Congratulations Suhaila – Aspire's Manager of the Year Award Winner

The Aspire Manager of the Year award recognises a member of the management team at a service that is an asset to the centre providing leadership for their team, innovation within centre programs and creating a sense of community for children and families.

We are so thrilled to announce Suhaila Shah from our Aspire Cobblebank centre as the winner of Aspire’s Manager of the Year Award for 2024. In the last 12 months, Aspire Cobblebank has gone through different management changes, and Suhaila amazingly stepped up into the role and ran the centre with great leadership and passion.

She has built amazing relationships with families and staff so that everyone at the centre feels welcomed and included. Learn more about Suhaila’s passion for early education, her time at Aspire and why she’s a very deserving winner of this award below.

Suhaila’s Career in Early Education

Suhaila’s career journey has been a fulfilling transition from teaching to leadership in early childhood education. Suhaila started as an early childhood educator, where she discovered a passion for working with young children and developed her skills in nurturing their growth. Over the years, Suhaila gained experience in curriculum planning, building relationships with families, and creating engaging learning environments.

Her passion for early education grew and thus she began to step into leadership roles to make a broader impact.

Suhaila said, “This shift allowed me to guide and mentor fellow educators, shape the vision and culture of the centre, and ensure high-quality care and education for every child. Each step of my journey has deepened my commitment to the field, and I feel privileged to continue being inspired by the meaningful work we do each day.”

Suhaila said her passion for working in early education stems from the belief in making a positive impact on young children. She strongly believes in the unique opportunity that an early childhood educator has in making a positive impact in the early years of a child’s life.  

Her Time at Aspire

Suhaila enjoys working at Aspire Cobblebank and leading a team of passionate and dedicated educators who go above and beyond. She value’s the partnerships she has with families and community members, who also share the same vision and passion in supporting young children’s learning and developmental journey.

As a Centre Manager of an early childhood centre, Suhaila’s favourite part would be the ability to shape the overall environment and culture of the centre.

“Managing a team of dedicated educators and fostering a collaborative, positive atmosphere is highly rewarding. Additionally, the opportunity to directly influence the quality of education and care provided to children, ensuring each child feels safe, supported, and inspired to learn, is an immense satisfaction.”

Winning Aspire's Manager of the Year Award

Suhaila is a well-deserved winner, and embodies many leadership qualities, as well as inspiring her team to reach their full potential. This award means a lot to Suhaila, after championing two roles majority of the year. She has shown extreme dedication to her job and has become an inspiration to her staff.

Suhaila says, “Winning this award have a profound impact on both me and my work. It would serve as a validation of hard work, dedication, and passion I bring to my role every day. This recognition would boost my confidence and motivate me to continue striving for excellence, not just for personal growth but for the benefit of my team, children, and families. The award would also inspire my team, reinforcing the importance of the work we do and encouraging us to innovate and maintain high standards in early education.”

With her positive attitude and work ethic, there’s no wonder her staff only have positive things to say about her, with many nominations received.

“Suhaila is an incredible mentor and leader. She genuinely respects her team and values everyone's input. She's always ready to take on new challenges, and her confidence inspires all of us to step out of our comfort zones. Suhaila is approachable and always willing to listen, making her a trusted figure in the team. She deserves this award.”

“I saw her running a big centre without any centre director for months. Running two positions at a time for one person is itself a big achievement. She is an inspiration for all the staff.”

“She goes above and beyond to ensure the team is supported and guided in every aspect. Her hard-working attitude and the smile in her face is the highlight of everyone’s day at Cobblebank. She is approachable and friendly to feedback. She motivates, encourages, supports, builds relationships and inspires. Her relationships with the team, children and families are outstanding. She is dedicated leader and adds many great qualities to Aspire."

Congratulations Suhaila on this achievement and we can’t wait to continue to see you shine at Aspire!