People Connector, Mama, Annecy, France

“Before I met Alexandra I heard stories about her. Stories of this new girl who had a dramatic close encounter with baboons in her car in Cape Town. She had only been in South Africa for two weeks and already she had better stories than I did after three years of living there. I now know to expect this. Alex lives her life to the absolute fullest and she inspires those around her to do the same. Every. Single. Time I am with Alex it is an event worth remembering. I have many photos of our adventures together but I don't even need them. Experiences with Alex become etched into your soul in ways that no other human I've known can match. When I am not with Alex, I eat up her words. She is an exceptional writer and communicator. She ensures that her beloveds feel seen, and heard, and connected. Her heart is full and boundless. She loves fiercely and well. She will always make room at the table. I am so fortunate to call her a friend.” - Kate Kerber, friend, Cape Town, South Africa.

“Alex is a very loyal and nurturing friend. She’ll be your biggest cheerleader, encouraging you to push yourself to achieve your personal best. But she’s also not afraid to be direct and ask the tough questions. Alex loves life and is so much fun to be around. Her energy is contagious. I call her a connector of beautiful spirits. Over the years, Alex has collected various friends from around the globe. She not only nurtures these friendships individually, but has managed to bridge connections between this circle, creating this larger diverse group of amazing, supportive women.” - Maja Barretto, friend, Chicago, USA.

“Alex is one of the strongest women I have ever met. She is passionate about life and is the first to celebrate her friends, family and all milestones no matter how big or small. The thing I admire most about Alex is her ability to talk and get deep into conversation incredibly quickly. There is no limit to what she is willing to explore and she is always there to listen and connect with your soul and hearts desires. She is an incredible woman and a fiercely loving friend, teacher, mother, mentor and soul sister.” - Lauren Innes, friend, London.

“Alex is a WOW Woman. To narrow it down, to a simple answer, is tough! I think the one thing that stands out is her fierce loyalty. Of course to family, of which her mum, me and the girls are a major beneficiary. I can say it is very comforting knowing she is always looking out for the best for our family (and Covid-19 has displayed that natural trait even more!). Her friends, too, all will say Alex is an amazing friend to have in their corner when dealing with life's challenges. She is not only great at giving advice but is also a great listener. But I think it extends beyond being loyal to people closest to her, it even applies to her own ideals.  Alex will never waver; she always stands up for what she believes. I can never imagine her letting a comment or action slide that is an affront to her ideals just to ameliorate a situation.” - Jon De Vos, husband, London, UK.

“Alexandra is the funniest, kindest, most passionate, driven woman I know. We met in 1999 in an education class at McGill University and the rest is history. Having her in your corner is a blessing. She is always willing to lend an ear and help you fight your battles. She is a strong advocate for education and equity and stands up for these issues fiercely. She has lived all around the world and is an amazing mama to two little humans. She is a passionate teacher, a loving daughter and the best friend a girl could ask for. She literally does it all and does it with class. She manages adversity with strength and is always learning from new situations. She goes out of her way to bring people together and the friendships I have cemented over the years still stand strong today. She comes from a line of strong, courageous women and is an amazing role model for her daughters. I am so blessed to have her part of my tribe.” - Safia Bhandarkar, friend, Toronto, Canada.

“I am incredibly lucky to have Alex as a friend. She gives the best advice and is one of the most committed friends I have. She is always there if I need to chat, laugh or have a great time. She’s also unbelievably organised and her ability to plan anything - from a weekend away to a massive event - is another level. She’s compassionate, humble and has a heart bigger than anyone I know. I’m honored to call her my friend.” - Camilla Hollweck, friend, London, UK.

“Alexandra’s specialness is the consequence of the influences of the generations of women during her childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood (two grandmothers, two great aunts, and her aunty Anne). What makes her special? Her concern for others, for justice, for those less fortunate.” - Diana Abraham, Alexandra’s mother, Toronto, Canada.

Ms. Alexandra Abraham inspires you to be better. A better friend, communicator, caregiver, writer, dancer and a human. If you’re lucky enough to end up in her orbit, you know you stepped up your game as a girlfriend. Alexandra challenges you and doesn’t let you get away with bullshit. One of the most curious women I know, she selflessly connects you to new experiences, people and ways of approaching tricky situations. She most certainly received that rare gene for empathy and fearlessness from her mama and generations of women that came before her and persevered through hell and back.

