Selina Sanger’s story is one of resilience, self-belief, and purposeful growth. While her career today reflects senior leadership, credibility, and impact, the foundation of that journey was shaped by an unexpected and life-changing experience early in her adulthood, one that fundamentally changed how she understands confidence, mindset, and human potential.
A Life-Altering Accident and the Road to Recovery
In her first year at university, Selina’s life changed suddenly and without warning. A serious accident left her unable to continue studying or working, and almost overnight she went from being independent, active, and full of plans to being physically limited and dependent on her family for even the most basic daily tasks.
She was forced to give up the hobbies she loved and make the extremely difficult decision to leave university, a choice that felt particularly heavy for someone who was ambitious, driven, and deeply motivated to learn and build a successful career. Long periods in and out of hospital followed, alongside conversations with consultants about the possibility of life-changing surgery. The uncertainty surrounding her recovery, combined with the sudden loss of independence and identity, had a significant impact on her mental health, as the future she had imagined for herself no longer felt attainable.
Over time, and with the support of the people around her, Selina slowly began to recover. That period became a defining moment in how she approaches both her life and career. Having her confidence, independence, and sense of self disrupted so suddenly reshaped how she understands performance, mindset, and potential, and gave her a deep appreciation for the unseen personal challenges people often carry into the workplace without ever speaking about them.
Discovering a New Path in Human Resources and Learning and Development
After years of recovery, Selina did not rush into a career decision. Instead, she took time to explore different roles and industries, working while travelling the world and allowing herself the space to rediscover who she was after such a disruptive chapter. In many ways, she had lost herself along the journey, and rebuilding confidence did not come easily, but that period of reflection played a crucial role in helping her understand what genuinely mattered to her.
What she was searching for was not simply stability or progression, but work with meaning, something that aligned with her values and allowed her to make a tangible difference. When she discovered Human Resources and Learning & Development, everything began to align. It combined her love of learning with her interest in people, behaviour, and growth, while also allowing her to turn her own experiences into something purposeful.
She was drawn to the opportunity to work in a space where she could remove barriers, rebuild confidence, and support others in rediscovering what they were capable of, particularly during periods of uncertainty or change. As her interest in HR deepened, Selina made a conscious decision to invest in her professional development by beginning her Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) HR studies, a step that confirmed this was not just a role, but a profession she wanted to commit to long-term.
She knew she had made the right choice when she began to see the impact of the work firsthand, people growing in confidence, gaining clarity, and progressing in ways they had not previously believed possible. That sense of purpose, and the ability to influence both individuals and culture, reinforced that she had found exactly where she belonged.
Taking a Leap of Faith Moving Abroad Without a Safety Net
For as long as she could remember, Selina had held a strong desire to live and work abroad. Even after rebuilding her life and career following her accident, and establishing herself professionally in the UK with a strong network and supportive mentors, she felt there was more she wanted to experience and more she was capable of achieving.
Rather than waiting for the perfect moment, she chose to take a leap of faith. Selina resigned from her role in the UK, booked a one-way ticket to Dubai without securing a job, and arranged temporary accommodation to give herself a starting point. Two weeks before her flight, she attended an interview and was offered a role as an HR Consultant, a moment that marked the beginning of a completely new chapter.
Moving to Dubai alone in a post-pandemic world meant walking away from family, familiarity, stability, and a professional network she had worked hard to build. She arrived without connections or certainty, but with a clear determination to prove herself. Her focus became rebuilding both professionally and personally, learning a new market, earning credibility, and pushing herself far beyond her comfort zone.
That journey ultimately led her back to Learning & Development, where people, performance, and purpose aligned in a way that felt authentic. Over time, Selina progressed into her current role as Head of Learning & Development at Allsopp & Allsopp Real Estate. Alongside working full-time and travelling across the GCC region for work, she returned to education, attending evening classes for two years at Middlesex University Dubai to complete her Master’s in HR Management & Development, while also achieving CIPD Level 7 Chartered Membership (MCIPD).
