Reflections from the Sun

I was a tough cookie growing up — I mean, just look at that picture! My childhood was far from typical. I spent most of it surrounded by adults, often two generations older than me. After-school play often meant tagging along with my grandparents to their lawyers so I could help translate, or quietly coloring at the local coffee house while eavesdropping on conversations about the war in Serbia — with not a single face under 70 in the room.

You see, I’m a third-culture kid, and finding your identity in that space can be confusing, to say the least. I was born in the U.S., but raised by my immigrant Serbian grandparents. My mom is Serbian, born in the States; my dad is a Greek immigrant. English was actually my second language, and today I speak six. Growing up between cultures, I often felt stuck — not quite one thing, not quite the other.

But over time, that feeling of being “in-between” became a source of strength rather than confusion. It sparked an ongoing hunger to explore the world, understand different cultures, and approach people with curiosity and openness. What once felt like not belonging anywhere has transformed into a realization: I belong everywhere.

That adaptability has been invaluable throughout my life, especially in my move abroad. Living between worlds gave me the tools to navigate uncertainty and rebuild myself in new places. Being a third-culture kid taught me that identity isn’t fixed — and neither is success. These lessons, along with resilience and curiosity, now shape how I lead and guide brands through growth and change — because those two things almost always go hand-in-hand.

I like to call myself a culture vulture, a self-proclaimed nomad, a polyglot with a love for travel and storytelling. Language has always been my path — how it moves us, shapes our identity, and creates meaning. With a background in international business, fluency in six languages, and over a decade in brand communications, I’ve helped global teams turn complex ideas into clear, human-centered stories.

Before joining 20A DSGN, I led strategy across industries, then traded corporate America for the sun-drenched streets of Athens, Greece — beginning a new chapter rooted in storytelling and creative freedom. Alongside that, I’ve written my way through the world as a travel writer for BBC Travel, AFAR, Departures, and more, always seeking the threads that connect people and place.

Now, at 20A DSGN, I bring all these layers together — strategic thinking, cross-cultural fluency, and a deep love of story — to help brands find their voice, build meaningful digital spaces, and create lasting connections.

This journey has shown me that the “in-between” isn’t a place to fear. It’s where reinvention and growth live. It’s where we discover what we’re capable of and how we can create impact on our own terms.

And that’s a story worth sharing.