About The Chrysalis Chapter CIC
A space for midlife women to transform, realign, and rise — for themselves, and for those they love.
The Chrysalis Chapter CIC was created for women standing at one of life’s most complex intersections — midlife. It’s a season full of change: children growing up and moving out, careers shifting, relationships evolving, and identity being questioned. For many women, especially women of colour, this stage also brings the emotional weight of perimenopause, unresolved trauma, and the quiet but urgent question: What now?
This is the chrysalis — a place between what was and what’s next. A sacred pause. A powerful invitation to grow.
Through coaching, mentoring, workshops, retreats, book clubs, and storytelling, The Chrysalis Chapter CIC supports women ready to emerge into a more grounded, purposeful version of themselves.
And at the heart of this work lies one truth:
When mothers thrive, their families — and especially their teenagers — stand a better chance of thriving too.
We offer specialist support for mothers navigating their own emotional challenges while also raising teens at risk of disengagement from school, cannabis use, self-harm, or becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). When a woman is well-resourced and emotionally aligned, she becomes a source of stability, advocacy, and strength for her teen.
This is about breaking cycles. Building new narratives.
And stepping into the next chapter — not alone, but together.
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”
Our Mission
To support midlife women, especially mothers of teens and women of ethnic minority communities, to heal, realign, and thrive so that they can lead great lives with their loved ones. We believe all women should be able to take a pause and reset to realign with their strength and purpose.
About me.
I’ve spent over 20 years working in post-16 education, beginning as a teacher and rising to senior leadership as a Director in a London college. I oversaw ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), Supported Learning for high-needs students, and Alternative Provision for 14-to-16 year olds. My work focused on curriculum development, teaching and learning, and strategic growth — always within the constraints of public sector budgets and always with a focus on widening access for marginalised learners.
Along the way, I earned a Master’s in Education Management, driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of education. I trained as a coach to better support the people I led — and took those skills beyond the workplace, serving as a trustee for a local education supplementary school and as a parent governor in my children's schools, ensuring ethnic minority voices were heard and represented.
But while I was thriving professionally, my biggest lessons came through motherhood.
I’m a mother of four — and for a long time, I thought we were doing well. Three of my children followed the expected path: good schools, high grades, and always compliant. All the signs I was taught to look for were there. But in time, I realised each of them needed more — in their own way, in their own time.
Though my third child’s journey cracked something open in me. He left school at 15, was placed in alternative provision, and became addicted to cannabis. It was a turbulent, painful time that tested every part of me and my family. Despite my career in education and always knowing what to do, I felt lost — waking at night, searching for books or resources that reflected our reality. There were none. But I had my tools: I used my knowledge of the education system, leaned on my support network, accessed CAMHS and counselling, and — most importantly — I talked. Even when it felt taboo as a South Indian Muslim woman, I spoke openly. That honesty created space for healing — for him, for me, and for those around us.
As I started to get to grips with this chapter of my life, I began to feel the first waves of perimenopause. I didn’t know it then — I just knew I was running on empty. I’d grab what little moments I could to refuel: a walk, a chat, some sleep. But eventually, I realised it wasn’t enough. I needed something deeper and lasting. Coaching helped me reconnect with myself. I began to carve out real time for healing — attending women-only retreats, travelling, and reconnecting with the version of myself I’d forgotten. I gradually began to feel restored and, dare I say, happy.
In 2024, I made a bold decision: I resigned from my Director role to follow my heart and build something for women like me who are searching for support but finding silence. That’s when The Chrysalis Chapter CIC was born — a social enterprise created to hold space for women, especially mothers and women of colour, navigating the messy intersections of midlife, parenting, identity, and change.
Now, alongside running The Chrysalis Chapter CIC, I’m back to learning — studying part-time for a Master’s at King's College London. I’m a firm believer in lifelong learning, and I wanted to study in a place I used to dream of in my 20s!
This next chapter of life is about creating spaces where women feel seen and supported — where they can be still, be real, and rise.
Asma Ahmad x
