Building Bridges Between Knowledge and Action
My journey across 50+ countries has taught me one crucial lesson: transformation happens when people can translate complex information into meaningful action.
My Journey
The path that led me to focus on health optimization, education, and intentional living wasn't a straight line – it's been a series of conscious choices to pursue meaning over convention.
A summer internship in Kenya in 2010 completely shifted my trajectory. While working at Diamond Trust Bank, it was a tour of schools in Kibera slum that sparked my lifelong interest in education and human potential. I returned home with an entirely different lens on what matters.
After business school – where I found the greatest value in experiences outside the classroom – I chose the Aga Khan Foundation Fellowship Program over corporate offers, placing myself in Tajikistan for microfinance work at 22. This year challenged me professionally and personally, pushing me to discover capabilities I hadn't known I possessed.
This experience led to an opportunity that would occupy the next three years of my life: helping launch the University of Central Asia across Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan as Manager of Academic Operations. We were building not just physical infrastructure but educational systems designed to serve mountainous communities long disconnected from quality higher education.
After successfully launching the university's first campus and facing burnout, I made another intentional choice: pausing my career for a year of slow travel across twenty countries. This wasn't mere tourism but intentional exploration – completing a demanding 10-day Vipassana silent meditation retreat, summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, and exploring my father's hometown in Tanzania.
Returning to Toronto with renewed purpose, I led educational consulting projects in Egypt and Indonesia before joining The Knowledge Society (TKS), where I developed programs for young innovators. This evolved into founding Apollo, my own venture focused on teaching entrepreneurship and life skills to young people.
Throughout these experiences, I've discovered my unique ability to translate complexity into clarity – whether breaking down AI concepts for middle schoolers or making health biomarkers meaningful for non-medical professionals.
Today, I'm focused on helping people optimize their health, design purposeful lives, and continuously develop their potential through accessible guidance and supportive community.
Professional Experience
Founder & Lead Educator, Apollo
Designed and delivered programs teaching entrepreneurship, communication skills, and personal development to young people, with emphasis on building confidence and practical capability.
Director of Foundations Program, The Knowledge Society (TKS)
Developed curriculum for 11-13 year olds focusing on emerging technologies, global challenges, and essential life skills, making complex concepts accessible and engaging.
International Education Consultant
Led projects for Seneca College in Egypt (improving vocational programs in Aswan) and Indonesia (faculty training programs), bridging international development with practical educational approaches.
Manager of Academic Operations, University of Central Asia
Played key role in launching a new university across three Central Asian countries, managing everything from student recruitment to faculty development and curriculum design.
Microfinance Fellow, Aga Khan Foundation
Worked with First Microfinance Bank in Tajikistan to develop community savings groups and improve financial inclusion for underserved populations.
What I Believe
"Life is too short to live by someone else's standards"
Don't be a sheep
Life is too short to live by someone else's standards. Pursuing an unconventional path allows for unique experiences while still creating impact and livelihood. Taking thoughtful risks yields a more fulfilling life than following preset paths.
Live with intention
Your environment shapes who you become – from the people you surround yourself with to the culture of your workspace. You have full agency over these elements and ultimately the life you create. Be intentional about designing a life that reflects your values.
Ask more questions
Take time to understand the world around you and allow your curiosities to flourish. Surround yourself with inquisitive people who prefer learning over knowing. Seek truths and explore how things work and why they are the way they are.
Slow down to speed up
Take moments to recenter and recalibrate rather than assimilating into the fast-paced nature of your environment. Practice monotasking and mindfulness – they actually work, leading to a calmer, more effective life.
Practice courage
Be honest in even small moments about what you believe and how you feel. Having the courage to do what is right even when difficult is crucial. You can only build meaningful connections by practicing vulnerability and removing artificial barriers.
How I Work
Making the complex accessible
Whether discussing health biomarkers or educational methods, I believe powerful knowledge should be accessible to everyone, not just specialists. I translate complexity into clear, actionable guidance.
Building bridges across contexts
Having worked across dramatically different cultures and domains, I find universal principles that work across diverse contexts while respecting unique circumstances.
Creating community around growth
Transformation happens most powerfully in supportive community. I design experiences where people can develop together rather than in isolation.
Balancing vision with practical action
I combine aspirational possibilities with immediately implementable steps, helping people move toward meaningful goals through consistent, manageable actions.
Learning through experience
I believe in learning by doing, testing ideas in real contexts, and continuously refining approaches based on feedback and results.
Let's Connect
I'm currently focused on helping people optimize their health, design meaningful learning experiences, and live with greater intention. Whether you're interested in a specific aspect of my work or simply want to connect, I'd love to hear from you.
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Practical Wisdom, Delivered
Join thoughtful readers receiving clear, actionable insights for better health, meaningful learning, and purposeful living. No overwhelming information – just practical wisdom you can apply today.