Dr Sonia Cheema Talks About Her Book “Abdul and I”

About the Author:

Dr. Sonia Cheema is an educational leader, leadership coach, and author dedicated to shaping transformative learning environments across Australian schools. With over two decades of experience in teaching, wellbeing, and leadership, she champions ethical leadership, emotional intelligence, and innovation in education. As an educator, community leader and leadership mentor, Dr. Cheema empowers emerging leaders to create cultures of trust, purpose, and growth. Deeply inspired by her late father’s service to the nation and guided by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s philosophy of education as nation-building, she continues to lead with compassion, courage, and conviction.

Exclusive interview with the author

Q: What Inspired You To Write This Book?

A: This book was inspired by two powerful forces in my life: my late father, who served the nation with integrity and quiet courage, and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, whose life embodied humility, vision, and service. As an educator and leader, I felt compelled to reflect on how ordinary beginnings, guided by strong values and education, can create extraordinary impact. Writing this book became a way to honour legacy while offering hope and direction to future leaders.

Q: Can You Tell Us About The Book?

A: Abdul and I is a reflective leadership narrative that weaves together personal memory, educational philosophy, and national inspiration. Through parallel journeys—Dr. Kalam’s rise from humble roots to President of India, and my own journey as an educator migrating from India to Australia—the book explores leadership grounded in service, ethics, resilience, and community empowerment. It is both personal and universal in its message.

Q: What Does The Title Mean?

A: The title Abdul and I symbolises parallel journeys rather than comparison. It reflects a shared philosophy between Dr. Abdul Kalam and myself—rooted in humility, education, and service—despite vastly different contexts and scales of leadership. The title invites readers to see leadership as accessible, reminding them that meaningful impact is not reserved for the extraordinary, but for the committed and values-driven.

Q: What Did You Learn When Writing The Book?

A:Writing this book taught me that leadership is deeply relational and intergenerational. I realised how profoundly our parents, teachers, and mentors shape our values long before we step into formal leadership roles. I also learned that reflection is a form of leadership in itself—it allows us to connect past wisdom with present challenges and future possibilities, especially in education and community building.

Q:How Important Is Research To You When Writing A Book?

A: Research is foundational to my writing. As an academic and educational leader, I believe strong narratives must be anchored in evidence, philosophy, and lived experience. I draw on educational research, leadership frameworks, historical accounts, and cultural philosophy to ensure the book is both reflective and rigorous. Research gives credibility to storytelling and transforms experience into transferable wisdom.

Q: What Are Your Top 3 Books?

A: My top three books are Wings of Fire by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for its humility and inspiration, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl for its profound insights on purpose and resilience, and Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire for its transformative view of education as liberation. Each has shaped my thinking as a leader and educator.