Zena has never neatly fit into one box. Her personal interests and pursuits over the years have ranged from a love of cooking to a love of writing to a love of medicine. While some of those interests are still sprinkled in her hobbies, the two things that have stayed constant have been her love for storytelling and sports. She credits both for her ability to assimilate and thrive in the United States. 

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Originally born in France to West African parents and then raised in North Carolina from the age of five, Zena remembers feeling “othered” at an early age because of her family’s differing customs, language, and culture. Learning how to tell her family’s story, as well as her own, in an empathetic way, helped her form meaningful connections with people who were different from her. Playing sports did as well because it was an arena in which those differences in background didn’t matter as much–only the team and the game did. She quickly saw how storytelling and sports could be used as tools to educate and connect with people, and as a result, has cherished the two ever since. (Plus, she REALLY loves to talk.) Whether she is speaking to a classroom full of students or the CEO of a brand, she often relies on both to effectively engage and connect with her audience. 

Zena’s international and intercultural background has further kept her from fitting neatly into one box. Still fluent in French, her musical and artistic interests span different languages, genres and eras, and her food tastes are similarly varied. Zena’s general curiosity in understanding how others experience and interpret the world is reflected in how she likes to spend her time—traveling, reading, watching a good documentary, mentoring, trying new restaurants, catching up with friends or hanging with her rescue, Remy.  While injuries have prevented her from playing basketball recreationally, Zena still values health and wellness and exercises regularly. She also takes her mental health very seriously and is a huge advocate for self-care and therapy.