I am Angel Fayyaz from Lahore, Pakistan. I am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology and Mass Communication at Forman Christian College (A Chartered University). My interests include leadership development, cross-cultural understanding, and community engagement, with a focus on building meaningful connections across diverse communities.

Over time, I have evolved from being a shy and reserved individual into someone who actively seeks opportunities for personal growth, learning, and engagement with others. This transformation has strengthened my commitment to self-awareness, empathy, emotional literacy, and openness to different perspectives. My key strengths include communication skills, critical thinking, reasoning, and a strong inclination toward people-centered work.

I developed empathetic listening skills through the People Care Workshop by IRIS Care Nest, where I learned the importance of listening without judgment and understanding others with genuine attention and respect. This experience helped me build deeper emotional awareness and improved my interpersonal communication skills.

I am also part of the Hubb-Al-Bashar Movement’s, where I have engaged in activities focused on peace & harmony, cross-cultural bridge building, and constructive dialogue. This involvement has strengthened my understanding of humanity, and community responsibility.

Additionally, I participated in the Soliya Connect Program, where I interacted with peers around the world from different cultural backgrounds. This experience broadened my perspective, helping me appreciate inclusivity, global understanding, and respectful dialogue across differences. Currently, I am an active member of the Young Peace and Development Corps (YPDC) at my university, serving on the outreach team. This role has strengthened my confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills.

Aho! My name is Eleanor Venditti, and I am a third-year student at Earlham College, majoring in Equitable Pedagogical Design and Practice and minoring in Psychology. I was born and raised in Austin, Texas, USA. As a student, I am researching self-advocacy, Universal Design for Learning, and resilience factors in hopes of making a more inclusive pedagogy for the US public education system.

I currently convene the Earlham Disability Advocates, a group of disabled students and allies working to address access barriers at the college, whether they are physical, attitudinal, or policy based.

I serve as the First-Year Honors Resident Assistant on my campus, working to provide a safe and inclusive living environment for my residents while supporting their academic and personal development, and I work as a swim instructor, providing affordable water safety education to community members from 6 months of age and up, with an emphasis on adaptive education for disabled learners.

My leadership journey started when I was 9, earning my Girl Scout Bronze Award for my work with the local Child Protective Services office. From there, I worked with refugee parents, provided youth relationship violence prevention programming, interned in a disability rights legal office, helped run lake clean ups as a scuba diver, and taught high school English, middle school theater, and elementary school math and SEL.

I have always placed a great importance on equity, inclusion, and responsibility, and I am excited to get to hone those skills with my fellow participants in this program.

Hello! I am George Thedorakakos, and I am from Sparta, Greece. I am currently in my 3d year of studying at The American College of Greece, where I major in Graphic Design. I am deeply passionate about my field of study, a passion that I try to actively demonstrate through my involvement in various academic and extracurricular projects. As the student president of the Graphic Design Program in my college, I take the initiative in fostering a creative and collaborative environment by encouraging students to engage, experiment, and push themselves. 

Before I pursued the creative field of Graphic Design, I studied Mechanical Engineering at the National Technical University of Greece (NTUA) for a few years, an experience that gave me the opportunity to develop my problem-solving skills, discipline, and structure in the way I think.

Beyond that, I work as a student assistant through a work-study program in Graphic Design, where I support both faculty and students with graphic-related tasks, to helping other students with how to proceed with their studies. I am also actively involved in producing promotional materials for various exhibitions and events and assisting my College with designing branding-related projects and digital platforms.

In simple terms, I have come across some amazing mentors in my life whose contributions, motivations, and trust in me have shaped my journey. Through this Leadership in Action program, I aim to develop the skills and mindset needed to become that same source of guidance and inspiration for others.

My name is Zora Gray, and next year I will be starting the last year of my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at John Cabot University in Rome, Italy. I’m driven to pursue a degree in psychology because of my passion for helping others, and I aspire to become a clinical psychologist after I eventually obtain my PhD in Clinical Psychology. Although I am originally from the United States, I hope to remain in Europe throughout graduate school and my career. 

Growing up in Utah exposed me to the deep injustices the LGBTQ+ community faces. Since moving to Italy and taking up a perspective of an international student I have become aware that the same issues exist, even if they appear differently. Currently I hold positions on the Queer Alliance board, Philosophy Club board, and the Psychology Society board. Through these leadership roles, I aspire to aid in creating safe spaces where students can form connections and access critical resources. 

I also have a passion for working with children, which I have been doing for the past seven years. This occupation has taught me about the importance of patience and understanding of other perspectives.

Hola! My name is Ivanna. I am proudly Colombian, currently living and studying in Ecuador, my second home. I study International Relations with a Communications minor at Universidad San Francisco de Quito. I’m really into diplomatic comms, creative diplomacy, and social media for impact. 

