Welcome!
I’m so glad you’re here.
In a world where uncertainty, injustice, and suffering often feel overwhelming, it’s easy to lose sight of the path toward hope and healing. But I believe that by deepening our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, we can help shape a better future—one rooted in connection, compassion, and resilience. That’s why I’m here, and I imagine why you are too.
I write this newsletter not just to share my reflections, insights, and stories, but to offer tools and perspectives that might help you navigate the complex challenges of our time—whether it’s dealing with personal hardships, global conflicts, or the mysteries of our inner worlds. Together, we’ll explore how to embrace uncertainty, cultivate mindfulness, and contribute meaningfully to a world in desperate need of healing.
Here’s my commitment: I’ll share what I’ve learned from decades in conflict resolution, human rights advocacy, and my own journey through illness. I’ll give you thoughtful analysis, personal stories, and lessons from the front lines of change. I’ll provide insights on resilience, mindfulness, and spiritual growth—plus stories of those making a difference in their communities, no matter the odds.
In return, I ask that you engage with these ideas and bring them into your own life, your own work. Use what resonates to inspire others, to deepen your impact, and to find strength in the journey ahead. And if you can, consider supporting this space with a paid or gift subscription, so we can keep building this community together.
When you feel discouraged or uncertain, remember: the fight for peace, justice, and human dignity is ongoing. The stakes are high, but we are not alone. Together, we can make a difference.
Support my writing by becoming a free or paid subscriber to get full access to the newsletter and website and to receive every new edition of the newsletter directly into your inbox. Half of all proceeds go to the International Legal Foundation, an organization that provides critical legal aid to vulnerable populations worldwide. Their work ensures that marginalized communities in crisis have access to justice, empowering them through legal defense and advocacy.
Why subscribe?
Free subscribers have access to:
Personal reflections and insights from global travels and life experiences
Tools and prompts for cultivating mindfulness, resilience, and meaning
Stories of peace-building, conflict resolution, and spiritual growth
If you become a paid subscriber, you’ll also be able to:
Access live sessions
Access video updates on my cancer journey and its trajectory
And you will have my abiding appreciation for supporting and sustaining this work, as well as the International Legal Foundation, to which I donate 50% of my earnings. The ILF provides essential legal aid to vulnerable communities, ensuring access to justice and empowering them through legal defense.
(As always, those unable to pay but keen to engage should please reach out!)
Who I am
Career
For 25 years I worked to foster positive change through global roles with the United Nations, the U.S. government, and NGOs like the International Crisis Group, investigating and advocating for human rights and conflict resolution in some of the world’s most challenging regions. In 2020, I shifted my focus to the inner workings of transformation, in my roles as coach, consultant, speaker and writer. Through this work, I help purpose-driven individuals and organizations navigate uncertainty, strengthen resilience, amplify their impact, and and discover deeper meaning in their lives. Along the way, I’ve authored reflective pieces on healing and mindfulness, led workshops on resilience, organizational transformation, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety practices, and started this Substack to share some of my insights from global adventures and my journey with terminal illness.
Publications
Some of my earlier work on human rights, conflict prevention, and resolution has appeared in Foreign Affairs, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Le Monde, Die Zeit, and the International Herald Tribune, as well several volumes on Asian security. I’m also the author of a monograph on post-genocide Rwanda.
Education
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude in Political Science and French from Indiana University, a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International Studies at the University of Geneva (IUED), a Certificate from l'Institut d'Études Politiques de Strasbourg (Sciences Po), and a Certificate in Advanced Chinese from the Tsinghua University-Stanford University Inter-University Program. I also have Executive Coaching certifications from Columbia University and the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC), a Certification in Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching™ (ORSCC), and am accredited as a Professionally Certified Coach (PCC) by the International Coaching Federation. Additionally, I am a certified teacher by the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SIY Global) and the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program affiliated with the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley (MMTCP). I’m certified Level 1 in Internal Family Systems (IFS or Parts Work), and also a Reiki Master, certified Yoga teacher.
Driven by genuine curiosity and a love of learning, I’m always exploring new fields—mostly to keep my mind sharp and, let’s be honest, to stay one step ahead of my imposter syndrome, which is still convinced that with just one more certificate, I’ll finally have everyone fooled!
