I will share my story of

– how I learned to embrace cultural identity and diversity. Everything I perceived as weaknesses in my childhood, I turned into strengths and learned to value my authenticity.

– how owning my potential helped me overcome cultural barriers and social norms. Suba Umathevan has a Master’s degree in International Relations specialising in International Law from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Modern Languages from the University of Ottawa in Canada. She started her international career as a research fellow at the UNESCO International Bureau of Education. In her ten-plus-year career in nonprofit management, she focused on the rights of women and children. She also managed development programmes in many countries in Africa, Asia and South America and developed strategies helping managers to identify global megatrends and prepare for change. Before joining DROSOS FOUNDATION, she led Plan International Switzerland, an organisation advancing children’s rights and equal opportunities for girls. Suba Umathevan is a member of the Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx