منى خليل
(Mona Khalil written and read in Arabic from right to left)
Living My Way To The Answers
I am a daughter, sister, and friend. As a first-generation Egyptian-Guyanese-American, I spent my childhood in Los Angeles until the uprisings in 1992 led me to Pasadena, CA.
Journaling has been a part of my life for more than 25 years. It began as a private, personal practice—a safe space to explore my thoughts and feelings as a whole person versus how the world wanted to experience me. For the past 20+ years, journaling has become a consistent, transformative practice that anchors me in courage, growth, and self-discovery.
Journaling isn't about perfection or performance; it's about reflection. It's for you—to validate your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Two entries are rarely the same because you're constantly evolving and examining from different perspectives.
I completed my B.A. in International Studies from the University of California, San Diego. After graduating, I was a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) in youth and community development. Years later, I served as the East Bay Director for the Northern California Peace Corps Association. During my two years in Morocco, I embraced writing. It provided a sanctuary to process my thoughts and emotions and to discover myself as my new best friend. Poetry became a creative outlet for healthy expression. Since my return to the United States, pen and paper have continued to be my refuge. In May 2017, I published my first book, I Write Letters in my Thoughts—a collection of poetry where storytelling and healing fill an imposed silence.
I have a long, decorated academic and professional development history as a first-generation college graduate and professional. Early in my educational journey, I pursued a professional certificate in Nonprofit Management from Cal State Northridge while working full-time. While in nonprofit management, I taught myself, implemented, and oversaw an agency-wide performance management software, all while leading change management for the organization.
Most recently, I have graduated from an ICF-Accredited professional coaching program with the Hudson Institute of Coaching and am a member of the International Coaching Federation, a globally recognized independent coaching organization.
I graduated from the Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program at Saint Mary's College of California, serving as the Cohort 24 Class Representative and Graduate Business School Student Advisory Board member.
I completed my Inner MBA immersion program in Mindful Business, a partnership with New York University (NYU), Sounds True, LinkedIn, and Wisdom 2.0. The immersion program trained leaders on powerfully growing themselves and their companies by cultivating inner wisdom, compassion, and well-being with a commitment to offering inclusive and transformative experiences based on love, community, and healing. I also completed the Stanford Advanced Project Management (SAPM) Program.
I am an experienced professional across the nonprofit, research, tech, design, and education sectors. As a Senior Consultant, I supported management consulting, talent development, and the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) lines of business with C-suite executives. I was the lead instructor for the Social Media Marketing module of the Women of Color Entrepreneurs-Leadership certificate program at Bellarmine University's Rubel School of Business. At LinkedIn, I worked as a Sr. Program Manager in Inclusion Recruiting. I also held the position of a San Francisco Culture InDay Committee member. At Tesla, I worked in Global Business Operations. I was the founder and president of Tesla's Intersectionality Employee Resource Group (ERG) while serving as an advisor on the Tesla Diversity Leadership Council.