From Psychology to Education: The Inspiring Path of Faïza Hadj Ali

A Journey Marked by Resilience

My name is Faïza, I’m 29, and I’ve been passionate about urban dance for over 8 years. After practicing in dance studios and open training sessions for 7 years, I followed a rather unconventional academic path.

After high school, I started a degree in Economic and Social Administration but quickly switched to a BTS in Manager Assistance. Unfortunately, after just two months, I suffered severe episodes of spasmophilia, which forced me to withdraw. I then went through two months of agoraphobia and depression, accompanied by anxiety disorders.

Determined to heal on my own, without professional help, I pursued studies in psychology. My goal was to understand and decode the human brain and the triggers behind these crises. After three long and difficult years, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Human and Social Sciences with a major in Psychology, and I ultimately overcame my condition—by understanding myself better, I was able to heal.

I went on to complete a Master’s in Clinical Psychology, Psychopathology, and Health Psychology, with a focus on Autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Unfortunately, external events affected the quality of my studies. I needed a calmer year afterward. I applied to Groupe IGS (now Groupe IGENSIA Education) and was hired part-time in 2020. This gave me time for personal projects, travel, and dance—my lifelong passion.

Professional Growth at ICD Business School

In April 2021, I applied for a dual-role position split between IPI (the IT school) as a communications assistant and ICD Business School as a pedagogical assistant. Two months later, in July 2021, I joined ICD Business School full-time. Four years later, on March 1st, 2025, I proudly became Training Officer and Support Manager (Coordinator of Pedagogical Assistants) at ICD Business School.

My journey, shaped by those spasmophilia episodes, ultimately led me down a unique and rewarding path. It was a personal challenge that I overcame successfully.

A Human-Centered Vocation

To be human, to serve others, to provide experiences or insights that will support them in their future careers—that’s what motivates me. At ICD Business School, I found that these values—humanism, kindness, solidarity—are shared across the entire team. Being able to contribute to student success by ensuring high-quality support throughout their academic journey is deeply fulfilling. Some even express their appreciation directly.

My current position includes two components, though only "Training Officer" appears in my job title:

As a Training Officer, I oversee several work-study programs to ensure smooth operations—from curriculum development and course scheduling to certification exams. I liaise directly with company mentors, partners, and instructors. I manage conflicts and ensure student satisfaction.

As a Support Manager/Coordinator of Pedagogical Assistants, I guide, support, and train each assistant in their assigned tasks. I ensure they communicate the right information to the appropriate program managers, students, and faculty. I help them onboard, address their challenges, foster a positive work environment, and attend all types of meetings.

A Day in the Life

• I start by checking my emails for urgent matters. Then I follow my scheduled tasks: processing invoices, entering grades, sending end-of-module evaluation reminders, attending meetings about course content, handling student absences, etc.
• I take a one-hour lunch break, then resume my tasks following the schedule on Teams.
• I deal with any unexpected events, and interact with students and instructors when needed.

Essential Qualities for This Role

Versatility and strong organization are key to avoid being overwhelmed. A deep understanding of the role helps maintain a positive and low-stress environment. It's crucial that students feel continuously supported, and that external partners and instructors feel heard. Managing the unexpected without panic is essential—it's all about action and reaction, and finding quick solutions.

You need to enjoy challenges. Be organized, energetic, thorough, personable, stress-resilient, lively and cheerful, and an effective communicator. You must be able to process information quickly, proactively seek answers, and not fear mistakes. Trust yourself and take responsibility.

Share your ideas. Be a democratic leader in future management roles, and be proficient with digital tools.

A Piece of Advice: Take a Step Back

“We’re not saving lives.” Sometimes, we try too hard to do everything perfectly, believing we can manage it all without realizing how much it drains us. Eventually, our bodies might give in. It's crucial to step back and say, “No, I can’t absorb this emotional and workload pressure right now,” and allow ourselves to postpone certain tasks—even if they seem urgent.

A Source of Inspiration

The word “personality” doesn’t sit well with me—either you're famous for the wrong reasons or you're just a regular person with public exposure. If I had to share a dinner, it would be with my mother—she’s the one who inspires me most.

Three Words That Define Me

Resilient, cheerful, generous.

A Message for Students and Colleagues

To students and future students: stay true to yourself, trust your instincts, believe in your projects, and never let anyone discourage you. Believe and go for it. At best, you’ll succeed; at worst, you’ll gain something even more valuable: experience. Failure isn’t a setback—it’s a stepping stone, a way to grow and learn.

To colleagues: While it’s vital to keep students at the center of what we do, let’s not forget to take care of ourselves. Our well-being is key to providing quality support and guidance to the future talents we work with.