Lessons Beyond the Aisles

Leadership isn't always loud. Growth isn't always linear. And the most powerful lessons often arrive in the quiet moments, when no one is watching. For more than 35 years, Avi Awan has lived the full spectrum of retail leadership, stacking shelves in Yorkshire, steering boardrooms across the Middle East, and leading teams through crises in cultures far from home. Along the way, he discovered that true leadership isn't found in titles or strategies, but in resilience, humility, and the ability to adapt when everything around you changes. This isn't another book of theories. It's a deeply personal collection of stories and reflections from seven countries, shaped by mistakes, reinventions, and the lessons only lived experience can teach. Whether you're stepping into your first management role, guiding a team through transition, or searching for clarity at a crossroads, Lessons Beyond the Aisles will meet you where you are. The book closes with 96 concise reflections-practical, honest, and quietly powerful-that you'll carry long after the final page. If you're navigating change, this is your companion: part memoir, part manual, and a reminder that the most important journey is always the one back to yourself.