Two years ago, we featured Bobbi Hartshorne, then based in the UAE and carving out a niche in leadership, culture, and organisational wellbeing. Today, Bobbi’s base is Aveiro, Portugal, where she balances life in a historic tiled street with a portfolio of international work and a major home renovation project alongside her husband.

A new chapter in Portugal

After more than a decade in the UAE, Bobbi felt it was the right moment to rebalance. The UAE had given her extraordinary opportunities and shaped her career in profound ways, but she wanted a base that offered both European roots, global reach, and an abundance of nature and tranquility. Portugal brought that combination.

Life in Aveiro has a very different pace. Mornings often start with a walk by the river, and sometimes a swim if the weather and her motivation allow it. Days are then filled with consultancy calls, developing WellWise projects, and writing her weekly WiseTalk articles. Evenings are slower, spent in yoga, tending to her pot plants, or visiting the local café for great sunsets over the beach. A major renovation of their home on a classically Portuguese tile-lined street has anchored them in the community. “It has been both challenging and inspiring, and a reminder that building something meaningful always takes patience.”

Weekends are for exploration and a intentional break from work and reenovations. Bobbi and her husband can often be found hiking Portugal’s trails, visiting historical sites, or seeking out places of outstanding natural beauty that the country offers in abundance.

Reflections on the UAE

Looking back, Bobbi is quick to credit the UAE with shaping her worldview. “The sheer ambition and pace of the region is unmatched. Being surrounded by leaders unafraid to think big, and working alongside them, taught me how to combine bold vision with practical execution.”

At the same time, she observed a truth that has shaped much of her current focus. “No idea, however great, can take root efficiently in a strained operating environment and this is a challenge many organisations are currently facing. I am ambitious to enable leaders to create the conditions upon which innovation and success can be sustained.”

Equally important was the exposure to so many nationalities, cultures, and perspectives. “It made me realise both the power of a truly diverse workforce and the reality that people bring very different needs and drivers to work. That lesson stayed with me and is now a central part of the demographic analysis we embed in the WellWise diagnostic.”

There were challenges too. The relentless speed of life in the UAE left little room for pause. “I sometimes wish I had taken more time to step back and reflect. That is a discipline I am much more intentional about now.”

Her advice for anyone considering a move to the Gulf is clear. “Go with an open mind and invest in relationships. If you are willing to adapt, it can be one of the most rewarding chapters of your career.”

WellWise: clarity from complexity

Professionally, the past two years have seen the launch and adoption of the WellWise diagnostic platform Bobbi founded to help organisations address psychosocial risk, human sustainability, and organisational health. “Most tools measure sentiment. WellWise measures the system. It shows leaders what is really shaping performance and wellbeing, and gives them clarity on where to act.”

Beyond the diagnostic, Bobbi continues to consult on people strategy, risks, leadership development, and training. The model has combines both advisory projects to longer partnerships, giving clients evidence-led insight and the support to turn data into measurable change.

WiseTalk and what is next

Bobbi also shares weekly reflections through WiseTalk, her LinkedIn series on leadership, human sustainability, and organisational health. Recent topics have included resilience fatigue, belonging as a business strategy, and an update (and warning) about the evolving psychological contract in the modern workplace. “It is my way of sparking conversations with leaders who want to go beyond surface fixes toward evidence-based human-sustainability.”

Although based in Portugal, Bobbi remains closely connected to the UAE and wider region. She visits regularly to deliver consultancy, training, and leadership development. In November 2025 she will be back as a judge at the MENTL Awards and to present a new WellWise case study at the Wellbeing Leaders Symposium in Dubai.

Asked what she might have done differently, Bobbi pauses. “I would not change the big moves. They have all taught me something important. What I would change is allowing the pace of life to crowd out moments of reflection. The trick is to build the habit of taking stock of how far you have come and giving yourself permission to breathe.”

Connect with Bobbi:

Bobbi is now booking client engagements for her November visit to the UAE. To connect during 12–25 November, or to explore virtual opportunities anywhere in the world, get in touch:

Website: bewellwise.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bobbihartshorne