Abdurahman Afia, MBA's Linkedin Analytics

I failed every exam in school. Got expelled more than once. Nobody expected much from me. But I rebuilt, step by step. In 2001, I began my first leadership roles, and over the next 15 years, I worked in senior positions across several organisations, building teams, developing talent, and helping people grow. And despite the demands of my full-time roles, I always made time for what mattered most to me: helping others rise. Coaching, mentoring, and quietly guiding people to handle the weight of leadership became my unofficial side-hustle. Over time, the impact grew and so did the demand. Then in 2016, everything changed. I pulled into the office one morning, into a job I actually loved, when I heard a quote from Steve Jobs: "You only have one life. Don’t waste it building someone else’s dream." That hit me. I realised I didn’t need to keep working for someone else, I could build something of my own. So I put a plan in place. I enrolled in an MBA to sharpen the blend between practical experience and academic rigour, did take on some work to help me gain momentum again , and then we launched Afia Partners with the rest of my family by my side. Today, Afia Partners is a leadership transformation company that works with global brands, government departments, and ambitious teams across the GCC, UK, and beyond. We deliver: 1Leadership development programmes tailored to real-world challenges - Executive coaching, team building events and strategic team offsites - Public leadership events and keynote talks that spark lasting change We’ve never relied on ads. Word of mouth, results, and trust built our business, and continue to grow it. If you’re looking to elevate your people, strengthen your culture, or just want a fresh take on leadership, let’s connect.