\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nStarting From Humble Beginnings<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nGrowing up in a tiny village in Afghanistan, life was simple and full of connections. I lived with my mother, sisters, and brother while my father worked in the UK, working for a brighter future for us. In our village, the local school was less about learning and more about keeping the kids occupied. It wasn\u2019t a place filled with textbooks or exams; instead, it was an extension of our tight-knit community. While Afghanistan resembled a home for many of my friends and family, it was far from safe. Some of the things I have witnessed over there will stick with me forever.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nOur village life revolved around the open landscapes and the bonds we shared with each other. Every neighbour was a friend, and everyone knew and supported one another. It was this environment that taught me the importance of community and cooperation, a lesson that has stuck throughout my life.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nA New Life In England<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhen my father called us over to the UK in 2008, he strongly believed the education was a better fit for us over here. The change from open fields and hand-built homes to modern buildings and structured roads was shocking to say the least! Life in Afghanistan was filled with unwritten rules and shared lives, whilst the UK represented a different set of opportunities and challenges.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nOnce we got to the UK, life was so different. Instead of knowing every neighbour, it felt as if everyone lived in their bubble. My introduction to school and education was a whirlwind, I was initially placed based on a guess of my age, as I never knew my date of birth, later, a test revealed I was much older, leading to a quick jump through school years, going from year 5 to year 8. It was unsettling but necessary, I learned how to adapt quickly to changes even from such a young age.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nFinding My Feet and Fitting In<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nLearning English was one of my main focuses when I moved here. To overcome this, I would constantly watch English movies, and I practised until I became fluent within a year. Sports also played a huge role, bridging the cultural gap through common ground. Whether it was on the badminton court or the football field, sports helped me forge strong connections.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAs I progressed through school, the journey of self-discovery led me away from my childhood dream of becoming a doctor. Instead, I found a passion for IT. This decision was about following my heart and leading myself by recognising my interests and strengths. It was a moment that taught me the importance of putting myself first and taking charge of my life.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nLeading with Empathy<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nLeadership became a big part of my life, mainly through managing weekend football games with friends. I wasn\u2019t just organising players; I was organising experiences, ensuring everyone felt included and helping lift team spirit. These responsibilities showed me that leadership is not about just being in charge but about being that approachable person that people can trust to create a sense of belonging within a group.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nReflecting on my upbringing, my leadership style is undoubtedly influenced by my mother, whose warmth taught me empathy and generosity. Growing up around her, I learned the importance of kindness and giving. Balancing kindness with assertiveness remains an ongoing journey, taking skills from the Prophet in Islam whose leadership blended compassion with principled action.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIt\u2019s All About Learning<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nProfessionally, my path wasn\u2019t straightforward. Whether I was working as a paperboy or a waiter, there were always lessons learned along the way. These work experiences taught me about hard work, teamwork, and perseverance which laid a good foundation for when I eventually started working in IT. After some initial struggles, I eventually found my footing in an IT team for a telecommunications company. After soon realising it wasn\u2019t a good fit for me, who wanted to progress and work my way up, I looked for a new opportunity, which was when I landed at Chubb, where I currently work as a data analyst. Here, I\u2019ve found an environment that embraces growth and learning, these are principles that resonate deeply with my own.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nMy passion for learning never leaves; I am always trying to seek new skills and certifications, especially in cyber security – a field I am eager to excel in. At Chubb, the culture of continuous learning and development is truly recognised, which is evident from our purpose of Building Great Leaders. This encourages me to reach higher and explore more.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nLiving by my Values<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nBeyond my work, I continue to uphold the values of my upbringing by engaging in various volunteer work. Raising funds for those in need in Afghanistan is my way of honouring my roots, acknowledging the community that shaped who I am today. It is also a reflection of my leadership style through service\u2014helping those who need it most, from being empathetic and understanding.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nMy life\u2019s journey from a small Afghan village to a brand-new life in the UK has been filled with lessons in leadership, adaptation, and connection. The lesson I learned in my early years about the strong sense of community, being able to adapt to new surroundings and experiences quick and leading with kindness, guides my approach to leadership, both personally and professionally. Leadership isn\u2019t about having all the answers but about the willingness to listen, learn, and lead by example.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWho is your biggest inspiration?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe Prophet Muhammad was a leader in Islam is my inspiration. He was kind but also firm and fair, it\u2019s the perfect balance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat’s the Best Leadership Advice You\u2019ve been Given?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nBe nice and kind and humble, it’s as simple as that!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s your Guilty Pleasure TV show?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nI often love to watch \u2018What we do in the shadows\u2019, it\u2019s very funny, although Friends is a close contender.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIf You Had to Swap Lives with Someone for a Day, Who Would it be?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nCristiano Ronaldo. I would love to experience his life; I find it fascinating the life he lives and how successful he is.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIf you Could Have Dinner with a Historic Leader, Who Would it be?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nMuhammod Ali. I feel like he’s been through a lot, and I would like to understand his perspective and struggles.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat’s One Thing You do That Would Surprise Your Teammates?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nDIY because they wouldn\u2019t expect that from me!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat’s one Mistake You\u2019ve made as a Leader?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nBeing a bit too kind.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat Was Your Dream Job as a child?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nMy dream job was always a doctor, although I would’ve loved to be a footballer too.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHow would your teammates describe you?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nI think they would say I am a calm person.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In our latest Inspiring Leaders blog, we spoke with Noorullah Shakerullah<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":16538,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[20,19],"class_list":["post-16537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-people","tag-safety"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
From Village Roots to UK Leadership<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n