

Today, I was invited as one of the speakers in IAH 205: Africa and the World at Michigan State University. It felt like a full-circle moment: being asked to reflect not just academically, but personally, about these very tensions and possibilities.
Lately, I have found myself on a reflection and writing spree, and while it has been so incredibly enjoyable to finally purge in that way, it has also been quite emotionally overwhelming for me. We are transitioning (back). Welcome (back) to the Newsletter.
My journey into the UN was the culmination of years of preparation, learning, and quiet hope. Today, after having served honorably at UN Headquarters (UNHQ) and pivoting to private sector with Microsoft, I want to share everything I know about getting into the UN — especially if you are dreaming of beginning your career there.
When I moved to New York City in 2022 to join the United Nations, it was both a culmination and an upheaval. I was leaving behind a thriving company I had built — a life I loved — and stepping into the unknown in a new country, a new system, with a heavy heart.