I’m especially passionate about gender studies and women’s empowerment, which is why my project for this seminar focuses on menstrual health and awareness on my campus. Along the way, I’ve had the opportunity to receive a leadership scholarship, be part of the student council, and work on different student‑led initiatives. All of these experiences shaped how I see leadership as a practice of growth and service. I couldn't be more excited to learn, share and meet all of you this summer in Morocco

Hello! I’m Mahathi Sathish, a student, literary enthusiast, and passionate communicator from India. To me, storytelling is the most important thing in the world, and a skill I have spent all my life chasing. I’m currently a Digital Marketing and Communications major at FLAME University, with a minor in Design to better understand this niche between passion and purpose, where my creativity thrives. This year, I’m the Chairperson of FirstCut Take 13, India’s largest student-run international film festival, headquartered at FLAME University, now in it’s thirteenth edition. To me, therefore, being a leader is being empathetic to the stories around us, those who tell them, and those who listen; that’s why FirstCut is something I hold dear. I’m also equally passionate about social media strategy and content creation, and so I am a summer intern at Go BeatRoute, an entertainment-first digital marketing agency based in Chennai. I’ve previously also held roles as the Head of Public Relations at The Ellipsis, FLAME University’s official writing and oratory club, Co-Head of Events for FirstCut Take 12, Coordinator of Planning and Media for our flagship intercollegiate fest Kurukshetra 2026, and more. To further help students coming into the rich, vibrant life at FLAME, I’ve also been a Peer Mentor, mentoring 11 Year 1 students all year-round. 

I plan on pursuing a master’s in Design Management and Strategy going forward, building on my niche of experiences and embracing a new age of storytelling, one that remains relevant and resilient in the age of AI.

Hello! My name is Martin, and I'm from the small and lovely country of Slovakia. I'm currently studying at the Bratislava International School of Liberal Arts, majoring in political science.

Coming into the Leadership in Action program, I'm hoping to gain more insight into what leadership means for other active people, and to figure out the strengths I can build on and the weaknesses I need to work on to become a better leader. Alongside my studies, I work with one of Slovakia's largest NGOs, focused on mental health support for young people. For me, the focus on young people is key to a successful tomorrow - creating an environment where they can thrive to their full potential is what I consider crucial.

Through the program, I hope to meet like-minded people who want to be drivers of change for a better tomorrow, and to make the most of the unique network this opportunity offers.

 Salam! My name is Mia Haines and I’m from Omaha, Nebraska. I’m a student-athlete at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, where I double major in Political Science and Philosophy with a minor in Arabic.

I’m really interested in national security and counterterrosim, but I’m also drawn to human rights and international law. I’m still exploring whether I want to go straight into a government role or puruse law school first, but I know I want to work in a space that addresses complex global issues. What interests me most is how culture, policy, and ethics overlap in real life, especially when it comes to issues like security, justice, and protecting people’s rights internationally.

A lot of my leadership experience has come from being involved in different communities. In high school, I was a youth ambassador in Germany, where I got to represent my program and engage in cross-cultural exchange. At Saint Mary’s, I serve as a representative for my lacrosse team to the athletic department, which means advocating for my teammates and helping communicate between players and administration. I’m also involved in leadership roles lacrosse campus, and those experiences have really taught me that leadership is more about showing up, actually listening to people, and being someone others know they can rely on.

I previously studied abroad in Ifrane, Morocco, and I’m really grateful to be back for this seminar. That experience really pushed me out of my comfort zone, helped me improve my Arabic, and gave me a much deeper appreciation for working across cultures and seeing the world from different perspectives.

My name is Oyinkansola Emma Olatunde, and I am a third-year Nigerian student at The American University of Paris majoring in Computer Science with minors in Data Science and French. Alongside my academic interests in technology, I am also deeply passionate about art and the ways creativity can intersect with technology.

Since arriving in Paris and becoming part of the AUP community, I have looked for opportunities to explore the evolving world of technology while bridging my interests in art and tech. Through volunteering at various events and festivals, I have gained valuable experience working with different groups of people and developed a broader understanding of fields such as technology, film, and art.

Within the AUP community, I have looked for ways to be involved both socially and academically whether through tutoring, helping organize student events or taking on other roles that allow me to support and connect with others. These experiences have strengthened my ability to work with different kinds of people, adapt to new environments, and contribute meaningfully to my community.

I am excited to participate in the Leadership in Action Seminar as an opportunity to further develop my leadership skills, learn from peers with diverse perspectives and experiences, and continue growing both personally and professionally while learning new ways to make a meaningful impact in the world around me.