I admire Ms. Abraham’s unflinching manner and gusto with which she dives into the unknown. I’ve seen her drop everything at the opportunity to move across the world to work with kids in the township of Cape Town. She focused her gorgeous eyes on those youngsters making them feel seen, appreciated. I have witnessed Alexandra’s passion and fierce pride at connecting teens from immigrant families to internship opportunities all over the corporate London.

Communities Alexandra built on virtually every continent are better off because she has put in time and effort into relationship cultivation. Ms. Abraham is the ultimate connector and now a mama too; the bow from which her girls as living arrows will be sent forth into the world. They will carry the torch, building on the experiences of the Abraham WOW Women before them, a perfect circle of life.

1. Name.

Alexandra Abraham.

2. Where is your hometown?

Home is Toronto.

3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation?

Corporate Partnerships & Career Network Manager. Mama. Daughter. Partner. Friend. Pursuer of merriment. Imbiber of good wine. Defender and supporter of The Sisterhood, always.

4. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career wise)? What are some accomplishments you’re most proud of?

The bulk of my educational and professional journey has focused around working with and enabling inspiring young people from challenging circumstances to realise their potential. This has taken me from Toronto to Montreal to Perth, Australia, to London, UK, back to Toronto, to Cape Town, and back to London, where I have lived for almost a decade; and has seen me work across the corporate, not-for-profit, and education sectors.

I am proud of having moved to Australia at 22 and South Africa at 27 by myself, having never set foot in either country before. For the work I did with the incredible teenagers I taught in Gugulethu, Cape Town for three years, and those in London I have been with for the last six years.

I am proud to be a mother to two feisty, clever little girls, and for birthing them both with no drugs or pain relief. I am proud of the caring and loyal daughter, niece, granddaughter, partner and friend I am to those I love most.

5. What did you study in school?

A combined Bachelor of Arts and Secondary Education at McGill University in Canada

6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?

I have always wanted a life of travel, love and adventure; and to be a mother. How fortunate I am to be able to say this is the life I live.

7. What was your biggest learning moment?

Such a topical question. I recently learned that my role will be deleted at the end of January, a consequence of UK-wide cuts to state education. I am deeply saddened for my students and what this will mean for the programme I have run for more than half a decade.

It has also reminded me that professionally one should never get too comfortable; and that life changes unexpectedly, all the time. It’s been sobering, but equally I am now excited to see where my path will lead next.

8. Advice for other women?

No matter who you become in life – mother, partner, caregiver, CEO or other – remember that you are always a woman first. Love her and her body with all the care and empathy she deserves, even when it feels like everything else should take priority. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Also – and this comes from my mama – you can’t do everything. Seemingly so simple in principle, but can be challenging in practice. Do what you can, but not more. The rest can wait.

9. Knowing what we know now in current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it for "feminist values"?

I was raised by a circle of incredibly strong women. From as young as I can remember, my mama instilled feminist values in me – taking me to International Women’s Day marches, openly talking about the myriad complex issues and inequity women face locally and globally; implicit in this teaching me an awareness and appreciation of my privilege and the resulting responsibility to care for others, do good as much as possible. I have never not known what it is to be a feminist, and no one can ever mistake me for being soft-spoken.

All this to say that absolutely we can be all we can be, and that I firmly believe it begins at home. Women (and men) must raise girls to be unafraid of their own voices, emotions, bodies and desires. To stand tall and speak up. To persist. To challenge injustice – not just against women, but against anyone who is oppressed. To do all of this unfalteringly.

As for the way forward, I believe we must aim to reshape the concept of ‘feminist values’ so that they take into account and are supportive of all women; all ages, ethnicities, faiths, abilities, social locations and sexual identities. Ultimately, longer-term, I hope we can work towards a day where the notion of ‘feminist values’ will be rephrased as simply ‘human values’.

10. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?

