Ruqaya Ibrahim, MA, is a Columbia University-trained leadership coach who supports clients in developing their assertiveness, resilience, and ability to adapt to new environments. She has a global perspective, including four-years of experience as an architect working in the Middle East. As an architect, she leverages her ability to zoom-in and out throughout the coaching session. To dive deep and explore the client’s limiting beliefs in a way that serves that bigger picture or the vision the client designed for themselves.
Coaching Style
In a coaching experience with Ruqaya, clients begin by cultivating a compelling vision for themselves. Clients then co-create a plan with Ruqaya to help them achieve their vision, in a manner that is fulfilling and true to their values. Throughout the experience, Ruqaya challenges clients out of their comfort zone and helps them explore limiting beliefs. Honest conversations and encouragement allow clients to look deep within themselves and observe how their belief system is influencing their results.
Furthermore, Ruqaya enjoys taking an embodied approach in coaching. In that regard, clients particularly appreciate the centering practice and mood checks Ruqaya often uses at the beginning of a session. Additionally, cultivating embodied leadership by leveraging the physical body as a domain of learning, change, and transformation.
Special Interests and Expertise
- Cultivating self-awareness
- Leadership and performance challenges
- Executive Presence
- Resilience and Assertiveness
- Career Transitions
- Goal Setting and Accountability
Prior Background
As an architect, Ruqaya has experience working independently and as part of a team in a well-established firm in the Middle East. During her experience, she was fascinated by the team and organizational dynamics in the workplace beyond the day-to-day architectural tasks. That led her to pursue her masters in the Social-Organizational Psychology program, where she found her passion for Executive Coaching.
Education and Training
- B.Sc. in Architecture
- M.A. Social-Organizational Psychology
- 110+ Hours of Executive Coaching Training and Supervision
- 25+ Hours of Intercultural Communication Training
- 25+ Hours of REBT Training: Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
- 25+ Hours of Embodied leadership Training
- Member of the International Coach Federation - Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
Organizational Consulting Experience
Real Estate Industry: Ruqaya worked on a Diversity and Inclusion Project for the National Realty Club. She was part of a diverse team of 13 members. The presenting issue for the client was increasing diversity for their membership to better represent society and align with trends in the industry. Ruqaya took up various roles in that project, from facilitation, project management, attending events to observe the organizational culture, and data collection and analysis. She was also in charge of consolidating the team findings into a final deliverable to be presented to the client. By the end of the project, the client was very pleased with the results, which included industry benchmarking, interviews, and surveys.
Representative Clients
Ruqaya has coached professionals in all capacities, including those employed by:
- Intel, US
- CTC, Sudan
- DAL Group, Sudan
- Zain, Sudan