Before there was a book, there was a question I couldn't stop asking: What happens when women are finally heard—not as statistics, not as headlines, but as full human beings?

In this first episode, I share my own story.

Growing up in Sierra Leone, I learned early that silence could feel like safety. Like many women, I was taught to endure quietly, to protect others, and to leave certain truths unspoken. But there comes a moment when staying silent costs more than speaking.

This episode is not about having all the answers or presenting a perfect journey. It is about choosing not to disappear. It is about finding the courage to speak when silence would have been safer.

I reflect on the experiences that shaped me, the lessons I've learned through media, education, and women's empowerment work, and the realization that my story is connected to countless others around the world.

She Chose to Rise was born as a book bringing together the voices of seven women from five continents. Now, those stories continue in conversation.

Thank you for joining me at the beginning of this journey.

Produced by Engage Salone in partnership with Global Rise & Soar.

📖 Read the book on Amazon: She Chose to Rise: Global Stories of Courage, Identity, and Rising

🌍 Follow the movement and connect with us at EngageSalone.org.