My story is pretty exceptional, I’m a half Turkish half Finnish, transgender man who was born in Switzerland but raised by Finnish war veterans in a small town in Finland.
I grew up in an environment where there was no diversity. Nobody to look up to or relate to. No knowledge or understanding that would have supported me in the early stages of my life. I first heard about transgender people when I was 18 but it was also a very negative and stereotypical image that did more harm than good in strengthening my identity and self-acceptance. I’m really lucky and grateful that I survived even after giving up so many times.
When I finally started my healing process I realised why I had to go through and experience everything I did. I started volunteering, I wanted to be the person I would have needed when I was growing up and also I wanted to spread as much knowledge around me as I could. From then on, everything started to line up and I was chosen to become an international human rights trainer.
Now I have been in the field for 6 years and I've been a professional consultant for 3 years.
I travel around the world, educating on diversity and inclusion, human connections and breaking the unhealthy norms of society. I have trained professionals from around the world, including doctors, large international companies, politicians, government, lawyers, psychologists, schools etc.

This is my calling but I’m not saying every trans person should be an activist or should share their story. This is not for everybody and it can be really draining and painful because you have to see the side of the world which you are scared of; people who are not ready to accept you and who are so scared of you that they try to push you away and deny your existence. My pain and experiences hold so much knowledge and knowledge is power. I guess I can say that I have turned my painful experiences into something beautiful, powerful and valuable for me and others.

I have always admired Tony Robbins and Oprah but from the trans community there are many amazing activists like Laverne Cox, Munroe Bergdorf and Schuyler Bailar.

Be patient and remember that all human beings have insecurities and struggles with our identities so you are not alone. I would say just try to get to know yourself and don't compare yourself to others because also many of us get lost in the queer community. We think we should look or act a certain way or want the same things to be trans or queer enough. It’s just another trap to fit in. Try to find healthy role models and not become like them but learn from them. Other people can inspire you but nobody else is you. Nobody knows better than yourself so be kind to yourself and try to get to know yourself first. Also do baby steps and don’t pressure yourself to be enough.

I didn’t use social media at the start of my career... Working in cis and straight normative environments was really lonely but through the social media I have found a community where I can learn from other activists and also relate. We can help each other and support each other. Also, with the help of social media I can reach many young people. Influencing them has always been close to my heart, that was the reason why I even started in the first place.

The past year and a half has been really hard for me because the best part of my job is to interact with people. I love face-to-face encounters, I love seeing in my own eyes people's perspectives changing and when they are willing to let go of the fear and let me build connection with them. Social media can be so harsh because people don’t have to take responsibility for their comments and they use it to channel their own pain onto others.
The pandemic has brought more fear, pain and bitterness to people, which is why social media has become a common battleground. We should just remember that we cannot fight for equality because in a fight, someone always loses and someone wins. Equality does not come true when someone loses and someone wins, it requires cooperation and common understanding.

My work is always really rewarding. It's hard to pick one or two but I would say that when I’m able to make people see themselves in me. For example, I went to educate the head of a big international company and when I started I saw this big white old man leaning tightly against the bench with his hands in disgust. I knew he didn’t want to be there and for some reason I always feel like I have to go where there is the most resistance because that's the place where change is needed. So, during my training I started to slowly build a bridge between us. I was willing to see, hear and understand him before he was willing to do the same back at me. And when he was ready to see and hear me, I used my experiences and story the way that everybody could relate to it and that's the key.
If you go and make them feel they are separated from you (us versus them) you only create sympathy or defence but nothing really changes. When you make them feel one, like it's our problem, people feel that they have the or power responsibility to change it. After the session this guy came to me, his energy was totally different and he said: “I would have never believed that I could relate to someone like you.” Then I knew I did it, he saw himself in me and he saw us as equals.

We need to stop using disconnected language which is putting the blame and pain on others. It will just separate us even more. We need each other so we need to start using us and not us versus them.

Unfortunately because of the pandemic I’m focusing more on consulting and private events but I have been writing my first book and I have a podcast that's about to come out. The eest way to follow my work is through my Instagram. I will promise to stay humble and use all my knowledge and tools to create the change I want to see in the world.