Behind The CEO

Meet Nuna, an artist from Portugal. As an intersectional activist, Nuna unpacks what it means to be a Black woman in her society.She is also a multidisciplinary artist and she defines herself as a revisionist: she challenges traditional narrations on colonialism and she reflects on how history shapes privilege and equality in our societies.In conversation with Nuna, we discussed her journey as a neurodiverse person, the endless ambition that defines her and how she takes courage to tackle injustice and racism through social media.

For the #22 episode of We Belong, we met Nuna, from Portugal! As an intersectional activist, Nuna unpacks what it means to be a Black woman in her society.

She is also a multidisciplinary artist and she defines herself as a revisionist: she challenges traditional narrations on colonialism and she reflects on how history shapes privilege and equality in our societies.

In conversation with Nuna, we discussed her journey as a neurodiverse person, the endless ambition that defines her and how she takes courage to tackle injustice and racism through social media.

Meet the resilient and inspiring Kamilla Sultanova from Finland. Born in Uzbekistan, raised in Denmark and now living in Finland, Kamilla is an entrepreneur and powerful keynote speaker, running her own culturally responsive consulting company ConnectUz.Passionate about promoting tolerance in Europe, she hosts online and offline workshops on different topics from diversity and inclusion, to cultural onboarding and event facilitation.In conversation with Kamilla, we discussed her journey to Europe, the region of her roots and the current growing instability with the Taliban threat in Afghanistan. Finally, we reflected on how to navigate multiple identities and the importance of finding a mentor to help us grow.

Meet Dr. Margaret Amaka Ohia-Nowak from Poland, a linguist, a human rights activist and a cross-cultural training facilitator.As a critical discourse analyst, her research focuses on the manifestation of racism against black people in language and discourse.Committed to contribute to a more inclusive society, she is president of “Word Idea”, a training company for promoting diversity, cross-cultural communication, combating racial discrimination, and the violation of human rights of people of African descent in Poland.In conversation with Margaret, we discussed the representation of Black Polish people, the importance of understanding gaslighting and recognizing minorities’ lived experiences in countries where they are constantly alienated.

Meet the singer, activist and artist Thérèse Sayarath from France.Through her songs, Thérèse wants to contribute to the construction of another image of the French "universality", one that includes all the people.Born in a Parisian suburb from Asian parents, she refuses to be put into a box: she sees herself as a rainbow. The encounter between the sun and the rain. Visible but uncatchable.In conversation with Thérèse, we remembered her early days, growing up in a multicultural neighborhood, but also the identity crisis she faced when she studied in a business school and finally how she found an harmony and a way to express herself through music.

Meet the Safaa Nait-Charif from the UK, a disability activist, content creator and aspiring producer, with a huge passion for storytelling.Safaa has a keen interest in bringing to life multifaceted stories that challenge the mainstream narratives and stereotypes surrounding disability and Islam.During the first lockdown, Safaa explored new formats to share her daily life and break some stereotypes related to her multiple identities and her TikToks went viral.In conversation with Safaa, we discussed the importance of accessibility, how to sparkle educational conversations while using irony and how to better include people with disabilities and narrate their stories with authenticity.

Meet the activist Sara Mardini, a Syrian refugee, but most importantly an humanitarian activist, a swimmer and a human rights defender.In 2015 she was hailed as a hero along with her sister Yusra after saving 18 people from drowning on the hazardous journey from Turkey to the Greek islands. Back to Greece as a volunteer, she has been accused of people smuggling and she risks facing up to 25 years in prisons for having helped people.Far from giving up, Sara was listed in the TIME 100 Next List for her humanitarian work and she shared with us some details of their journey, from Syria to Berlin.Her story reflects the silent struggles that thousands of refugees face and helps us reflect on the future of Europe and its values.

Meet Corinne Semedo from Luxembourg, a professional dancer, a social worker in psychiatry and the CEO of Heal Confidance.In 2013, she became the first Black woman to ever participate and win a title at Miss Luxembourg. Corinne unveils the discrimination she faced behind the scenes and how this award came with lots of struggles and pressure that impacted her mental health.In conversation with Corinne, we discussed how she started her career as a dancer, but also her passion for social work and how she combines both through her classes at Heal Confidance.

Meet Samya Hafsaoui from the Netherlands, a journalist, presenter and writer.As a journalist, she writes for Vogue and Glamor, among others, and she presented ‘De Taxi Terug‘, a web column in which she accompanied a table guest to their next destination and interviewed them. She also made the series Female Virals on YouTube.She is also the author of “36 questions (and lots of coffee)”, a book with which she hopes to break the taboos surrounding falling in love and relationships among Muslim women. She is currently writing the film readaptation of this romance.In conversation with Samya, we discussed the cultural biases existing in the entertainment industry and how she is disrupting them. Born from a Moroccan father and a Dutch mother, Samya reflects on what shaped her and deconstructs stereotypes around Dutch people and immigrant descents.