Shabana Chowdhury Ali is a passionate Learning and Development professional with over 12 years of experience and is currently exploring new horizons as an IT Project Manager and diving into the exciting world of Data Analytics. With a love for creating engaging training programs, she thrives on helping people grow and develop new skills. She has a knack for turning complex content into useful learning tools that make a real impact. Outside of work, Shabana enjoys travelling, writing, playing the guitar, and looking for new experiences and inspiration to bring into both her professional and personal lives.

Shabana joins us to create interesting learning resources based on our books. We asked her a few questions about her early years, inspirations, and interests.

What was an early experience where you learnt that language had power?

As a very naughty child, I realised the power of language early on—probably around the time I learnt that saying “I’m sorry” in the right tone could get me out of trouble faster than any excuse. But the real enlightenment came in over my growing up years. You see, as an Army brat, I grew up playing hopscotch across India––constantly moving from one state to another, I quickly realised that language wasn’t just a means of communication––it was survival.

Take, for instance, my short-lived attempt at being the “cool new kid” at school in Gangtok. Trying to impress my Nepali-speaking classmates, I confidently blurted out, “Ma marchu,” thinking I was saying “I’m excited.” Turns out, I had just dramatically announced, “I am going to die!” Cut to horrified stares and a very concerned teacher rushing over.

This and many more such incidents, some less dramatics ones, made me a firm believer in the magic––and mayhem––of words. Language has the power to bridge gaps, and most importantly, it shapes the way we experience the world. Sometimes, how dramatically we announce our excitement!

What is your favourite under-appreciated book?

I’m not sure I’d call it under-appreciated, because appreciation is subjective, but the one book I feel deserves more conversations than it gets is THE QUEST FOR KIM by Peter Hopkirk. While his book THE GREAT GAME is better known for its ties with Rudyard Kipling’s KIM, THE QUEST FOR KIM provides the true essence behind Kipling’s classic. It offers a fascinating look at the actual espionage and history that inspired it. If you really want to appreciate KIM in all its depth, I highly recommend reading all three books as a trilogy.

Start with THE GREAT GAME for the historical context, then dive into THE QUEST FOR KIM to uncover the spy stories and intrigue, and finally, read KIM to see how it all weaves together in Kipling’s masterpiece.

Trust me, it’s like watching a spy trilogy in slow motion, but with more espionage and less CGI.

If you had to do something differently as a child or a teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

Well, since my older sibling practically oozed Pulitzer-worthy prose from their cradle, I had a high bar to clear. If I could go back, I’d probably spend less time trying to decode their genius and more time focusing on developing my own voice.

If you were given the power to change one thing in the world, what would it be?

If I could change one thing, I’d give everyone a crash course in empathy. Imagine if we could all step into someone else’s shoes for a minute––without tripping over them. It’d be a game-changer. We’d listen more, judge less, and probably argue a lot less about things, especially now with increased avenues of expression and the idea of Freedom of Speech being on steroids. I think, a little more understanding could go a long way in turning the world from a bit of a mess into, well, a slightly less messy place.

What are the three words that best describe you?

Curious, dependable, and maverick.