Young Global Leaders

I had fun sitting down with Leni Holzapfel for this conversation, the final one in Season 1 of Young Global Leaders. Follow Leni on Instagram @Lenitocca and on LinkedIn . One resource Leni mentions during our call: Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman. Some highlights from our conversation: Identity, Optimism, and Reframing Indecisiveness Leni shares what drives her character: a natural...

I sat down with Mehroz Mir for an inspiring and broad-ranging conversation. A few highlights: The Path to Leeds: Mehroz details his winding journey across university options — from Cornell visa delays to short stints in Dublin and New Delhi — before finding his footing in the UK, where he enjoys the independence of university life. "A Mosaic of Loved Ones": Mehroz explains his relational...

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Antony Saleh. Follow Antony on Instagram @saleh.antony. Some highlights from our conversation: Background & Baret Scholars Gap Year: Antony reflects on growing up in a diverse, non-international school in Jerusalem and taking a gap year with Baret Scholars prior to starting college. He discusses overcoming initial pushback from his college counselor, and...

Cultivating Presence, Purpose, and Hope with Olivia Centeno In this episode, I sit down with Olivia Centeno, a first-year student at Duke university who is double-majoring in Public Policy and Environmental Sciences & Policy. Olivia shares about her journey from leaving Spain at age 16 for United World College (UWC) Mostar, to taking a global gap year with Baret Scholars, to navigating her fir...

This episode, we're joined by Nico Zamora. Follow Nico on Instagram @_nicozamorag, at on LinkedIn here . Here are some highlights from our delightful conversation: Curiosity Over Fear: Nico defines himself by his curiosity, which consistently pushes him to explore the unknown despite natural feelings of fear or isolation. Language and Emotion: He highlights how Spanish captures love with more...

In this episode, I sit down with Belén Pérez Wicht, a first-year UC Berkeley student double-majoring in environmental engineering and business. Belen shares her journey from Peru to California, reflecting on how her recent experience with the Baret Scholars program fundamentally reshaped her perspectives on life, success, and ambition. We dive into the competitive culture of elite universities, th...

Christiaan Burger reflects on his global journey that didn’t go according to plan — and turned out better for it.   From South Africa to Japan to a small liberal arts college in the U.S., Christiaan traces how each new context reshaped who he was, often in surprising ways. What stays constant is his instinct to lean into the unexpected.  The Baret Scholars year emerges as a turning point: a crash...

What a joy speaking with Kazim! Here are a few of the themes from our conversation: Identity & Belonging: Navigating a "binary" Northern Irish upbringing as a mixed-race Muslim, and finding a sense of home within international cohorts. The Power of Unlearning: Shedding first impressions and biases while learning to balance high-octane social energy with necessary solitude. Reentry Re...

In this episode, Juliana Bakhtsizina and I cover a number of fun and interesting topics, including the "unlearning" required to become a global citizen. Juliana shares her transition from a rigid, plan-oriented academic mindset to one that embraces the unpredictability of experiential learning. From navigating the "logistical nightmare" of a lost passport in New York City, to c...

Zeynep Özcan reflects on resilience, cross-cultural friendship, and what it means to grow while navigating the world at 18. A few lines from our conversation: “It’s inevitable that there will be miscommunications—but the person in front of you is someone you care about.” “If everyone thinks their individual action won’t matter, nothing will ever change.” “Looking at the problems of the world and w...

Come hear Maisie's reflections on her two (!) gap years, leading with integrity and persistence, and bridging across yawning gaps in belief systems. Keep up with Maisie on Substack and LinkedIn . If you enjoyed the episode, please hit FOLLOW and give us a 5-star rating. You'll never miss an episode, and others will find us more easily. Also, please tell your friends about it. If you have...

Malena shares about the joys and challenges of relating across differences, what it means to lead in different cultures, and her passion project: Étoile magazine.  Treat yourself to another inspiring conversation with a young global leader. You can follow Malena on Instagram @anelam2073 If you enjoyed the episode, please hit FOLLOW and give us a 5-star rating. You'll never miss an episode, an...

Mia shares about becoming more independent, some thrilling if dicey travel adventures, and her inspiring capstone project around death rituals. I hope you enjoy this fun and high-energy conversation. Follow Mia on Instagram @cheng.yifou, and check out her capstone project, C'est la Mort . If you enjoyed the episode, please hit FOLLOW and give us a 5-star rating. You'll never miss an epis...

Jonas shares with us about his passion for STEM, his endless curiosity, and his commitment to making learning opportunities available for those (even) younger than him. We can all draw lessons from his persistence, how he learns quickly from his setbacks, and his eagerness to hear and understand perspectives different from his own. Follow Jonas on LinkedIn , or send him an email . If you enjoyed t...

What does it mean to "step on the ego," and what does this have to do with relating across cultures? Come hear from Iris about this, and enjoy her other mind-expanding reflections. Plus, learn about the impactful NGO she founded and led while traveling the world for over eight months. Keep up with Iris on LinkedIn and Instagram , and with her NGO on LinkedIn , Instagram , and the organiz...

Aïcha shares with us about her transition to college far from home, an impactful learning experience she created, and her drive to make a better world. Follow Aïcha on Instagram @aicha_nne, and on Substack . If you enjoyed the episode, please hit FOLLOW and give us a 5-star rating. You'll never miss an episode, and others will find us more easily. Also, please tell your friends about it. If y...

Listen to Bohdan share about the hard but rewarding work of building cross-cultural bridges, and the challenges of living far from family in Ukraine as he pursues his college education in the UK. If you enjoyed the episode, please hit FOLLOW and give us a 5-star rating. You'll never miss an episode, and others will find us more easily. Also, please tell your friends about it. If you have any...

Come hear about Rafa's exciting business to end doom-scrolling and reward curiosity, as well as his thoughts and reflections on gratitude, not taking things for granted, and other topics. Follow Rafa on Insta @rafaelhomemdemelo, and follow his app @thinkagain_app If you enjoyed the episode, please hit FOLLOW and give us a 5-star rating. You'll never miss an episode, and others will find...

If you enjoyed the episode, please hit FOLLOW and give us a 5-star rating. You'll never miss an episode, and others will find us more easily. Also, please tell your friends about it. If you have any specific feedback to help improve the pod, please leave it here . To learn more about me, have a look at my website and / or follow me on LinkedIn .

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Kynaat! Follow her on Instagram: @kyntatas (public) and @kynaatbeg (personal). If you enjoyed the episode, please hit FOLLOW and give us a 5-star rating. You'll never miss an episode, and others will find us more easily. Also, please tell your friends about it. If you have any specific feedback to help improve the pod, please leave it here . To learn more...

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Ellie Odero, who joins us from Nairobi, Kenya. If you enjoyed the episode, please hit FOLLOW and give us a 5-star rating. You'll never miss an episode, and others will find us more easily. Also, please tell your friends about it. If you have any specific feedback to help improve the pod, please leave it here . To learn more about me, have a look at my web...

Follow Mina on Instagram @and.i.believe, or on LinkedIn here . If you enjoyed the episode, please hit FOLLOW and give us a 5-star rating. You'll never miss an episode, and others will find us more easily. Also, please tell your friends about it. If you have any specific feedback to help improve the pod, please leave it here . To learn more about me, have a look at my website and / or follow m...

Welcome to our first episode! My guest is Denis Mwangangi, who you'll learn about in the episode. For more from Denis, please visit his website . He also maintains a Substack .  If you enjoyed the episode, please hit FOLLOW and give us a 5-star rating. You'll never miss an episode, and others will find us more easily. Also, please tell your friends about it. If you have any specific feed...