What makes a professional journey truly remarkable? It’s not just about the destination, but the resilience, courage, and human connection found along the way. We were deeply moved by a recent LinkedIn post from one of our graduates, Mona Zaré, and we knew her story needed to be shared with our community.
Mona’s journey from her home in Iran a year ago is a raw, honest, and incredibly empowering account that resonates with every aspiring professional and entrepreneur. It’s a powerful reminder that while the path to a new life is filled with profound challenges, it is also rich with opportunities for growth.
Finding Strength in New Beginnings
Mona openly shares the profound emotional and practical difficulties of her migration, from the painful goodbyes to loved ones to navigating language barriers and cultural shocks. Yet, her story is not one of hardship alone. It’s a testament to her determination and proactive spirit.
Instead of being overwhelmed by the obstacles, she actively sought solutions. She volunteered to improve her English, enrolled in a Product Management program specifically for women, and continuously dedicated herself to learning and contributing. This commitment, even with a Master’s in AI, is a true mark of her character and a powerful lesson for us all.
A Connection That Made a Difference
Mona’s story beautifully illustrates the importance of community. She credits her connection with Kimolian Academy’s founder, Eleni Lialiamou, and the supportive environment of our community as being instrumental in her journey. Her dedication as a volunteer with Kimolian Academy has been a testament to her commitment, and we are incredibly proud to have been a part of her support system.
Today, Mona is an accomplished AI developer, working on fascinating projects in reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) and other generative AI applications. Her professional success is a direct result of her courage, dedication, and the supportive connections she forged.
An Inspiration to Us All
Thank you, Mona, for your honesty and bravery. Your story beautifully illustrates that while journeys can be “intense” and “crushing,” they are also “beautiful” and filled with opportunities for profound learning. You inspire us all, especially women navigating new beginnings, to keep moving forward.
We encourage you to connect with Mona Zaré on LinkedIn to follow her journey and stay updated on her story.
