I’m drawn to the stories that are easy to miss – the quiet, overlooked ones. My work with UNICEF and the World Health Organization has taught me how even the smallest act of empathy can make a world of difference, and this lesson guides everything I do. It also shapes how I tell stories – listening closely to create space for voices that deserve to be heard. I feel a deep responsibility to honour women’s experiences and to stand up for the rights of children.

Born in Kyrgyzstan, I’ve had the privilege of living in Africa, Asia, and now Switzerland. Having called many places “home” has given me a unique sense of what it means to feel like a stranger, a feeling I carry with me as I listen to those who may feel displaced or unheard. It is through empathy and connection that we build the stories that bind us together. 

Like many who write, I find inspiration in the authors I admire – those who remind me that stories can heal, ignite change, and celebrate the bonds that move us forward.