For Selina, choosing to move abroad, starting again from scratch, and rebuilding herself in a new country represents her biggest achievement. While the qualifications are an important part of that story, they ultimately symbolise resilience, courage, and self-belief.
Overcoming Early Career Challenges
Selina’s journey into Learning & Development (L&D) was not straightforward, and it was certainly not handed to her. Although she knew Learning & Development was where she wanted to be, wanting it and being given the opportunity were very different things. At the start of her career, she actively sought experience by arranging shadow days, observing training sessions, and placing herself in environments where she could learn the practical realities of the role, not just the theory.
Early rejections, including unsuccessful applications for Learning & Development roles and later People Partnering positions, knocked her confidence and left her questioning her ability, often feeling that others were simply better than her. At the time, she did not fully recognise how much external pressure in her personal life was affecting her mindset and performance, and how carrying that emotional weight was influencing how she showed up at work.
The turning point came when she began to address those challenges, set clearer boundaries, and remove energy that was holding her back. Once she did, opportunities that had previously felt out of reach began to open. She stepped into the role she had been working towards, accelerating her career and reshaping how she viewed herself.
That experience reinforced a lesson she continues to carry forward: growth is not always about pushing harder, but about creating the right conditions in which to thrive.
Leading and Teaching Wearing Two Hats
Today, Selina leads Learning & Development at Allsopp & Allsopp Real Estate, where her work centres on designing programmes that build capability, confidence, and consistency, with learning that can be applied immediately and sustained over the long term. Her approach is rooted in real business needs and focused on long-term performance rather than short-term results.
Alongside her industry role, she also works as a CIPD Faculty Trainer, delivering HR qualifications and supporting aspiring HR professionals. Teaching allows her to remain closely connected to the fundamentals of the profession, while bringing real-world experience into the classroom.
Together, these roles reflect her long-term ambition to shape learning environments that develop people sustainably, strengthen organisational culture, and enable individuals not just to perform, but to thrive.
The Inspiration Behind Her Success
Without hesitation, the most inspiring person in Selina’s career has been her mother. Having built a successful career at British Airways over more than 30 years, she navigated professional and personal challenges with resilience, empathy, and quiet strength.
She has been Selina’s constant, her mentor, personal life coach, and biggest supporter. Through her actions, she taught her the value of perseverance, empathy, and staying grounded, lessons that continue to influence how Selina leads, listens, and supports others today. People often say she is a mini version of her mother, and that’s the greatest compliment Selina could receive.
Staying Motivated Through Setbacks
Having faced significant setbacks early in life, Selina understands that challenges are rarely permanent. She stays motivated by stepping back and reflecting on how far she has come, reframing discomfort not as a warning sign, but as a natural part of growth.
Surrounding herself with a strong support network helps her remain grounded, focused, and aligned with her purpose, even during challenging moments.
Advice to Her Younger Self
If Selina could speak to her younger self, her advice would be simple: trust the process. The moments that feel like detours are often the experiences quietly shaping strength and clarity.
She would remind herself that growth is not always visible in the moment, and that she is not behind, but becoming.
What Selina Sanger Hopes to Leave Behind
Selina hopes her legacy will be felt in the confidence people carry forward long after working with her. She wants to be remembered as someone who challenged people to raise their standards while genuinely caring about who they were becoming in the process.
Creating safe, supportive learning environments where people feel able to grow, believe in their potential, and take the next step with confidence remains at the heart of her work. If her journey or leadership has helped others feel more capable, empowered, or assured in their own path, she considers that her greatest success.
Selina Sanger A Story of Strength, Growth, and Purpose
From a devastating accident to a bold international career move, Selina Sanger’s journey proves that setbacks can become stepping stones. Her dedication to learning and development has allowed her to turn personal challenges into a career that inspires and uplifts others.
Her story encourages us all to embrace change, pursue meaningful work, and lead with empathy and resilience.
Do connect her on LinkedIn
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