Mariam Panosetti

I was born in Cairo, Egypt to Egyptian Parents who both became international civil servants. By the age of three we moved to New York City and by the age of 6 we moved to Geneva, Switzerland. In the first 7 years of my life, I had lived in three countries on three different continents and attended 3 different schools. I think these early formative years for me were characterised by a lot of change, moving, and uncertainty and the anxieties associated with that. Having to readjust to new circumstances, get your bearings, create new points of reference, new relationships, integrate, fit in, stand out, be successful and create meaning and a sense of purpose for yourself in your new environment are some of the things I learned to navigate from a very early age. Looking back, it’s no surprise I was naturally drawn to studying psychology, human behaviour, and counselling. I was naturally drawn to people navigating complexities and having to adapt and transform as they develop towards who they want to be.

I have been fortunate enough to have had many changes throughout my career and be exposed to different roles in different industries and types of organisations. From small consulting firms, NGOs, large multinationals, government support agencies. Through this I have developed an appreciation for the different environments we navigate as professionals and the flexibility required in our world of work today. This enables me to connect with people at all levels in different organisations and industries and partner with them to support them in their journey towards who they want to become.

I am also the proud mother of an amazing soon to be 18-year-old boy. I have raised him as a single parent since he was 2 years old. I have always tried to put his well-being front and center of my priorities, but I have also had to balance this with being the sole earner in our family and needing to create some stability and financial security for him in which he can develop and thrive.