Theresa Akua Powell, widely known as Akua, is the founder of Dream Catcher Global and a transformational coach who helps women redefine their relationship with fear, leadership, and authenticity. Based in Abu Dhabi and having lived across cultures, Akua’s journey from corporate HR leadership to purpose-driven entrepreneurship is a powerful story of courage, clarity, and conscious living. Through immersive retreats, coaching, and thought leadership, she inspires women worldwide to step beyond conditioning and reconnect with who they truly are.
Akua, tell us about your journey and what led you to start Dream Catcher Global.
I spent many years in corporate leadership, working as an HR leader at NYU Abu Dhabi after moving from the UK. I genuinely loved my work and working with people, but during COVID, something shifted. The pause gave me space to reflect, and I realized I wasn’t showing up as my authentic self. I felt like I was wearing a mask.
There was a deep inner knowing that something didn’t feel aligned anymore. Leaving the corporate world was frightening—I had security, a strong title, and a stable income—but I also knew I wasn’t meant to find another job. I was meant to create something of my own, something rooted in purpose.
Travel seems to be an important part of your story. How has it shaped you?
Travel has been one of my greatest teachers. I’ve traveled to 87 countries, often choosing places off the beaten path where I could immerse myself in local cultures. Those experiences taught me perspective, humility, and resilience.
I realized that whatever I created in life had to include both people and travel. That realization became the foundation of my work—helping women explore both the outer world and their inner landscape.
You often speak about “Unbecoming.” What does that mean?
Unbecoming is at the heart of everything I do. It’s about letting go of who we were told to be—by society, culture, family—and returning to who we truly are.
I describe it as peeling back the layers of an onion. As children, we’re free and authentic, but over time, layers of conditioning build up. Unbecoming is the process of gently unraveling those layers and coming back home to yourself.
Can you share the framework behind the Unbecoming journey?
Absolutely. The Unbecoming journey follows the Five R’s:
- Recognize – becoming aware that something feels misaligned
- Release – letting go of limiting beliefs and fears
- Reconnect – reconnecting with what truly matters
- Reclaim – reclaiming your identity, passions, and power
- Return – returning to your authentic self
It’s a lifelong journey, not a destination. We keep evolving, growing, and rediscovering ourselves.
How do your retreats support women through this process?
My retreats are intentionally intimate—usually no more than 12 women. They’re designed to feel safe, non-judgmental, and deeply transformative. Women step away from their daily roles and responsibilities and give themselves permission to just be.
We combine inner work with adventure, reflection, and travel. Whether it’s Zanzibar, Nepal, or the UAE, the goal is the same: to help women step out of their comfort zones and reconnect with themselves on a deeper level.
You’re now also moving into leadership and corporate spaces. What does that look like?
I’m bringing Unbecoming into leadership development. In today’s AI-driven world, leadership can’t just be about performance and strategy—it must start from within.
I work with leaders using the HEART model, which stands for Humanity, Empathy, Alignment, Reconnection, and Truth. It’s about leading as a human first, not just a role or title.
What challenges have you faced while building your business, especially digitally?
Consistency in the digital space can be challenging. Algorithms change constantly, and it can feel like you’re not always in control. Another challenge is staying authentic in a world that often pushes prescribed ways of showing up online.
With AI and automation everywhere, it’s more important than ever to sound like you. My focus is always on showing up honestly, even if it means slower growth at times.
What are your aspirations for the year ahead?
My word for this year is audacity—having the courage to show up boldly and make decisions without overthinking. One of my biggest goals is launching my book on the Unbecoming journey, which I plan to release around International Women’s Month.
I also want to expand my retreats, deepen my leadership work, and explore online offerings like webinars and programs that allow Unbecoming to reach a global audience—while still honoring balance, travel, and joy.
What message would you like to leave for women reading your story?
It’s never too late. No matter your age or stage in life, you can pivot, change, and begin again. Change your relationship with fear—step with risk, land with faith.
The worst that can happen is that you learn. And learning is never failure. Leave this world with no regrets, knowing you had the courage to be yourself.
“Unbecoming is a return to who you truly are—beyond fear, beyond expectation, beyond conditioning.” — Akua Powell
Connect with Akua:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresapowell/
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