Living Globally and Redefining Home with Mariam Navaid Ottimofiore
What does it mean to design a life across continents, languages, and cultures? In this episode, Mickelle welcomes Mariam Navaid Ottimofiore, a globally mobile economist turned author, who has lived in 10 countries and raised a multicultural family along the way. Together, they dive into the complexities of global living—from navigating identity and guilt to embracing the sometimes messy beauty of building a life by design.
Mariam shares her extraordinary journey, beginning with her childhood as a third-culture kid growing up in Pakistan, Bahrain, and the United States. She reflects on how being bilingual from birth shaped her adaptability and worldview, and how every new country adds a layer to her identity. Mickelle and Mariam also explore the joys and challenges of raising a multicultural family, blending traditions, and navigating the beauty and complexity of moving and starting over.
Mariam’s evolution from a corporate economist to an author and advocate for globally mobile communities is rich. Her latest novel, *The Guilty Can’t Say Goodbye*, dives into the emotional realities of expat life through the eyes of three very different women navigating life in Portugal. This deeply personal and thought-provoking episode will inspire you to embrace the beauty, growth, and resilience that comes with a globally mobile lifestyle.
Key Moments
- The Journey of a Third-Culture Kid: How growing up across borders shaped Mariam’s identity and worldview.
- Raising a Multicultural Family: The art of blending languages, traditions, and values while raising children abroad.
- Redefining the ‘Trailing Spouse’ Narrative: Why Mariam calls herself a “trailblazing spouse” and how she built a portable career as an author.
- Exploring Guilt in Expat Life: Insights from her novel on how guilt and identity intersect in globally mobile lives.
- Finding Growth in the Messy Middle: The importance of seeing every move as an opportunity to evolve.
Whether you’re an expat, a third-culture kid, or someone looking to redefine what “home” means, this episode is filled with wisdom, empathy, and inspiration for navigating life across cultures.
Ready to dive deeper into Mariam’s world? Pick up her books, This Messy Mobile Life and The Guilty Can’t Say Goodbye, wherever books are sold. Follow Mariam on Instagram @Mariam.Navaid.Ottimofiore or visit her website at www.mariamnavidottimofiore.com for more insights.
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View the transcript here.