The Power Of Stories Podcast

Hassanah Al-Saba, Jamaica

Hassanah Al-Saba is a commercial pilot from Jamaica who loves the beach and ice cream. She completed her training at the Aeronautical School of the West Indies and distinguishes herself as Jamaica’s first Muslim female pilot. She is now 25 years old.  In this episode, Hassanah discusses the importance of perseverance and commitment in paving her life’s path… her interest in becoming a pilot when she was a young girl… loving the feeling of flying… her parents support at a young age, tempered by pragmatism about choosing studies that would yield job security… in her late teens, understanding that flight training was costly and that, at the time, there was no approved flight training available in Jamaica… beginning to study computer science in university and applying to become an air traffic controller… the establishment of the Aeronautical Club of the West Indies and her involvement with the club… continuing to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot with the help of scholarships and part-time jobs while studying… achieving her goal… her commitment to observing other people and learning from their mistakes… the fact that she has not experienced discrimination in her field because of her gender and has, in fact, been supported and encouraged by male colleagues… the experience and responsibilities of actually piloting a plane… how amazing women are in our resilience and our strength… the importance of looking within and knowing that your empowerment comes from yourself… and her closing reminder to us all–“Your career also doesn't define you…I am so much more than a pilot… I found that a lot of people have tied their self-worth to their career. I've seen that and I've again decided I don't want that for myself. I hope other people can also know that that one thing doesn't have to define you. You are worthy as you are.”

Sara Hirsh Bordo, USA

Sara Hirsh Bordo is an award-winning documentary filmmaker of women and girls’ stories. She is the Founder of a female empowerment production company called Women Rising® [https://www.womenrising.com/] and a first-time author.  Sara’s book, Autoimmunity and the Good Girls, How Permission to Put Ourselves First Has the Power to Keep Us Well, [https://autoimmunityandthegoodgirls.com/] is a personal transformation story that reminds women that their healing begins when they give themselves permission to speak up and take charge of their health.  In this episode, Sara discusses her book… the DNA of a Good Girl… her experiences growing up as the eldest and only daughter in a large, Texan Lebanese family… how the birth of twin brothers, when she was three-and-a-half years old, was “also the birthplace of ‘Be a good girl and help mommy,’ and ‘Be a good girl and help daddy,’ and ‘Be a good girl and do this for yourself’… becoming the Good Girl character that her family needed, an archetype that she has since explored extensively in her research for Autoimmunity and the Good Girls [https://autoimmunityandthegoodgirls.com/]… years of long work days, of championing female empowerment on screen and on stages, while caring for others and also  encountering a series of her own serious health challenges and diagnoses… the exploration of choices that would help her restore her health… ancestral healing and the stories her family has told across generations… being married at 24 and the realizations that the end of that marriage sparked… being judged by family values that she had not chosen… a pyramid that she created and called The Identity Immunity Story, a tool that helps Good Girls understand the stories and rules they have allowed to govern their lives… rebellion against family rules and expectations that empower us to rewire Good Girl DNA and reprogram our immune system… the observation that we either live according to the rules that were given to us or we choose to write our own rules… and her closing reminder to us all–“The accepting of the invitation to be truer to you is done one step at a time.”

Jovia Kusiima, Uganda

Jovia Kusiima is a project manager by profession, menstrual justice educator, social impact leader and entrepreneur. Jovia serves as Vice Chairperson of the European Union Delegation to Uganda Youth Sounding Board. She is very passionate about advancing the dignity and accessibility of menstrual justice.  In this episode, Jovia discusses aspects of menstrual justice, including freedom from shame and discrimination, access to pads and safe, clean places to change and discard them, and access to clean water… period poverty and its impact on school attendance… questioning the distribution of free condoms but not free sanitary pads… an auntie who experienced gender-based violence because she asked for pads... fighting to eliminate taxes on pads… the need for menstrual leave in workplaces… building her confidence to speak about dignity, access, and equity… as a project manager, having the  opportunity to work with health workers in the Ministry of Health in Uganda… the importance of monitoring and program evaluation… the opportunity to go to the East African Parliament of Tanzania… being inspired by Lillian Bagala… her transition into a youth leader who speaks about menstruation and menstrual justice in the Parliament at the national level… and her call to action for us all, “We need to keep on sharing our lived realities and stories. Why? Because when people really share their lived experiences, they shift how others understand issues. Storytelling turns private struggles into public awareness. We, as advocates or young people or women, really need to have turned our voices into action. Speaking is powerful, but pairing it with action makes it stronger.”

Yamina Bibi, FCCT - England

Yamina Bibi is an award-winning former Acting Deputy Headteacher and English Teacher from London.  She is currently Education Project Specialist at Chiltern Learning Trust and The Chartered College of Teaching, and a freelance consultant and coach. Alongside this work, Yamina is co-founder of South Asian Educators’ Network, a Diverse Educator Associate and a #WomenEd Network Leader. Yamina is the author of The Little Guide for Teachers: Thriving in Your First Years of Teaching [https://amzn.eu/d/0jg5i1MF].  In this episode, Yamina discusses her book, The Little Guide for Teachers: Thriving in Your First Years of Teaching [https://amzn.eu/d/0jg5i1MF], and how she was inspired to write it… overcoming her inner critic… the importance of trying to be a positive voice, a positive role model to young people, and the lasting effect that our conversations with them might have… gratitude for fellow teachers, mentors, and coaches who supported and encouraged her early in her career… the reminder that we do not need to prove ourselves to anyone… #WomenEd, a global, grassroots organization, founded in England, that supports women in education, at whatever stage they are in their career or in their leadership journey, encouraging them to be 10% Braver!… her role as a #WomenEd Network Leader in London… how much she loves coaching others… the significance of her decision to leave full-time senior leadership in school to work as a consultant… urging us to invest in ourselves and in our mental health… figuring out what work-life harmony is for her… and the advice to “Surround yourself with people who will say your name in a room full of opportunities, but who will also challenge you, who will also guide you, who will also advocate for you.”

Erin Elise Eriksson, Norway and USA

Erin Elise Eriksson is a globally minded leader, lifelong learner, and Chief Operating Officer of Hedgehog Dryer [https://hedgehogdryer.com/]. She works at the intersection of business, philanthropy, and innovation while raising five young kids and navigating life across continents. A self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist and people pleaser, she brings honesty and humor to the messy reality of trying to do it all. Her story is about leadership, resilience, and redefining what balance and impact look like for modern women. In this episode, Erin discusses the background and launch of a family business, Hedgehog Dryer [https://hedgehogdryer.com/] with her husband, Bjørn Holte… the product line, a series of award-winning, high-power dryers that dry boots, shoes, gloves, outdoor gear, and sports gear…. the company’s launch in Scandinavia and expansion into the U.S., Canada, and Europe… the people on their team… as a mom of five children, balancing personal and professional responsibilities and priorities… saying “no” to perfectionism… her evolving definition of balance in different stages of life… the importance of alone time and of listening to your intuition… how having a friend as an accountability partner has helped her honor her boundaries… the responsibility leaders have to be aware of existing power structures and privileges, and to ensure that people have the space to voice their opinions… and that, “There are extraordinary women and girls out there, and the support that we can give one another is invaluable. We are not alone, even though sometimes we feel like life is overwhelming, but the support that we can give each other as friends, as acquaintances in the community, as mentors, as colleagues, is all really, really important and can help people not feel so alone.”