Interview with Achmat Cupido

Interview with Achmat Cupido

“I want to be at the forefront of creating a safety-centric work culture and influence teams to approach HSE with deep commitment.”

Achmat Cupido
Advanced Life Support Paramedic, and Safety Practitioner/Advisor
Cupid Solution, and Cape Medics
Saudi Arabia

Postgraduate Certificate in Environment, Health & Safety Management | Batch 2025

Tell us about yourself and what made you choose your program at UniAthena? How do you think it will help you in your future career?

My name is Achmat Cupido. I’m a qualified Advanced Life Support Paramedic, with a Health and Safety background. I began my career in Emergency Services in 1996, and in Safety in 2008. I chose UniAthena because I want to further my HSE studies, and also do some short courses to boost my professional standing, expand my skillset, and improve my decision making in HSE.

What are you most excited to learn or explore next in your studies?

I am excited to explore Safety Management Systems, Safety Criteria, and also learning from other students.

Could you outline your career goals you have in mind for after completing your current academic journey?

I want to be at the forefront of creating a safe working environment, and safety-centric work culture. I want to be an engaging Safety Officer and influence teams to approach HSE with optimism and commitment.

How are you managing your studies along with the work in your personal life?

I intend to use my free hours outside of work to manage my studies.

Share a specific example of a challenging goal you set for yourself and successfully accomplished. What did you learn from this experience?

The first time I completed a Safety Program online comes to mind. Being my first experience with online learning, I had to change my study habits to achieve my goal. I had to work and study at the same time, and that taught me the importance of discipline and time management.

From your experiences so far, what personal qualities do you think are important for achieving success?

Discipline and Time Management will always come first, no matter the field. Make use of all the resources and materials you have on hand to learn, grow, and land new opportunities.

Tell us about a time when you stepped outside your comfort zone to take on a leadership role. What was the outcome?

The nature of my job necessitates that I often step outside my comfort zone and take up leadership responsibilities. It can often be challenging, since I work with professionals and must enforce the rules and regulations in a very polite but firm way. But my previous strategies have allowed me to always get the results I want from my teams.

If you could recommend one book that you believe everyone should read, what would it be and why?

I recommend ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ by Robert Kiyosaki.

What is your dream job and what motivates you about it?

I aim to open my own educational training centre, to educate the young and seasoned professionals on workplace health and safety.

What advice would you offer to professionals who are just starting their careers based on your own experiences?

When in doubt or emotional distress, don’t make any major decisions or say anything that you will regret. Step away from the situation and revisit your options before you act. Never hesitate to reach out for assistance from your peers and mentors. For professionals working in HSE, never rush into safety decisions if the situation is not an emergency.