SHE Relatable Leaders Career Insights Spotlight

The SHE Women’s Network Support Heal Empower is all about empowering, supporting and elevating our members, and inspiring future generations of female leaders. Across 2025 we will spotlight the careers journeys of some of our amazing members. Today we hear from our Founder, Asma Nafees.

Asma Nafees, Deputy Chief Operating Officer (NHS England Delivery), NHS Arden & GEM Commissioning Support Unit, Non Executive Director, Derbyshire Community Health Services FT

Asma Nafees is a dynamic leader whose career spans law, healthcare analytics, and executive leadership. A qualified solicitor, she transitioned into the NHS following the 2008 recession and has since held pivotal roles, including currently being the Deputy COO at NHS Arden & GEM CSU and Non-Executive Director at Derbyshire Community Health Services FT. Her journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to equity and inclusion.

"Resilient, Relatable, Real"

I am Asma Nafees, currently serving as the Deputy Chief Operating Officer - NHS England Delivery at NHS Arden & GEM Commissioning Support Unit. I am also a Non Executive Director on the Board of Derbyshire Community Health Services, a Trustee for Lisieux Trust, a social care charity which support adults with learning disabilities, and a Non-Executive Director for Futures Group, a local authority-owned social enterprise focused on keeping people in education and/or employment.

My career began in law, practicing as a commercial solicitor, but a pivotal shift led me into the NHS, where I've embraced roles in analytics, contracting, and leadership. Today, I blend my legal acumen with healthcare expertise to drive data-informed decisions and champion equity across the system.

Early Career

From a young age, I aspired to become a solicitor, driven by a desire for financial stability, with an interest in law which stemmed from supporting my immigrant parents in navigating complex systems from a young age. After earning my LLB and completing the Legal Practice Course, I trained at a prestigious regional law firm and qualified as a Commercial Solicitor. However, the 2008/2009 recession led to my redundancy - a challenging period that, in hindsight, became a blessing. I joined the NHS in a contracting role that unexpectedly immersed me in data and analytics - a world I hadn't previously imagined myself in, setting the stage for a fulfilling new career path.

That early ‘jolt’ of reality built a resilience that now shapes how I approach every challenge, with perspective and composure.

Pivotal Moments

I always intended to go back to the law as soon as the market picked up, the NHS was going to be a stopgap, but over time, I realised that there was a niche space for someone like me triangulating contracting, finance and analytics, with a keen interest in technology.

Despite five years in the NHS, I still felt like an outsider, and felt a level of imposter syndrome as my qualifications were all law related, so I pursued a Masters in Healthcare Leadership through the NHS Leadership Academy to affirm my commitment to the NHS. This was whilst having 3 young children at the time (2, 5 & 7). Whilst the Masters was valuable, I now recognise it was not necessary, and would tell a younger version of me to not feel so pressured to do this with young children!

A pivotal moment in my career arose from allyship from a senior leader and fellow working mother. I was offered an Assistant Director role; initially hesitant due to my working hours, a supportive conversation with our CEO reassured me that flexibility was acceptable.

Accepting the role meant stepping out of my comfort zone - but it also proved that growth rarely happens in safe spaces. It was in taking on this stretch opportunity that I discovered just how much more I could offer. Her understanding empowered me to accept the role, marking a significant step in my leadership journey. I also realised some of the barriers were my own perception. I now proactively support working parents to help create a more inclusive working environment.

Leadership Lessons

Authenticity is Strength: Embracing my identity as a Muslim woman wearing a hijab/head scarf has been empowering. While it brought challenges, it also reinforced the importance of representation and authenticity in leadership. The first 10 years of my career were before wearing a hijab, and the latter 10 since wearing the hijab – which gives me a benchmark on differential treatment and the assumptions people make about you based on how you look.

Pre-hijab, I had never been in a situation where someone has assumed I was in the meeting to take the notes, since wearing the hijab it has happened a few times. We make assumptions all the time based on our own unconscious bias – “She probably won’t want that promotion - she has young kids”; “They’re close to retirement—they won’t be interested in learning new systems”; “He’s a dad, but I’m sure his wife handles most of the childcare”; “We’re not sure if they’ll be able to handle the workload with their condition”.

Supportive Leadership Matters: Leaders who understand and accommodate personal circumstances can unlock potential in their teams. The allyship shown to me exemplified this, allowing me to thrive professionally without compromising my family commitments. Some of the most transformative moments in my career have come from saying yes to unfamiliar projects or roles that I initially didn’t feel ready for. I now actively encourage others to take on stretch assignments, even when they feel out of their depth, because confidence often comes through action, not perfection. I would encourage all of those, like me, who hold positions of privilege to use that privilege to support others.

Resilience Through Change: Career setbacks, like redundancy, can be catalysts for growth. Embracing change with resilience can lead to unexpected and rewarding opportunities.

Advice for Others

Reflecting on my journey, my words of wisdom to aspiring leaders are:

• Seek Mentors and Role Models: Identify and connect with individuals who inspire you. Their guidance can provide invaluable insights and encouragement.

• Balance is Achievable: It's possible to pursue a fulfilling career while honouring personal and family commitments. Open communication and setting boundaries are key.

• Advocate for Inclusivity: Use your voice to challenge biases and promote equity. Every conversation can be a step toward broader cultural understanding and systemic change.

• Embrace the leap of faith: Don’t wait until you feel ready, take the leap. Growth lies just beyond the edge of your comfort zone.

Closing Thought

Leadership is not about fitting a mould but about bringing your whole self to the table. By embracing our unique identities and experiences, we enrich our organisations and pave the way for others to do the same. Authenticity, coupled with resilience and empathy, can drive meaningful change.

I am a working mother of 4 amazing children (aged 16, 14, 12 & 6) – it’s taken me reaching my 40’s to become confident in what I have to offer, and unapologetic about being a working parent. When I look back on my early career I often over-compensated by working even harder to prove that being a working parent didn’t make me less capable. Embracing all aspect of my identity have allowed me to lean into a work/life balance.

A quote or some advice that you found valuable

“You are not a drop in the ocean; you are the entire ocean” – Rumi.

Our individual actions have ripple effects throughout the universe. I am a firm believer of the ripple effect of change - making the world a better place, one conversation at a time!