SHE Relatable Leaders Career Journey 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 Shabs Kwofie

From Baby Slings to Building Systems

Shabs Kwofie, Head of Governance and Engagement for the Specialised Services Devices Programme

Introduction

My name is Shabs, and I am the Head of Governance and Engagement for an NHSE SpecComm Programme called the Specialised Services Devices Programme.

I have worked in the NHS for 2.5 years. Prior to this, I developed an award-winning retail brand of goods, which ended up being sold and wholesaled internationally, a business which I enjoyed for 10 years. Previous to this I worked in both the commercial sector, and for Local Authority. So you could say that my experience is varied!

Early Career

My first job out of university was much the same as many of us – data entry! Having done that for a few months I realised quickly that I was rather adept operationally, and was quickly moved to an “Operations Supervisor” role. Developing and improving spreadsheets, helping to develop processes, I found it all very exciting. From there, I moved to a role in Citibank, then Local Authority, working in the Mayors office, before having my first child.

Maternity leave for me was an eye opener. I struggled with not working – I had been doing so since age 15. I turned my hand to being creative to give my brain something to do – I made myself a baby sling to get out and about, I started getting enquiries from local mums, and ten years later this idea had turned into a successful international business, allowing me the flexibility to work around my then two children. This meant that I had to have a hand in everything, developing processes from scratch – from accounting, manufacturing, operations, marketing, and governance. It was also intense – running your own business isn’t for the faint hearted!

Pivotal Moments

Having an inkling that my son was neurodiverse when he was still a toddler led to discoveries that my daughter and I were also neurodiverse (ND). This has led to years of inner reflection, and a need to be kinder to my overlooked and unheard inner child / teenager.

A part of neurodiversity can be something called Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD). This means that many ND people will be hesitant to take risks, as when it goes wrong, it can affect their mental health quite catastrophically. I am learning to take small risks, from a safe place. That’s more than enough for my stress levels!

Leadership Lessons

One thing I have learned from my rather amazing boss is this. Look after your staff, and your programme will look after itself. Your staff will WANT to work as a team, engage, and work through solutions as they will feel safe enough to do so. Give them the bandwidth and flexibility, and be the culture you want to see – it’s not enough to tell them to be kind to themselves if they see you working yourself to the bone!

Advice for Others

Find somebody you admire. It doesn’t matter who it is. Look to them for advice, if they are accessible, ask for them to mentor you.

Take the people you're leading on the journey with you. They will appreciate you more, and the journey. Be as transparent as you are able to, so by the time you are having to make a decision, they have been a part of the decision-making process. It’s a great way to mentor too!

Closing Thought

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about creating the space where the right answers can transpire.

A quote or some advice that you found valuable

Personal growth flourishes in safe soil — find the people who see you, accept you, and challenge you gently, and you’ll have the courage to grow roots and reach higher.

Basically, find your people.