I’ve got a special episode of the podcast this week.

I’m joined by two of my dearest friends, Fiona Byarugaba and Siham Omer, for my first three way conversation.

I met both of these incredible women here in Australia.

Fiona, I met in my first week at ThoughtWorks after having just moved to Brisbane, Australia in 2016. She had moved with her family from Kampala, Uganda just 3 months before me. We immediately bonded over our shared connection to Uganda (I travelled there in 2002), and the fact that both of us were adjusting to a new life in a new country.

Siham, I met at my local CrossFit gym in Hawthorn East, after I’d moved to Melbourne. We also connected over our shared experience as Americans living abroad in the land down under.

I’ve shared deep, beautiful conversations with each of these women about the meaning of home, pursuing your dreams, imposter syndrome, and their experiences as women of color.

Since I’ve personally learned so much from these two, I invited them to join me for a conversation on the podcast, so that you can hear and learn from their diverse experiences too.

In this episode, Fiona and Siham share about:

the meaning of home and cultural identity, and how they stay connected to their roots while expanding their worldview
how they felt about the year that was 2020
their honest thoughts on what they wish people would understand about their experiences as women of color
the ways they experience their African culture

I also want to share an article that Fiona recently wrote for the ThoughtWorks blog about tokenism in the workplace. I’m so proud of her, and I think her words are so important to hear. Take a moment and give it a read here.

I’m honored to feature the stories and voices of these two brave, strong women on the podcast. I know you’ll love them as much as I do.

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ABOUT FIONA
Fiona is a marketing professional who partners with stakeholders to provide specialist marketing advice. She’s a diversity, equity and inclusion advocate working towards creating a culture that seeks and celebrates difference. Her goal is to help make the world a more fair, equitable, and innovative place. Fiona is dedicated to working with people who aren’t afraid to re-design systems, processes, and interpersonal practices to interrupt bulls**t behavior and outcomes. She loves helping people grow into the best, kindest & thoughtful versions of themselves. Among other things, she does this by writing about her life experiences on her blog, unscripted.

CONNECT WITH FIONA
Unscripted
Linkedin

ABOUT SIHAM
Siham is a fashion designer in the beginning stages of creating her fashion brand, Wildly Black. Through this brand, she wants to challenge conformity through sustainability, inclusivity, and style. In 2019 she left behind her life in the US for an exciting year-long adventure in Melbourne, Australia, where she began pursuing her dream to create Wildly Black. Siham currently lives in Rochester, New York with her husband.

CONNECT WITH SIHAM
Instagram

HEARD ON THIS EPISODE
Peace is Every Step
Luvvie Ayaji

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