.

Hannah’s coaching, as part of the Resilient Leaders Element Coaching programme helped me to become aware of my areas of strength and deliberately focus on understanding and improving on the areas I needed to develop in.

As a result of this coaching, I was 10% braver by acknowledging something that had been holding me back as a leader. Vulnerability is a sign of strength not weakness and by ‘rumbling with vulnerability, we get to courage.’ RLE helped me to become more candid about my areas of development with those I led and who led me. In doing so, I realised that others were encouraged to do the same.

So in Summer 2021, while still at Forest Gate, I was 10% braver by stepping down from my AHT role at the school because I acknowledged that I needed that time and space while I was going through some challenging personal circumstances. Before WomenEd, I don’t think I would have been courageous enough to even have the conversation with my HT, let alone actually do it.

Now, for me, being 10% braver isn’t just stepping up the leadership ladder, it’s also about understanding when it’s time to pause and acknowledge that leadership is not just about securing a title. Although this can be really important, it’s ultimately about leading authentically and in a transparent way so that we share our strengths and areas of development so that those we support/ lead know they are able to do the same.

WomenEd has also helped me connect with Vivienne, who has helped me to acknowledge my leadership strengths (just like Bukky and Hannah have) and share these at events and through my writing. Vivienne’s support and advocacy has meant so much and so, when Vivienne nominated me for the We are the City Rising Star Awards for Education and Academia earlier this year, and I won it, I was genuinely blown away. Through Bukky, Hannah and Vivienne, I have pushed myself beyond what I thought I was capable of and that’s why WomenEd will always be a key part of my personal and professional life.

And finally, let me tell you about Thahmina, Headteacher at FGCS. Thahmina is a visible role model every day for me and the community. Thahmina has challenged me and supported me to achieve excellence and be 10% braver in all I do. It’s because of Thahmina that I am now considering Headship for the first time because before Thahmina, I didn’t see anyone who looked like me doing the role.

But now I do and as they say, ‘if you can see it, you can be it’ but I also say ‘if you can’t see it, become it.’ So I am now proud to say, I am the first visibly Muslim AHT at my school and that this all started with #WomenEd on Twitter and a coaching conversation with the wonderful Bukky.

So how are you connecting and collaborating with WomenEd and being 10% braver too?