Abi Hearing
Shukri Abi’s sense of drive and determination has seen her successfully overcome every challenge she has encountered in life.
At the age of 27, she set up her own audiology practice despite having no knowledge of how to run a business. At 17, she won an academic scholarship to university, despite missing three years of school during the political turmoil in her home country of Somalia. At the age of 12, she learned English for the first time in a country on the other side of the world.
An inspiration and a legacy
Shukri hasn’t stood still, facing obstacles as they approach her. Instead, her sense of adventure, dynamism and talent has cultivated an ambitious vision for the future, and pushed her outside her comfort zone. Whereas once she was driven by a “burning fire” to achieve independence and security, today she hopes to be an inspiration for young women and leave a positive legacy for her children. She still wants to make her incredibly supportive, self-sacrificing Mum proud.
A unique clinic
Abi Hearing, Shukri’s Melbourne audiology practice, offers every kind of hearing service. In New Zealand hospitals where she trained, this is common-place. But when she arrived in Australia, Shukri discovered that clinics specialised in one or two areas. Her solution? She created her own business where she could do everything she loved. Today, she has two staff and sees a wide range of clients – from newborns to the elderly. She is still one of only two practices based on this model and receives referrals from top surgeons.
Seeking solutions, not problems
Shukri’s journey to becoming a client of Propeller is typical of her ability to seek out like-minded people who look for solutions, not problems. Despite having run Abi Hearing for over a decade, Shukri still needed business advice to help her grow. She expected more from her accountants than tax and BAS advice. But when her second accountant told her she wasn’t eligible for JobKeeper during the Covid-19 lockdown, she did her own research.
Shukri discovered Katie in March 2020 and found it “eye-opening”. From webinars and one-on-one mentoring, to tailored support for JobKeeper; Shukri knew she had found the business advisory service she’d been searching for.
Transformation
Today Shukri is working on a new business idea for a problem where the existing solution is “not good enough”. She has met contacts through Propeller networks to discuss funding and manufacturing. Unsurprisingly for a woman with Shukri’s drive, the venture is a complete departure from audiology. She’s testing out new waters and pushing herself outside her comfort zone, in the hope that her new endeavour will create significant social change and transform the lives of women.