Bringing Positive Psychology to Executive Coaching in the Middle East – Ashraf Helal

Ashraf Helal

Consultant and Coach,
HELAL Leadership Consultants

Ashraf is an international executive and leadership coach and consultant who applies positive psychology to develop emotionally intelligent leaders, foster high-performing teams, and guide organisations through transformational change.

Cairo, Egypt 

Alumni:

🎓 Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing

What drew you to study the Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing?

"I started searching for a reputable/trustworthy institute to learn positive psychology in a practical way that suits my busy life, yet also in a proper way that matches my increasing appetite. I found the Langley Group Institute, and it was a life-changing experience for me."

I’ve worked in different corporate positions between 1993 and 2018, with the last 8 years of those in an executive position. Being a leader to a large number of people and realising the impact of leadership on lives, I started to be increasingly attracted to leadership topics.

In 2014, my leadership calling took me to coaching, A profession and a mental state that I fell in love with!  I started practising life and leadership coaching out of  my usual corporate circle, I got accredited from ICF then I started reading about positive psychology with an aim to compliment my coaching skills and enrich my toolbox. Since I started reading, I loved everything about this science and I discovered that even reading or discussing researches, books or interventions from positive psychology, increase my wellbeing and allow me to noticeably be better in whatever I pass through.

 

How was your experience studying this course?

"If I’d put my experience during the course in three words, it would be “Pleasant, stretching and Nourishing”!"

I savoured every moment of the face-to-face units, then I was intrinsically motivated to continue studying and reading, to complete my assignments, and also because I’ve found an immediate, clear impact on my work, family and clients.

The course time for me has always been fun and tempting to follow through. I believe this has to do with he delivery approach and the team standards. It’s a well-balanced diploma with proper doses of mindfulness, reading, assignments, discussions and personal work, in other words, I’d say, “involving Head, Heart and Hand”.

What I found challenging was my wild tendency to surf and find new positive psychology research, articles and books! I discovered a kind of “FLOW”,  that wasn’t always working well for my deadlines. 🙂

I resonated with almost every part of the curriculum, especially the studied work of mindfulness, positive emotions, meaning and engagement.

 

How has the Diploma helped you spread positive ripples in your world?

"Spreading the positive ripples makes me feel alive and enjoy a meaningful life! It has  also impacted my judgement and emotional regulation strategies positively; I believe I’m now more resilient, better with people around me and more satisfied with my life!"

Since I decided to move forward from my corporate career in 2018, I’ve been primarily focusing on private coaching and leadership development services I provide to organisations! The Diploma helped me visualise and construct my new career path. It helped me build positive relationships with new clients and broaden and build my resources, which it was highly needed. It taught me a lot about how I can make a meaning of my career, utilise my strengths and make my work congruent with my values.

As I speak publicly and write books and articles, I now use those vehicles to carry the message of wellbeing. I work on developing the skill of simplifying positive psychology research findings, applications and interventions in a simple format that can reach simple lives. I hope such actions can result in a valuable change for the community in Egypt! I feel responsible to help people around me through what I learned and tried myself and I hold a bigger cause of making positive psychology applications and interventions known and usable in a Muslim/Arabic community with a lot of hardships and challenges, as well as natural interest in meaning and positivity. I try to use all opportunities I have for that cause, like social media, TV programmes, talks and lectures, coaching certification programmes I teach and articles I write.

Inspired by Ashraf's ripple story?

Join our next Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing or Certificate IV in Wellbeing Science intake and discover how to enhance your wellbeing, strengthen your leadership impact, and create positive ripples in your world.

Enquire here or book a call to learn more.