Technical expertise can make someone excellent at their work. Leading people brings different demands: listening without rushing to solve, understanding individual personalities and staying grounded when pressure or disagreement tests a team.

Payal Patel, founder of Shamal Consulting, joins Chris Adams for a conversation about finding your north: the values and perspective that help you pause, recalibrate and connect more effectively with other people. Drawing on experience across healthcare, sales and education, Payal explores why communication begins with recognising the human behind the professional title.

For lawyers, advisers, founders and team leaders, this episode offers practical reflections on the transition from technical expert to people leader. Chris and Payal discuss the small behaviours that help colleagues feel heard, the confidence to question respectfully, and why caring for your own perspective supports the people who depend on you.

• Moving from technical expertise to leading personalities.
• Listening before offering solutions.
• Recognising assumptions and strengthening trust.
• Creating space for people to speak up and disagree respectfully.
• Balancing clear expectations with flexibility.
• Recalibrating yourself before helping a team.
• Practicing trust, gratitude and everyday human connection.

Payal is the founder of Shamal Consulting. Her work centres on communication, values and human connection, helping teams navigate change and strengthen how they relate to one another. Her background spans healthcare, B2B sales and education. Shamal means “north” in Arabic, reflecting the idea of finding direction and recalibrating.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalpatel1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/payalreflects/

Chris Adams is the founder of Muhami and CJA Consulting. He works with professional services organisations, particularly lawyers and law firms, on business development and marketing strategy.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisadamsdxb/

Muhami Matters brings credibility and clarity to legal and professional services, connecting listeners with trusted advisers, industry specialists and thought leaders through practical insights and strategic perspectives.

Explore the show: https://muhami.ae/muhami-matters/

Muhami connects people and businesses with trusted legal expertise and useful guidance.

https://muhami.ae/

CJA Consulting supports professional services businesses with growth, business development and marketing strategy.

https://www.cjaconsult.com/

Watch the full conversation on the Muhami YouTube channel, or follow Muhami Matters in your podcast app for future episodes.

Visit www.muhami.ae for legal knowledge and to connect with lawyers who can solve your legal issues.

Visit www.cjaconsult.com for marketing & business development services catering to professionals

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Technical expertise can make someone excellent at their work. Leadership asks something more: the ability to understand people, listen well and stay grounded when the pressure is on.

In this trailer for Muhami Matters, Payal Patel of Shamal joins Chris Adams to explore the human side of leadership. The conversation looks at the shift from managing projects to managing personalities, why professionals can feel they must always have the answers, and the human capabilities that help leaders build trust.

Payal’s reflections return to a simple but demanding practice: trust yourself, trust others, listen without assumptions and lead with gratitude.

The full episode, Finding Your True North: The Human Side of Leadership, will be released on Monday, 9 November 2026.

Payal Patel works through Shamal, a human-centred practice whose name means “north” in Arabic. Her work helps people and teams pause, recalibrate and strengthen the communication, confidence and connection that technical expertise alone cannot provide.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalpatel1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/payalreflects/

Chris Adams is the founder of Muhami and CJA Consulting. Through CJA Consulting, he supports professional services organisations, particularly lawyers and law firms, with business development and marketing strategy.

Muhami Matters brings credibility and clarity to legal and professional services. The show connects listeners with trusted legal advisers, respected industry specialists and influential thought leaders, providing practical insights, strategic perspectives and actionable guidance.

https://muhami.ae/muhami-matters/

Muhami: https://muhami.ae/

CJA Consulting: https://www.cjaconsult.com/

#MuhamiMatters #Muhami #CJAConsulting #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #محامي

Visit www.muhami.ae for legal knowledge and to connect with lawyers who can solve your legal issues.

Visit www.cjaconsult.com for marketing & business development services catering to professionals

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can young people prepare for work when technology, qualifications and employers’ expectations keep changing?

Chris Adams speaks with Maria Vitoratos, founder of MV Careers and the MV Careers Virtual Hub, about building a career strategy before education and employment decisions become urgent. Maria draws on her work in education and career development, alongside doctoral research into youth career services and employment.

The conversation examines what parents can do beyond asking children what they want to be, how families can evaluate education by its intended outcomes, and why employers should help develop future talent. Maria also discusses critical thinking, entrepreneurial skills and the importance of human relevance in a workplace shaped by AI.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Career education before school and university deadlines
• Parents’ assumptions and children’s exposure to work
• Choosing universities, vocational routes and further learning
• Critical thinking and the wider value of higher education
• AI, entrepreneurial thinking and human skills
• Mentoring, apprenticeships and access to employers
• Experience requirements for entry-level jobs
• The communities within the MV Careers Virtual Hub

ABOUT MARIA VITORATOS

Maria is the founder of MV Careers and the MV Careers Virtual Hub. Her work connects career education, young people, parents, schools and employers. Her doctoral research focuses on youth career services and youth employment.

CONNECT WITH MARIA

Maria’s website

MV Careers Education

MV Careers Virtual Hub

LinkedIn

Instagram

YouTube

ABOUT CHRIS ADAMS

Chris hosts Muhami Matters and is the founder of Muhami and CJA Consulting. He advises professional services organisations, particularly lawyers and law firms, on business development, marketing, positioning and growth.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

ABOUT MUHAMI MATTERS

Where credibility meets clarity in legal and professional services. Conversations with trusted advisers and industry specialists bring practical insights to professionals, founders and business leaders.

Explore Muhami Matters

ABOUT MUHAMI

Muhami connects people with legal knowledge and legal professionals.

Visit Muhami

ABOUT CJA CONSULTING

CJA Consulting supports professional services businesses with business development and marketing strategy.

Visit CJA Consulting

Visit www.muhami.ae for legal knowledge and to connect with lawyers who can solve your legal issues.

Visit www.cjaconsult.com for marketing & business development services catering to professionals

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.