In this heartfelt conversation, Esther and Shirley sit down with Kelly-Ann Fonderson, a proud Cameroonian raised in The Hague, now working at the UN Migration Agency. Kelly-Ann shares how her grandmother’s strength, her parents’ sacrifices, and the mentors who guided her path led her from Bath University to Oxford, and ultimately to a career in global migration and development.

We talk about what it means to grow up between cultures, find belonging across borders, and hold on to your roots while navigating international spaces. Kelly-Ann opens up about searching for identity, caring for her mental health in impact-driven environments, and her ongoing work addressing gender-based violence and protection for vulnerable migrants.

From family legacy to finding purpose, this episode is a reminder that every journey is shaped by the people who believe in us — and the courage to believe in ourselves.

#IdentityAndBelonging #MoveWithPowerPodcast #WomenInDevelopment #UNStories #ThirdCultureKids #MigrationJourneys #MentorshipMatters #GlobalVoices #GenderEquality #ImpactWork #MentalHealthInImpactWork