Summer evenings with my mama and little family on the verandah of her house, or in the park opposite, in Toronto. Long lazy weekend mornings snuggled in bed with my girls and my man at our home in London. Anywhere in the world surrounded by my international coalition of extraordinary girlfriends, ideally dancing to late 90s/early 2000s hip hop and RnB.

11. What extra-curricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?

I draw great joy from bringing people together, from organising gatherings, from hosting. People in one space and place, enjoying themselves over drawn-out lunches, dinners or nights on a dancefloor. I seem to have a knack for this, which I like.

I have also recently reengaged with Reformer Pilates, carving out a couple hours a week to focus on myself; it has been life-changing and physically transformative. I am proud to be prioritising my health and mental well-being, (and grateful to my other half for often sacrificing his morning runs enabling me to do so!)

And of course my children. They are my forever proudest extra-curricular, adored with every ounce of my being. I exist in daily disbelief that they grew inside and came out of my body, and are now actual humans in the world. What on earth?! Science fiction.

12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?

I’d like to be in a position to direct the spending of a large amount of a large corporation’s money on making a positive, tangible, meaningful difference in the lives of structurally vulnerable children and young people, and for the planet.

13. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?

Perhaps not so much a fear as something which I hope to overcome, my procrastination and general lack of discipline around my desire to write a novel. Recently this has been re-calibrated into a possibly-more-attainable-goal of writing a children’s book. We shall see...

14. Anything you'd do differently if you had another go at life?

Since having my daughters, my thoughts on this have changed. Implicit in this is my recognition and acknowledgement that everything I did before they came into the world played a part in them being the children that they are.

Conception and pregnancy is mind-blowing in so many ways, particularly when you consider how even the smallest deviation in your trajectory of life beforehand would have meant a different fetus was conceived. I mean! So, no. No regrets. Not before becoming a mama or since.

15. What inspires you?

Women. Mothers. Working Mamas. Boss ladies kicking ass. Seeing the world through the pure, honest, inquisitive eyes of my 4-year-old.

16. What are you hopeful about?

I am hopeful that my daughters will grow up to be compassionate human beings, knowing they can live a life without limit. I am hopeful about those in this generation of young people who have had enough. Who are furious about the planet that is being left to them and are living noble, proactive lives as a result. I am desperately trying to think of other things about which to be hopeful. It is a very, very scary time for the planet, and every one of us on it.

17. What are some ingredients to a good life?

A solid, deep, uninterrupted sleep (ha!). Belly laughter, as often as possible, with loved ones, good wine and too much pasta. Travel, as far as your means allow you to. Give compliments to strangers. Be passionate about something, anything. Lead a life that you hope is making the world a better place, if only in a miniscule way.

18. What are (at least) three qualities you most love about yourself and why?

I am a relatively adept written communicator and public speaker, and not easily intimidated. These qualities serve me well almost every day. I have been known to make people laugh sometimes, which is nice. Someone once told me: ‘You seem like the kind of person who gets shit done.’ I like to believe this is true.

20. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?)

I’ve not long finished The Testaments by Margaret Atwood which was both terrifying and brilliant. Am now on to Factfulness by Hans Rosling, an unusual-for-me venture into the world of non-fiction.

Books I always recommend are Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple, The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend, The Headmaster’s Wager by Vincent Lam and Less than Zero by Brett Easton Ellis. All very enjoyable for very different reasons.

For little ones, Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love. Hands down the best, most beautiful kid’s book I have ever read.

21. Who is a WOW Woman in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description?

My mama, Diana Abraham. My mama is inspiring, strong, brilliant and resolutely fearless. Everything I am is because of her. And also because I would love to see her answers to these questions.

My dear friend Kate Kerber. Mama-of-three. Endlessly accomplished academic. Public health researcher specialising in healthcare access and women’s health in low-resource contexts. Outstanding human being. The rest of us are just living in her glow.

Ellen Degeneres. A trailblazer in so many ways. And loves a dance. Anyone who loves to dance as much as me is my kind of WOW Woman.

22. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?

ndisafunda.blogspot.com

It has been more than a decade since I wrote this, but it’s a snapshot of and my reflections on a pivotal, important chapter in my life, in one of the most beautiful cities on earth.