In our latest Inspiring Leaders blog, we spoke with Mebs Mollah, a Quality and EHS Advisor at Chubb. Mebs opens up about growing up in Bolton, overcoming personal challenges, and finding his voice as a leader. 

The Early Days: Family and Growing Up 

I’ve lived in Bolton pretty much my entire life. Growing up, it was me, my mum, dad, and my older sister (who always ruled the house), I’ve learned to just agree with her, even when she’s wrong! I had a pretty good childhood, especially in primary school, where everything felt like a fairy tale, everyone got along, life was just so easy. 

But when I hit secondary school, things changed. My parents split up as my dad was going through his own struggles, and I ended up growing further away from him. My mum held it together, but I know now she was under a lot of pressure. Everything that I went through gave me pretty thick skin and put life in perspective for me. I have learnt about the kind of person I want to be and the kind of person I don’t want to be. When things go wrong at work or in life, I’m able to remind myself that it could be worse. I also learnt to stay true to my values and just be decent to other people. 

School Life Wasn’t Always a Smooth Ride 

Academically, I started off strong. I was one of the smart kids in primary school and back then I wanted to be a palaeontologist because of how much I loved dinosaurs! But with everything happening at home, and probably watching too much Game of Thrones, my focus slipped in secondary school, and I took a bit of a decline. I managed to pass my GCSEs and complete my A Levels, but it wasn’t always easy. 

Working From an Early Age and Gaining My Confidence  

I started working at 16, as soon as I legally could start working. I didn’t waste any time and I knew where I wanted to go so I took advantage of every opportunity. I started working with an agency at various hospitality events and festivals and later worked at Marks and Spencer’s. The latter job changed everything for me, and I’ll always be grateful for it. As a naturally quiet person, I learnt how to talk to strangers, meet people from all backgrounds, and just be myself out in the world – it’s also where a lot of my leadership skills came from. The confidence I built over my time there is something I still carry with me every day. It’s shaped me into the type of leader I am today. 

Chasing Progress and Never Settling 

When it came to my career, I didn’t just wait for opportunities to come knocking. After completing A-levels, I decided to take up an electrical installation course at my local college and continued working at M&S to keep money coming in. My college course led me to land an engineering apprenticeship at Chubb, I was still working at M&S six days a week to make it work and get to my goals. Hard graft, but worth it. 

A turning point was when I heard about a health and safety quality role that didn’t strike up an interest for many people, but I was curious, so I chased it. I asked questions, put myself out there, and finished my apprenticeship early to make sure I could jump on the opportunity. Even though I didn’t pass my apprenticeship first time I learnt not to let a ‘failure’ get in my way. 

Stepping Up: Leadership Looks Different Than I Imagined 

Now I’m working in Chubb’s Quality, Environmental, Health & Safety (Q&EHS) team. I’ve moved from hands-on engineering to a role where I’m helping the business keep its people safe. Suddenly, I’m in meetings, running presentations, and giving guidance to people at every level.  It felt intimidating at first, I used to be terrified, sweating at the thought of getting up in front of a crowd, but after a few goes and support from my teammates, I got used to it. The nerves turned into quiet confidence. I’m proud of how far I’ve come within my role – if you had told me a few years ago I’d be doing this kind of thing, I wouldn’t have believed you! 

One thing I’ve learnt even if you’re naturally quiet like I am is that you can still lead in your own way by being reliable, doing the right thing, and looking out for others. You don’t have to have it all figured out to make a difference. 

Work-Life Balance and Everything In Between 

Outside of work, I used to spend hours on the Xbox playing FIFA, Call of Duty, and the lot. But over the years, my priorities have changed. After a bad experience when I was out, I got into kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu for self-defence – it gives me something new to focus on. Now I’m training regularly and even getting ready for my first competition, which is both terrifying and exciting. 

I live alone now, which has given me independence, and can have my routines but it also means it can be too quiet at times. I’m thinking about getting a cat just for some company! I loved it when my mum used to have Filipino food waiting for me after work, but now I cook for myself a lot. Chicken and rice can get boring, but I do mix things up with the occasional homemade lasagna or curry. 

I like to read before bed to clear my head and have some detox time. I’m into fantasy books at the moment and it’s been helping me sleep so I’m fully energised for what the next day has to offer! I also try to hit the gym first thing, so by 8 am, I’ve already accomplished something, no matter how my workday goes. If there’s one bit of advice that’s really stuck with me, it’s that you get a lot further by chipping away at things a bit at a time rather than trying to do it all in a mad rush. Small, consistent steps add up massively. 

Looking Back 

I’m proud of how far I’ve come – from that shy kid who didn’t want to talk to anyone, to someone who can run meetings and help keep a business on track. I’m still learning, still growing, and still putting one foot in front of the other. 

If there’s anything I’d want people to take away from my story, it’s that your journey isn’t supposed to look perfect. Keep showing up for yourself and the people around you, stay true to your values, make each day count, and you’ll be surprised how far you’ve come, even if you can’t see it yet! 

How Would You Define Leadership? 

I would say a good leader is someone who encourages their team to grow and gives their team confidence while also making sure everything’s planned out and can adapt to different situations. 

Who is Your Biggest Inspiration? 

My biggest inspiration would have to be Khabib Nurmagomedov. He is a retired UFC fighter who is very disciplined, he is constantly working hard and improving himself and I admire that. 

What’s Your Dream Holiday Destination? 

There are many places I’d love to visit but I really want to go to Thailand. There’s a sense of freedom and coming from a Southeast Asian family, I know the people are super friendly and the overall vibes are amazing. 

What’s the Best Piece of Advice You’ve Been Given? 

Use your time wisely. You can get so much more done by working on things consistently – it has really helped my productivity. 

What’s Your Favourite Meal? 

I have a bit of a sweet tooth, so my favourite meal is Baklava, but I usually end up cooking meals like chicken and rice! 

Who is Your Dream Celebrity to Meet? 

It would probably be Khabib Nurmagomedov again! I reckon he could give me some words of wisdom! 

What’s Your Guilty Favourite TV Show? 

My peers may be surprised but I have watched the whole of Big Bang Theory twice and I would watch it again!