Founder and Chief Executive, Empower Lifeskills
Of Middle Eastern heritage and a devoted mother to three daughters raised between the UAE and the UK, Hedyeh brings a deeply personal perspective to the international education journey. Her unique experience, both as a parent and a global professional, gives her rare insight into the emotional and practical challenges students face when adjusting to life abroad, as well as the comfort and confidence their families seek from afar.
With a distinguished career in global investment banking, Hedyeh blends strategic leadership with cultural sensitivity and a genuine passion for student wellbeing. Her ability to move seamlessly between high-level vision and hands-on realities makes her an invaluable guide for students and families navigating the complexities of international education.
At Empower, she leads with compassion, clarity, and conviction, driven by a commitment to ensure every student feels supported, prepared, and empowered to thrive. Hedyeh believes deeply that independence, resilience, and real-world life skills are not just helpful, but essential, to a fulfilling and successful academic journey abroad.
Co-Founder, Empower Lifeskills
Cora is the compassionate heart behind Empower Lifeskills. A qualified nurse with decades of experience, she brings a strong background in health and wellbeing. Her deep empathy stems not only from her professional background but also from her own journey. Having attended boarding school at a young age, she knows firsthand what it feels like to live away from home and navigate unfamiliar environments.
Cora works extensively with students as a preceptor, mentor, and exam invigilator, and shared valuable insights during the establishment of one of Dubai’s prestigious schools, further deepening her expertise in supporting young people across diverse educational settings. As a mother of four children who moved through the international education system, she experienced the emotional and practical hurdles young people encounter when transitioning from the comfort of home to independence abroad.
Motivated by these personal and professional insights, Cora co-founded Empower to ensure students feel supported from day one. She leads on wellbeing, mental health, and personal safety, equipping students not just with advice but with the confidence and tools to truly thrive.
At Empower, Cora collaborates closely with educators, psychologists, and families to develop holistic programmes that go beyond academics, building resilience, cultural adaptability, and a genuine sense of belonging. For students and their parents alike, she offers expertise, empathy, and unwavering support every step of the way.
Co-Founder, Empower Lifeskills
Jo Horner brings a rare combination of professional rigour and grounded, real-world insight to Empower. With a background in legal operations, compliance and risk management, gained through senior roles at leading financial institutions, she plays a central role in ensuring Empower’s programmes are thoughtfully structured and built on solid foundations. Her instinct for structure, order and common sense plays a crucial role in shaping Empower’s approach, ensuring that students (and their families) are supported not just emotionally, but practically and securely.
Beyond her 30-year professional career, Jo is deeply involved in her local community. She runs a youth football club and a charity, through which she works tirelessly to support and uplift those around her. Families admire her not just for what she does, but for how she does it, with compassion, integrity, and a genuine dedication to making a difference in their lives.
Practical, measured and wise, Jo brings a clear sense of order and purpose to Empower’s mission. She helps ensure the team’s work is not only effective but truly supportive, offering students and families a framework they can trust as they navigate the transition to independent life.
Jo is the steady hand that helps guide Empower’s mission.
Co-Founder, Empower Lifeskills
Rupert brings a calm, thoughtful presence to Empower, shaped by a lifelong connection to education. Raised in a family of university lecturers, Rupert grew up immersed in academic life and understands the rhythms, expectations and culture of university systems from the inside. He was educated in France, Germany and the UK, and went on to graduate from Oxford University before building an advisory business that, over a 30-year career, spanned six continents and was regulated in 26 countries. He has advised governments, major institutions and leading family groups around the world.
As a foster carer and parent who has relocated his own family into the UK education system, Rupert understands the practical and emotional challenges of navigating unfamiliar academic environments. His additional work as a teacher, mentor, tutor and student counsellor has deepened his perspective on the kinds of structures and relationships that help young people succeed.
At Empower, Rupert forges and maintains trusted relationships with universities, schools and other institutional and professional partners. He is also responsible for liaising with academic researchers and coordinating the evidence base behind Empower’s approach, helping to ensure that the life skills we teach are grounded in real-world needs and supported by the latest educational research.