Executive corner – Ahbra K Schiff
Executive Corner
June 12, 2018
The Executive Corner is a new weekly feature of the Addiction/Recovery eBulletin. We send our participants forty questions and ask them to choose twenty they would like to answer. It includes a short profile and a link to their website. We hope you enjoy it.
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PROFILE
Ahbra Schiff is proud to be a sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous, a mom, and part of Leonard Buschel’s Writer’s In Treatment, and the media produced under its auspices.“My life has changed because of sobriety and one of the best things I do now is to work with young women who are in the county’s juvenile detention centers.” This is not her first time in production as Ahbra is credited with co-producing her three amazing children, Joshua, 26, Jordyn, 23 and Ellie, 16 — a job which also allowed her to get her feet wet in Operations and Outreach. Prior to that, she studied at various citadels of higher education including Hobart/William Smith in Geneva, NY, UCLA, CSUN and both Pierce and Santa Monica City College—but she considers her alma mater to be Tarzana Treatment Center.
Her various titles and duties include:
Production Manager of the REEL Recovery Film Festival,
Director of Operations and Outreach for the Experience, Strength and Hope Awards
Assistant Editor of the Addiction/Recovery eBulletin
Learn more about Ahbra at
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Q. If you are in recovery, what was your DOC and when did you discontinue its use?
A. Methamphetamine and crack, (alcohol, too, we all start somewhere) my sobriety date is 12.21.15
Q. Do you believe leaders are made or born?
A. Both—some qualities are innate, but they still have to be nurtured
Q. Which film have you watched the most?
A. Probably Finding Nemo, or Shrek—I have kids!
Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?
A. Russell Brand
Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, or mountaintop, or penthouse?
A. In the woods, I love trees and flowers
Q. What is your favorite hotel or resort?
A. The Oberoi hotels in India-spectacular beyond belief
Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, Living or dead, who would they be? (you can choose 4 if you think one might be too drunk or stoned to attend.)
A. CS Lewis, Michael Chabon, Ann Patchett
Q. What is your FAVORITE Radio show, news show?
A. This American Life
Q. What is your FAVORITE APP, or Podcast?
A. Favorite App-Spotify
Q. What is your FAVORITE Broadway musical/play?
A. Whichever one my daughter is performing in at the time.
Q. What is your FAVORITE City?
A. When I think about this question, I relate it more to what is my favorite city experience and there are so many different ones. Beach cities, romantic cities, bustling cities, little towns, historic cities. St. Tropez, Barcelona, London, San Francisco, Jodhpur to name a few and Los Angeles-I love my hometown for all its faults.
Q. Do you have any children?
A. I have 3 amazing children-I am so blessed-Josh, 26, a 3rd year medical student, Jordyn, 23, works in tech sales in San Francisco and my youngest, Ellie, 16, just knocks my socks off on a daily basis.
Q. Do you take work home with you?
A. Yes, although I think my boss might disagree with that.
Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
A. Thankfully, I have been given many, but I try to always remember, “this too shall pass”
Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given?
A. The best we can hope to be is human
Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, a disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?
A. An illness
Q. What are five things you always carry with you?
A. Lip balm, sunglasses, phone, a pen and a small journal
Q. What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?
A. Getting sober-I had to leave everything I had known behind to get well.
Q. What is the proudest moment in your life?
A. There isn’t just one.
Q. Is there a favorite “Quote” you would like to share?
A. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.” –Marianne Williamson