Our Philosophy

At The LID Institute, we believe that transitions are not just about change. They are about becoming.

• Change is external — new systems, new reporting lines, new responsibilities.
• Transition is internal — the reconfiguration of identity that allows you to truly step into your role.

This is why so many leaders describe the process as the “messy middle” of transition: the in-between space where you’ve left behind who you were, but have not yet grown into who you are becoming. It is uncertain, uncomfortable, but also full of possibility.

We make that inner work visible. Because clarity on the inside is what allows cohesion on the outside.

What We Do

The Institute exists to support leaders and organizations through the invisible work of becoming.

• Coaching — for leaders navigating identity shifts and transitions, finding steadiness in who they are becoming.
• Workshops — for teams and middle leaders, creating shared identity and cohesion during times of change.
• Consulting — for organizations, helping middle and senior teams shape culture, tone, and clarity, especially during leadership or cultural transitions.
• Speaking — sharing insights on leadership identity, transitions, and the work of becoming.

About Lubaina

I am an educational leader, leadership coach, and researcher specializing in leadership transitions, identity shifts, and the strategic deveopment of key behavioral competencies.

My own leadership journey — from classroom teacher to school principal, from South Africa to China, across very different educational systems — has shown me the invisible weight that leaders carry when roles change. It has also shown me the power of identity work to bring clarity, confidence, and courage.

As an ICF-accredited coach (ACC) and a doctoral candidate researching leadership identity in transition, my work is grounded in both lived experience and scholarly rigor. But more than anything, it is anchored in a deep belief: leadership is not just about what we do. It is about who we are becoming.

Our Commitment

At The LID Institute, we hold space for leaders to:

• Reflect on their evolving stories.
• Experiment with provisional selves — the “draft versions” of who they might become.
• Make sense of transitions with others.
• Affirm their identities with intention.

This work is not quick or superficial. It is steady, reflective, and deeply human. And it is the work that creates leaders who can weather change with clarity, cohesion, and grace.

Closing Note

If you are navigating a transition — or supporting others through one — know this: you don’t need to have all the answers before you begin. You begin, and clarity finds you along the way.

That’s the heart of leadership identity.
That’s the work of becoming.

— Lubaina

(Clarity on the inside leads to cohesion on the outside.)