Q1. Describe your background and the company’s history in detail.
Our magical journey with Incluzun.com started in August 2021 on the back of our desire to support parents and schools in their journey to make inclusion a success and belief in the mantra that “Every Child Matters”. Since then, it’s been a year of multiple challenges and achievements.
In terms of our achievements, to date, we have successfully placed numerous Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) in multiple schools all over the UAE. We have helped LSAs and parents to upskill through free monthly forums and supported inclusion in schools across the MENA region and beyond.
We pride ourselves in providing a personal touch and involvement at all levels of client support to ensure that nothing is left unexplored.
Our greatest achievement has been to continuously support the LSAs by giving them a voice. We hope to expand on this by building bridges for aspiring youths in developing countries to train in this field and place them in schools.
In terms of our backgrounds, both Catherine and I are experienced, educational leaders and consultants.
Catherine holds graduate-level degrees in Education, Psychology, Counselling, Psychotherapy and Masters in Systems. She has 16 years of experience in international education and has served as Director and Group Head roles for a number of large school groups.
She is a regular media contributor and conference speaker where she passionately speaks and advocates for special education and inclusion communities. She also hosts an international voluntary forum for Inclusion & well-being leaders. She is practicing across the MENA region working under the Global Sustainability Network striving toward the UNSDG Goal 8.
I have worked in this field internationally supporting learners in Singapore, Malaysia, and Dubai for the last 25 years. I have supported tirelessly the development of Inclusion in all these places and have had the honor of leading departments. In addition to running many successful training workshops, my brainchild, ‘The LSA Forum’ is a successful platform where I train LSAs to present on various topics to other LSAs. Being a firm believer in always upgrading through education, I am in the midst of completing my Masters in Education (M.Ed.).
Q2. What do you want to achieve in the workplace and what does your company expect from its employees?
As a company, we hope to source and support LSAs in a uniquely tailored way to meet the needs of each individual child through sustainable practice and under the umbrella of the Global Sustainability Goal 8.
We aim to provide wrap-around care and support for every family that works with us and to supports schools in their inclusion journey in the light of the UAE’s progressive National Agenda with a huge focus on Empowering People of Determination.
Q3. What are your greatest company and team asset?
Our People and our personal touch, we work individually with EVERY client on one to one basis. Both Catherine and I host multiple meetings along with the team where we get a thorough understanding of the client’s needs, their child’s strengths, and their areas for development. We then walk with them, side by side, on their journey to find the best support together – every step of the way. Every success is celebrated fully with our Incluzun family.
Q4. What steps have you taken to get where you are in your career?
Both Catherine and I are firmly focused on educating ourselves on the very best practices and innovations in inclusive care and support. We are firm believers in networking and have developed one of the UAE’s most prominent Forums in education that has been running for 4 years now. We host international speakers and gather inclusion practitioners from around the globe to discuss best practices. This has had a profound effect on our business not just for exposure but most importantly in terms of keeping up to date and informed as to how we can support our clients in the most modern and innovative ways, suitable to our unique landscape.
Q5. What is your motivation for starting this company?
We are both socially motivated inclusion visionaries, and our main agenda is to provide quality assured, bespoke professional support services to nurture and grow our Students of Determination because there is no ceiling to potential. We believe in walking hand in hand with our clients every step of the way because we care.
Q6. What are some of the obstacles you’ve faced in achieving your goals?
As an SME there is always the fear of failure as data suggests that over 80% of SMEs fail in their first year of operation. As fresh entrepreneurs, we have struggled to build our understanding of running a business and all the legalities that go with this.
Operating as an ethical, sustainable business in a landscape where families are often struggling under huge cost burdens has been challenging. Trying to help them find the support they need in a manner that is affordable has been a challenge.
Q7. How best would you describe yourself in just one word?
For myself, I would say COMPASSIONATE and for Catherine, it would be ENTREPRENEUR. Hence, we make a perfect pair. “Compassionate Entrepreneurs who are socially motivated Inclusion Visionaries”.
Q8. What gives you a sense of purpose and direction on Mondays?
We firmly believe in raising the awareness of Inclusive education and building an Inclusive Model of Education-where every child is included. Being able to share our expertise with every stakeholder is another driving force for both of us.
Q9. What was the most innovative or creative project that you worked on?
We were on the core team that organized the Global Sustainability International Summit, held here in Dubai in 2022 where World thought leaders like the Archbishop of Canterbury, the CEO of Petrochem, and former Prime Ministers gathered to discuss inclusion and sustainable practices.
Q10. What key values helped you overcome obstacles in your career? Tell us a story about the most memorable incident in which you demonstrated leadership.
Most importantly Ethics and Sustainability. There are multiple stories but one that stood out this year was presenting to 500 Principals and Vice Principals on Inclusive Practice as part of the Sharjah Private Education Authority initiative to drive inclusion across Education. The glowing feedback was a testament to the success of our initiative.
Q11. What makes your company’s services/solutions or products unique? What is coming soon in terms of new offerings and innovations?
We support each and every parent, school, and LSA that approaches us. Our consistent offering of free skills development to help our LSAs upgrade themselves demonstrates our dedication to our service.
We are now supporting schools in building up their Inclusion Departments, with the eventual goal to integrate and support all Students of Determination.