A leadership coach, mentor, author, trainer, and speaker with over 17 years of combined corporate and coaching experience in USA, Bangladesh & Nepal.
Akbar Hossain
I have come from a very ordinary and poor family in Bangladesh. My parents only went to elementary school. They were just hardly earning end meets. We did not have big dreams. Our dreams were only that one day our lives would get better. My father was working in a middle eastern country named Oman. He did not have any skills. So, he was working as a laborer in a construction company in Oman. His income was small but our life was going. But, when I was in tenth grade, he lost his job in Oman and returned to Bangladesh. Our family was devastated. Even my study future was at stake.
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I did know what to do. I knew that I was probably quitting my schooling. But suddenly, I thought I should not have given up so easily. I probably could do something to save my family and my education. But, what could I do? There were not much to do for school students in Bangladesh. But suddenly I thought I had a good popularity in the area as a good student. I could utilize and monetize the popularity. I could be a tutor for students in the lower grades than I was. I expressed that to my parents and some of the elders in my area. That really worked, a father agreed to allow me to be tutor of his three children. He would pay me around $2 USD per month and I would have to teach his children 2 hours each day and six day per week. I was very happy. I started. I also found that I was enjoying the job. Gradually, I got more offers and was earning almost $100-$150 USD per month by the time I finished my twelfth grade. Life was great and I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
​I decided to expand it. There was a time to decide what university I would go and what major I would choose. I chose to major in English language and literature. The reason behind the choice is: I could be a teacher, I could make money while I was even a student (almost all students in Bangladesh mostly look for private tutor for English) and and I can be everybody’s teacher ((English is second language for professional world in Bangladesh and it is compulsory in every grade in Bangladeshi schools and universities). I eventually completed my graduation in Bachelor in English and became a teacher in a private reputed senior high school in Dhaka, Bangladesh. At this point, I discovered some of my capacities.
I could speak and explain well if I know any topic that I know (a speaker, trainer and coach was being born).
loved to help people for their future growth (a career coach and motivational speaker was rising inside me)
I would love to teach a large crowd where my public speaking potentiality shows up.
I was doing well as a teacher. Every student in the school loved me. My rising popularity as teacher even made some senior teachers jealous. I was happy. I also just got married. My wife was supporting me mentally. I had a big dream as a teacher for me. But, a new option blew up everything away. My wife and I got an opportunity to immigrate to USA. It was a good news for our family, but not for me because I had to quit the job I love. I did not know what I was going to do. To come to USA, I had to take a big loan. My wife was pregnant, there was no bread earner in my father’s family and I had no money to start my life in the USA. I needed money immediately. So, I had to take whatever job I could find. So, I realized and accepted that my teaching and speaking career ended. I did whatever I got. I worked in the grocery store, gas station, warehouses etc. None of the jobs I really liked. But, what to do! I finally landed on a factory job as a quality control inspector. I did not like the job either. But, It was at least giving me a bit better money. So, I settled down and decided to trash and forget my teaching, training, speaking and coaching capacity. It was painful and heartbreaking for me to trash what I love to do. But I thought the sooner I could forget my dream and accept the new reality, the better it was for me and for my family. I also thought that, with my accented English and a foreign education, I would never be able to a teacher, trainer or speaker in the USA. USA is the most developed country with most develop people I thought. So, I have no ability to compete in this advanced, technological new Industrial world. So, speaker, teacher and trainer Akbar officially died.
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Even though I did not like the job as a quality inspector, I worked hard and tried to learn it. I supported my boss and tried to get more overtime to make pay checks bigger. I supported my boss in scheduling, distributing lines and with the information about the work lines and workers. He was very happy with me. I was earning a moderate income, supporting my families in Bangladesh and USA, paying debts and supporting my wife to continue her college in USA. I was okay and getting into a new comfort zone with my new reality. One day, my boss called me and asked me to train a new group of quality inspectors. I was hesitant but agreed to help. I trained the new employees and prepared them for their jobs. My boss called me to his office to thank me. He said he saw a trainer potentiality in me and he asked me if I would like to join a Continuous Improvement training and another training named Quality Begins with me. He told me that I would be assigned to train others on the topics after I received the training. I could not believe that a business leader in the USA believed me to be a trainer. I was scared, self-doubted and was overwhelmingly mesmerized but took the challenge. That opportunity again woke up my hunger of being a speaker, trainer, teacher and coach. I also realized that teaching and speaking, not necessarily, had to be always in the school classroom. I could utilize my teaching and speaking capacities in other parts of the professional world.
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I decided to explore and learn more. I decided to go back to college in the USA and made a list to upgrade my skills. I did another bachelor degree and an MBA in Organizational Management. I completed my Lean Six Sigma Green Belt & Black Belt Certifications. I wanted to test my ability as a trainer and speaker. I took the help of some friends in Bangladesh who were working in corporate sectors there. They organized some trainings there. I surprisingly observed that the attendees really liked my training and asked for more. I got inspired. Initially, I taught both Six Sigma and Leadership. Six Sigma teachers earn a good money but they teach small quantity of people in comparison with the leadership speaker and trainer. I always wanted to be in front of a big crowd. So, I decided to be a leadership speaker, trainer and coach which might help me to fulfil my dream to speak to thousands of professionals, guide others to their future and leave a legacy. So, I needed to expand the horizon of my knowledge in leadership. To do this, I went to learn from so many leadership speakers and trainers like John C. Maxwell, John Townsend, Robin Sharma, Ken Blanchard, Jake Canfield etc. I kept taking courses after courses to improve me. These leaders helped me believe that I can be a speaker like any good leadership others in the world.My reputation grew, and they soon became recognized as a respected leadership teacher, speaker and trainer in Bangladesh. I realized that my journey was not over yet and that there was still much more to achieve.
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I worked tirelessly to prepare myself for the next step in their journey. I practiced my speaking, coaching & training, skills and built a network of contacts to help others achieve their goals.Finally, I felt ready to take the leap of faith and pursue their dream of becoming a leadership coach, speaker & trainer in the USA. I strongly believe that I have a message to share and that I can make a positive impact on professionals’ lives.
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​My journey was not easy, and I faced numerous challenges along the way. However, I persevered, determined to achieve my goals and make a difference in the world.With hard work, dedication, and a never-give-up attitude, I became a respected leadership speaker. I inspired people to reach their full potentials and achieve their dreams, just as they had done.And so, my hero's journey continues, as I continue to inspire and motivate people with my powerful speeches, coaching and training.