Voices of UAE: Surji Aboubakker Iqbal — A 22-Year Evolution from Corporate Efficiency to Educational Impact.

The Story of a Reinvention

There are journeys that change destinations, and then there are journeys that redefine the traveler. For Surji Aboubakker Iqbal, her 22-year odyssey in the United Arab Emirates has been exactly that, an evolution not of titles or positions, but of purpose.

When she first stepped into the UAE in 2003, she arrived as an HR Administrator, impeccably composed, efficient, and immersed in spreadsheets, policies, and performance metrics. She managed human resources, but somewhere deep within, she yearned to nurture human potential.

“HR manages talent; education develops it from the ground up,” she reflects. “I wanted to move from transactional work to transformative work, to impact a person’s life trajectory, not just their career path.”

That realization became her turning point, the moment where ambition met purpose, and the human resources professional began transforming into an educator, a mentor, and ultimately, a leader of leaders.

The Courage to Begin Again

Shifting from the corporate corridors of Abu Dhabi to the classrooms of the UAE’s dynamic education landscape wasn’t a simple career shift, it was an act of courage. “The biggest challenge was redefining my professional identity in a completely new field,” she recalls. “I had to shift my mindset from the corporate bottom line to the student outcome.” She retrained, re-certified, and reimagined who she could become. What others may have seen as uncertainty, she saw as possibility.

The UAE, a nation that thrives on reinvention, became both her laboratory and her launchpad. Its culture of lifelong learning, structured professional development, and respect for reinvention gave her room to grow.

“The UAE respects professionals who invest in themselves,” she says. “It gave me the confidence to start over.”

From Classroom Teacher to Cluster Leadership

What began as a classroom role soon turned into a journey of leadership across emirates and school networks. From teacher to Phase Head, Head of Primary, and eventually Cluster Instructional Coach at Bloom Charter Education, she rose steadily, shaping not just lessons, but leaders. At every stage, her corporate roots strengthened her leadership: structured thinking, clear communication, talent development, and an unshakeable belief in people.

She saw teachers not as staff, but as individuals with enormous potential, each deserving of guidance, trust, and the space to grow.

“Leadership must be service-based,” she insists. “My role is to remove barriers for teachers and leaders, and to amplify the successes of others.”

This principle became the backbone of her leadership identity, servant leadership, delivered with strategic clarity.

The Making of Middle Leaders

In the world of education, middle leaders often work quietly behind the scenes, yet they are the architects of school culture. Surji’s leadership revolves around strengthening this layer.

“Strong middle leaders are courageous communicators,” she says.“They translate the school’s vision into practical, everyday execution.”

Over the years, she has designed frameworks, training models, and coaching systems to empower these leaders, enabling them to balance data with empathy, creativity with consistency, and structure with purpose.

“Data tells you what is happening,” she says. “Empathy tells you why.” This harmony between analytics and humanity defines her leadership philosophy.

Igniting Innovation: The Birth of the Ignite Lab

Among her contributions, one initiative stands as her proudest: Ignite Lab under the Bloom Training Academy. Conceived as a teacher-led action research platform, Ignite Lab empowers educators to investigate their own classroom challenges, test new strategies, and share evidence-based solutions across schools.

“The best solutions come from the classroom,” she emphasizes. “Ignite Lab gave teachers agency — and it has transformed engagement and outcomes.”

Through this initiative, she has reinforced a powerful truth: Teachers are not just implementers of curriculum, they are innovators, researchers, and change-makers.

Education Beyond the Classroom Walls

For Surji, leadership doesn’t stop at academics. It extends to community, values, and citizenship. She has led environmental drives, cultural events, themed graduation ceremonies, and community-engagement programs designed to inspire students beyond textbooks. Among them, the environmental drives remain closest to her heart.

“They showed students that learning extends beyond the classroom door,” she says.  “It’s about who we become as responsible global citizens.”

Her belief is simple, but profound: Education is not a subject, it is a lifelong mission.

The Philosophy of Amana- Leadership as Trust

Her leadership philosophy is anchored in the Arabic principle of Amana, trust, responsibility, and moral duty. “We are accountable guardians of our students’ potential,” she says. “Leadership is a trust, not a title. I don’t aim to create followers, I aim to create leaders who will create leaders.”

Her philosophy rests on three pillars:

• Purpose — knowing the “why”
   
• People — valuing the individuals who bring vision to life
   
• Progress — evolving with integrity and intent
   

Every decision she makes is filtered through these lenses.

Resilience and Reinvention: Lessons from the Pandemic

Her 22-year career faced its toughest test during the global pandemic. But even in the uncertainty, she led with calm, clarity, and compassion.

“Resilience isn’t avoiding the fall,” she says. “It’s using every fall as a lesson in innovation.”

From rapid digital shifts to emotional support structures, she ensured her teachers and students stayed connected, supported, and motivated.

The crisis didn’t break her teams, it strengthened them.

A Nation That Believes in Potential

Across two decades, Surji has had a front-row seat to the UAE’s transformation into one of the world’s most progressive education systems.

“The UAE doesn’t just demand innovation,” she notes. “It provides the tools, time, and trust for educators to innovate.”

From inclusion and wellbeing to moral education and AI-enabled learning, she sees a nation that invests not only in knowledge, but in character, culture, and community.

Looking Ahead: Building a Legacy of Mentorship

Even after 22 years of growth, her journey is far from complete. Her next goal is ambitious: to establish a national mentorship program connecting experienced leaders with aspiring educators across the Emirates.

“When wisdom is shared, leadership multiplies,” she says. “I want to help build a sustainable pipeline of future leaders.”

It’s a fitting next chapter for a woman whose life’s work has been to empower others to rise.

The Human Story Behind the Leader

As the sun dips behind Abu Dhabi’s skyline, Surji’s journey feels symbolic of the UAE itself.
A nation of reinvention and resilience. A place where possibility is not a privilege, but a promise.

“Education,” she says softly, “is not a field. It is a lifelong mission to unleash potential.”

And in that single sentence lies the very essence of the UAE, a land where stories like hers become legacies of purpose.
 

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