“Shirley Talks With…” is our interview series where Brand Ambassador Shirley Parsons sits down with influential voices in Environment, Health, Safety, Quality and Wellbeing to hear their stories, insights and views on the future of the profession.
In this conversation, Shirley is joined by Rashad Issa, Chair of the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI), to discuss his career journey and how the role of quality professionals continues to evolve.
The Rise of the Modern Quality Professional
Drawing on his experience as a quality leader, Rashad shares how modern quality professionals are increasingly operating as business improvement partners, helping organisations drive performance, engage people and deliver meaningful change across the business.
Rather than focusing solely on compliance and systems, today’s quality leaders are expected to influence, collaborate and support better decision-making at every level of an organisation.
A key theme throughout the discussion is the growing importance of what Rashad describes as “power skills” – the ability to communicate effectively, influence stakeholders, lead teams and build relationships. While technical expertise remains important, he explains why these broader capabilities are becoming essential for quality professionals looking to create impact and deliver business improvement.
“Technical skills can be developed, but communication, leadership and influencing skills are what help people create real impact within an organisation.”
Highlights from their conversation include:
- Why Rashad prioritises “power skills” when hiring quality professionals
- How quality teams are becoming business improvement partners
- The growing importance of communication, leadership and influence
- Why technical expertise alone is no longer enough
- What organisations should look for when building modern quality teams
- How quality professionals can create value beyond compliance
He also highlights the evolving role of quality professionals:
“Quality is no longer just about systems and compliance. It's about helping businesses improve and supporting colleagues to achieve better outcomes.”
Rashad also reflects on his relationship with Shirley Parsons, having been supported by Shirley herself into his current role in 2019. Since then, he has partnered with the team to recruit members of his own quality function, giving him a unique perspective as both a candidate and hiring manager.
We’d like to thank Rashad for sharing his experience and insights. His reflections highlight the evolving role of quality professionals and the growing importance of leadership, communication and business improvement skills in today’s organisations.
Other episodes in the series:
