About
One individual, one family, team and community at a time
AQ stands for Abdul Qadir, servant of the All-Powerful, and for Authentic Quest. Everything we do facilitates and supports Black and interracial boys and men to reconnect, realign and reignite the centre that is them.
Our mission
Why we exist
We co-create coaching and mentoring experiences that support Black and interracial boys and men, their families and marginalised communities to break generational cycles and build the futures they envision, one individual, one family, one community at a time.
Why this matters to AQ
What we support Black and interracial boys and men to do
- build confidence and a sense of belonging
- set goals they choose and reach them
- reconnect with family and community
- tell their own story, in their own words
Our journey
From the inside out
Every journey moves through four zones: Embrace, Embark, Emerge and Elevate. We work one-to-one, in groups and with teams.
- EmbraceA · AwarenessRe-ignite the spark within.
- EmbarkB · BalanceRealign and move with purpose.
- EmergeC · CommitmentReach out, and support others.
- ElevateD · DeliveryCelebrate, then rise and lift others.
We draw on four intelligences
Intrapersonal
Who we are.
Interpersonal
How we relate to one another.
Intergenerational
Where we come from, and where we’re going.
Intercultural
How we connect across cultures.
Our approach
ABCD
How we do things, inside and out. We go back to basics, demystify coaching and mentoring, and co-create the journey with each individual, cohort, family, community and organisation.
Awareness
Of yourself and your impact on others.
Balance
Of perspective, in situation and context.
Commitment
And compassion, to yourself first.
Delivery
To results.
The evidence
Why it matters
A message from our founder
Who is AQ, and why I do this
After sixteen years in Dubai, I sat down and visualised where my life was going. Where I was and where I needed to be were not a match, so I made the change and came to the UK. That was my own authentic quest.
I trained as a coach in 2019, and in 2020 I turned pain into purpose. AQ carries my name, Abdul Qadir, servant of the All-Powerful, and the Authentic Quest each of us is on. I founded the Centre of Excellence, and now AQ Coaching, so that Black and interracial boys and men have a safe space to be seen, heard and supported, and to reconnect with the centre that is them.
Coaching works both ways. Every time I sit with someone, I learn something about myself too. That is why we co-create every journey.
If you take one thing from this site, let it be this: you matter. You matter to a lot of people, but more importantly, you matter to yourself. So do the work. We will walk it with you.
Abdulkadir (AQ) AliFounder and CEO, AQ Coaching
Our people
Our people
AQ Life Coaching Ltd
AQ Community Coaching C.I.C.
Certified coach and mentor