GRoW

What does winning Member of the Year mean to you personally and professionally?

Winning Member of the Year award is deeply humbling and emotional for me. Personally, it represents years of balancing study, work, and family life, all while caring for my three children. It validates that the late nights of studying after putting the children to bed, the long days at work, and the moments of doubt were all part of something meaningful.

I come from Afghanistan, a country where girls and women face immense barriers from the moment they are born. Expectations are set before we can even speak, and limitations define much of our lives. Yet, from my first day at school, I was driven by an unshakable curiosity. I excelled academically, graduating a year earlier than my peers, but my education was cut short when I entered a traditional marriage.

For years, I carried a sense of incompleteness, a story left unfinished. Despite the demands of raising three children, my passion for learning and personal growth never faded. I began with short training courses, gradually rebuilding my confidence and direction. Meeting my mentor, Liz, was a turning point. Her encouragement reignited my ambition, and I made a firm decision: no matter how difficult the path, I would continue the journey I once had to abandon.

It has been a challenging road, but one filled with purpose and resilience. Today, being the winner of the IEP Award is not only a personal honour but also a statement of belief, that with determination, every woman can reclaim her dreams.

Professionally, this recognition reaffirms the importance of compassion and cultural understanding in employability work. It shows that stories like those of the women I support, mothers, carers, and survivors navigating unimaginable pressures, matter. Through this award, IEP has not only recognised my efforts but also given voice and visibility to women who are too often unseen. I am deeply grateful for this recognition and proud to represent that possibility.

Your nomination was in part inspired by your academic work — can you tell us what your thesis focused on and what drew you to that subject?

My thesis explored the work-life balance challenges faced by South Asian working mothers in the UK. It focused on how cultural caregiving expectations, workplace structures, and economic realities intersect to shape women’s daily lives.

What drew me to this topic was my own lived experience. As a South Asian mother of three, studying for my degree while working, I understood the invisible juggling act, the pressure to be the perfect mother, wife, and professional. My experience as an employability professional, supporting women from South Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds who face complex barriers every day. I’ve witnessed first-hand the strength and struggles of mothers who are balancing work, care responsibilities, and cultural expectations, often with little recognition.

You developed the Triple Bind Model to describe the experiences of South Asian working mothers. Can you explain what that means and why it’s important?

The Triple Bind Model captures the three overlapping pressures that South Asian working mothers face, cultural and familial expectations, workplace constraints, and economic necessity. These forces operate simultaneously, often leaving women caught in a cycle of self-sacrifice, guilt, and emotional strain that takes a significant toll on their mental health and well-being.

Many of the women I interviewed described feeling constantly “on duty” as employees, mothers, and carers, yet unable to prioritise themselves. Because mental health is still a cultural taboo in many communities, these struggles often remain hidden, creating isolation and burnout.

The model is important because it challenges the idea that women simply need to “manage better.” It reframes their struggle as a systemic and structural issue that demands empathy and action from employers, policymakers, and service providers. It reminds us that behind every statistic is a story of resilience and strength. These mothers are not failing to balance; they are holding entire families and communities together while navigating barriers that most people don’t see.

What were some of the most powerful insights or stories that emerged from your research?

One of the most striking findings from my research was how mental health was almost invisible within cultural conversations. For many of the women I interviewed, the concept of mental health simply “didn’t exist” in their cultures, it was something not spoken about. The expectation to be strong, to hold the family together, and to be “the best at home no matter what it takes” meant that exhaustion, stress, and emotional strain were often hidden behind a quiet smile.

Yet despite this silence, what stood out most was their quiet resilience. One mother told me, “My job was optional — motherhood wasn’t.” Another described working all day, caring for her children and elders, then staying up late at night to teach her children about their culture and religion, because she saw it as her duty.

There was guilt for using childcare, for missing family events, and for feeling tired; yet beneath that guilt lay incredible strength, dignity, and determination. These women weren’t simply balancing roles; they were carrying the emotional, cultural, and financial weight of entire families, both in the UK and abroad.

One participant I interviewed was caring for four children while also being the main carer for her brother-in-law, who is severely disabled. Despite her exhaustion, she continued working because her income supported her family. Her story, like so many others, revealed that for many women, work is not a choice but an economic necessity; they are sustaining households across two countries while managing immense personal and cultural pressures.

