I was born in Jbeil Lebanon, an ancient coastal city in Northern Lebanon. At the time, my parents vacillated living in Ebrine, Lebanon, and on the west side of Cleveland. In the fall of 1998, however, my parents and I permanently moved to the United States, rendering me a second generation Lebanese American.

 

I graduated from North Olmsted High School in 2004––and from Cleveland State University in 2011. I am currently an account manager for Cardinal Health, serving McLaren Health Care, one of Michigan’s largest health care supply chain systems. I lead projects across the McLaren network to provide a seamless flow of inventory while mitigating disruptions and forecasting issues.

 

As a child, I never had a figure to whom I looked up in pursuit of professional growth. I was the first to go to college in my family and so, I early on learned, in virtue of reflecting on my own mistakes, to pave my own path. Yet I commend my mother for embedding patience in me, because it helped me tolerate and withstand hardship. Despite the absence of the exemplar of “professional life,” my upbringing has prepared me to overcome the barriers in my professional career.

 

As an Arab American, I am proud of the millennia of Arabic contributions to modern living in the realms of astronomy, mathematics, medicine, and architecture––all of which chartered the course of human history. And as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I strive to make the Arabic community more inclusive to those who think differently, who choose differently, or who are born different. I truly believe in, and lay emphasis on, the value of allowing everyone’s voice to be heard; for thoughtful insight springs from the diversity of voices.

 

"No one is you, and that is your superpower." - Elyse Santilli