About Thrive & Include

An idea I carried for years before I was ready to share it

I'm Rahul Rawal, the founder of Thrive & Include. I'm an ICF certified life coach, a student of psychology, and a person with disability who has spent more than 18 years in the corporate world. This is how it came about.

Rahul in his wheelchair, smiling and flashing a peace sign, with two monks in red robes doing the same

How it came together

  1. 2009 A quiet idea I began to feel a pull to pass on what life had taught me as a person with disability: the kind of lessons you usually learn the long way round. If someone had shared them with me earlier, my path might have looked quite different.
  2. 2010 to 2024 Getting equipped Years of corporate leadership, working with clients and growing businesses. I was part of the team that set up a diversity and inclusion consulting practice, led an employee resource group for colleagues with disabilities, became an ICF certified life coach and trained in behavioural science.
  3. Early 2025 Thrive & Include begins I started Thrive & Include, to put my lived experience, my corporate background and my training to work for individuals, and for the workplaces and institutions around them.
  4. Today Both sides of the door The THRIVE Blueprint helps students and job aspirants with disabilities get ready. The BELONG framework helps workplaces and institutions get ready for them. One-on-one support sits alongside both.

What I believe

"Inclusion thrives in the small moments."
Change rarely starts with a big programme. It starts with small things, like who gets heard in a meeting, or how a manager responds when someone asks for support.
"Replace us and them with we."
People with disabilities don't need to be called special or inspirational. We need to be seen as equals, with our own needs and strengths, like everyone else.
"Limitations are often the building blocks of our foundation."
The hardest parts of my life taught me the most, and that's what every session and framework I build comes from.
Rahul in his power wheelchair, speaking into a microphone at an event

What I bring

  • ICF certified life coachTrained to international coaching standards of ethics and confidentiality
  • Psychology and behavioural scienceCertified in emotional intelligence, behavioural science, wellbeing counselling and experiential psychology, and currently studying psychology
  • 18+ years in corporate leadershipClient work, business growth, and hands-on experience building diversity and inclusion practice from the inside
  • Disability inclusion in practiceLeads an employee resource group for colleagues with disabilities, and created the THRIVE and BELONG frameworks
  • SpeakerTalks on disability inclusion, emotional intelligence and wellbeing at corporate, academic and community forums
  • Board of Advisors, LECINLet's Educate Children In Need

Beyond work

Writer, traveller, and Zoe's favourite person

I'm the author of Blue Crayons: tales from life and beyond, a collection of short stories drawn from everyday life. Writing is still where I go to make sense of things.

When I'm not working, you'll usually find me heading for the hills, or outside with Zoe, my golden retriever, who is convinced every walk is the best one yet.

Rahul reading a copy of his book, Blue Crayons Rahul in his power wheelchair on a hillside terrace, in a denim shirt and sunglasses, with pine trees and mountains behind him Rahul smiling in his power wheelchair on a sunny lawn, one hand resting on Zoe, his golden retriever, sitting beside him

For event organisers and media

Short bio

Rahul Rawal is the founder of Thrive & Include, a disability inclusion and personal growth consultancy that helps people and places grow together. An ICF certified life coach and student of psychology, he brings more than 18 years of corporate experience and his own lived experience as a person with disability. He created the THRIVE framework for students and job aspirants with disabilities and the BELONG framework for workplaces and institutions. Rahul speaks on disability inclusion, emotional intelligence and wellbeing, is the author of Blue Crayons, and serves on the Board of Advisors of LECIN (Let's Educate Children In Need).

Need a high-resolution photo or a longer bio? Write to info@thriveandinclude.com

Let's talk

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