I was born and raised on the outskirts of Zurich, to a Swiss father from Basel and an English mother, born and raised in Kenya. I was diagnosed with dyslexia in the first grade, and tasks that seemed straight-forward to most children, like reading and writing, took me twice as long. Now a few words about dyslexia: The greatest minds in history, like Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawkings, and Pablo Picasso were also all dyslexic. Richard Branson and the late Steve Jobs are mega-successful dyslexic entrepreneurs who, despite this, turned their passions into billion-dollar companies. 

But far before I knew about any of these guys, I refused to be bullied for my differences (and believe me many tried...). I quickly learned to become resourceful. I built my internal systems to thrive in a world built for neurotypical children, pursuing my passions (baking, dancing, and organizing parties) with great vigor.

Believe me when I say, dyslexia ended up being my greatest asset. It made me a creative problem-solver and, later on, an empathetic leader who always wanted to elevate others. For example, by the time I was 13 I was the strongest math student in the class and mentoring my classmates. As you can imagine, this really ticked off the boys. They were used to being at the top of the class and being able to show off and impress the girls. But the girls preferred being taught by me as I was not only the stronger math student but also, more patient and better at explaining the concepts.