#LifeLessons // The Biggest Life Learnings Of Asha Sherwood

Name: Asha Sherwood

Age: 44

Instagram handle: @ashasherwood and @abudhabireview

Job title: Founder & CEO of Abu Dhabi Review, Independent Media Professional

Asha Sherwood is a multifaceted entrepreneur and media innovator who has made a lasting impact on the UAE’s ever-evolving media and communications industry. As the founder of Abu Dhabi Review, she created the city’s first community-driven media platform, giving residents and tourists an authentic, engaging way to experience Abu Dhabi.

Asha’s expertise goes beyond entrepreneurship - she has also worked with leading hospitality and F&B brands including Spinneys Abu Dhabi and COYA. Her career spans both the UAE and UK, from leading sales and research teams at major media companies like The Telegraph and Turner Broadcasting to becoming a trusted voice in Abu Dhabi’s media scene.

As committed to her community as she is to her career, Asha famously launched the UAE Pen Pals initiative during the COVID lockdown, helping keep kids entertained and connected. She also connects the community through her podcast, The ADR Chat, showcasing trailblazers in Abu Dhabi doing good things for the capital, and brings her audience together on a quarterly basis at ADR MEETS, an event that offers a unique experience at one of the city’s local venues.

Today Asha shares her three biggest life lessons so far:

#LifeLesson - 1 - Ask the question

For years, I hesitated to ask questions, because I worried that I’d look uneducated, uncultured, or, frankly, a bit daft. But over time, I realised most of my questions were perfectly valid.

And do you know what else? People often don’t like questions.

Not because the questions are silly, but because they don’t know the answers.

I’ve been in meetings where I’ve asked straightforward business questions, only to be met with frustration (sometimes a bit of berating thrown in) - and not because I’d overstepped or because it was ‘dumb’ question, but because the other person couldn’t answer, and their embarrassment or lack of knowledge made them look unprepared.

So, my advice is to ask away. No one has the right to make you feel small for being curious and if anything, the ones rolling their eyes probably wish they had the nerve or the foresight to ask (or have the answer to) these questions themselves.

#LifeLesson - 2 - Other people’s opinions aren’t your problem

Whether in business, friendships, or even passing encounters, people will always create their own narratives about you. Some will love you, some won’t, and that’s absolutely fine. You don’t have to carry other people’s perceptions like excess baggage.

After I had my daughter, I became hyper-aware of the kind of people I wanted in our space. So, in my 30s and 40s, I made a conscious effort to surround myself with those who add value, not drain it. Will those people be around forever? Maybe not. But while they are, the energy will be good. And that’s all that matters.

Working in any industry or being an expat means you are mixed with, and have to tolerate, a lot of personalities that maybe you normally wouldn’t hang with. I make it my mission to try and connect with people on something they enjoy, and if after that, they are still a bit ‘offish’, then that’s up to them, but I can feel at peace knowing that I’ve done what I can to create a relationship.

#LifeLesson - 3 - Take opportunities—or better yet, create them

My parents always taught me to take opportunities when they come my way, because they felt they missed out on a few in their younger years. And they were right, because saying yes to the right opportunities can change everything.

But here’s what I’ve also learnt: you don’t have to sit around waiting for them. You can make them. Some of the biggest opportunities I’ve had didn’t just land in my lap - I created them by starting conversations, being genuinely curious, and putting myself out there.

Learning about new subjects, engaging with different people, and saying yes to unexpected situations can open doors you never even knew existed. It’s a mindset shift, so don’t just wait for the knock on the door, sometimes you have to build the door yourself.