These stories are not just research findings to me; they are lived truths that deserve acknowledgement and action. They remind us that mental health, compassion, and cultural understanding must be at the heart of how we support women in their journey toward independence and inclusion.

Their voices are the heartbeat of my research. They taught me that empowerment begins with being heard, and that’s why this recognition from IEP feels so meaningful because through this award, their voices have been validated.

How do you think employability professionals can apply your findings to better support South Asian women and other underrepresented groups?

We can start by embracing cultural intelligence and human empathy in everything we do. This means moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and truly understanding the realities of our clients’ lives in their family structures, cultural values, and the hidden responsibilities that shape their daily decisions.

Employability professionals can make a real difference by meeting women where they are, in schools, mosques, and community spaces and by creating flexible, safe, and culturally sensitive environments where trust can grow.

But most importantly, we must focus on building relationships, not just delivering services. When women feel genuinely understood, respected, and supported without judgment, transformation begins. Our role is not only to help them find employment, but also to help them rediscover confidence, autonomy, and hope, the foundations that make lasting change possible.

In what ways do you hope your research will influence practice or policy within the employability sector?

I hope my research encourages organisations to embed cultural competence and flexibility into employability policy and practice. We need to design programmes with communities, not for them, co-creating solutions that address cultural, economic, and emotional realities.

Policy-wise, I’d love to see reforms such as carers’ leave that includes elder care, support for transnational dependents, and more accessible, flexible training. Most importantly, I want the sector to continue learning from lived experience, because that’s where lasting change begins.

The IEP’s commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and professional development aligns perfectly with this vision. Their leadership in building an inclusive employability sector, where voices are heard, ideas are shared, and professionals learn from one another, is something I deeply admire.

What does being part of the IEP community mean to you, and how has it supported your journey so far?

Being part of the IEP community has been a source of strength, learning, and inspiration. IEP doesn’t just promote professionalism; it creates a movement that brings ideas and people together. Through its inclusivity, diversity, and determination, it builds an employability sector where best practices are shared and celebrated, not siloed.

Personally, IEP has given me confidence and validation. It has reminded me that the work we do, often quietly, often unseen, truly matters. This award shows that our sector values both academic insight and the human stories behind it.

Why do you think professional development and recognition, through organisations like the IEP, are so important in our sector?

IEP’s professional development and recognition are vital because they raise the standard of practice across the sector. They give professionals like me a platform to connect, reflect, and grow, and most importantly, they validate the impact of our work on people’s lives.

Through recognition like this award, IEP has not only honoured my efforts but also the voices of the women whose experiences shaped my research. It shows that inclusivity and evidence-based practice go hand in hand, and that the employability sector can be both compassionate and rigorous.

What does being an employability professional mean to you personally?

To me, being an employability professional means helping people find strength where they thought they had none. It’s about giving hope, not handouts. Every day, I see women who’ve lost confidence rediscover their worth and independence.

For me, this work is deeply personal. I know what it’s like to juggle responsibilities, to feel pulled in every direction, and to keep going because others depend on you. That empathy guides how I connect with every woman I support.

What would you say to someone considering a career in employability — and what keeps you passionate about the work you do?

If you want to make a real difference, this is the field for you. You’ll learn that change happens one person at a time, in small victories, shared smiles, and renewed confidence.

What keeps me passionate is witnessing transformation, when a woman who once doubted herself realises she has choices, skills, and power. That moment when she secures her first job or smiles with newfound confidence is everything. It reminds me that this work changes not just individuals, but families and communities too.

Anything else you would like to add?

I want to thank the IEP from the bottom of my heart. Through this award, they have not only recognised my work but also validated the stories of South Asian mothers whose struggles are rarely seen. This recognition gives me the strength to continue researching, advocating, and building awareness so that every woman’s experience is acknowledged and respected.

I owe special thanks to my director, Liz, who has been the main source of my inspiration. Her mentorship and belief in me transformed the way I see my own potential and encouraged me to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles. I am equally grateful to my amazing colleagues, whose constant support, kindness, and teamwork have played a vital role in my journey.

I also want to extend my appreciation to Scott Parkin FIEP, the Group CEO of the IEP, and the entire IEP team for their tireless work in strengthening and shaping the employability sector. Their dedication to inclusivity, shared learning, and professional growth has created a community that truly leads with heart.

I’m proud and honoured to be part of this community, one that continuously strives to make the employability sector the best it can be for everyone.