Shahannah Abdoolakhan

Shahannah Abdoolakhan, Founder & Group CEO of Abler Group, is a compliance expert with 22+ years in financial services. An MBA holder and member of FCCA and FICA, she leads an award-winning consultancy specialising in AML/CFT and GRC. As a thought leader and NED, Shahannah champions strategic growth and regulatory excellence.

What makes you a Risky Woman?

Shahannah launched her compliance consultancy from her dining room with no funding; just a laptop and a bold vision to simplify regulatory complexity. Today, she leads innovation in AML/CFT across Africa, the Middle East and Europe, challenging norms and reshaping a traditionally conservative industry with clarity and strategic foresight.

Name your top 3 achievements

1. Founded and scaled Abler Group, growing a team of over 20 highly skilled professionals.
2. Expanded operations into the UAE, including DIFC, driving regulatory transformation in complex jurisdictions.
3. Became the first compliance firm in Mauritius to post staff to Luxembourg, setting a new industry benchmark.

What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?

Leaving corporate life, Shahannah founded her own firm with no funding, team or roadmap, driven solely by a strong belief in the need for better compliance support. This bold decision meant building a business from the ground up in a sector where innovation was rare and trust was paramount.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Most people don’t know that Shahannah lost all her savings starting the company, with no income or safety net, but she never gave up.

What is the best quality for successful leaders in Risk?

Vision paired with ethical courage, leaders must anticipate evolving threats, act decisively and uphold integrity while navigating uncertainty and driving meaningful, sustainable change.