160: The Non-Conforming, Curiosity Fueled Journey of Thought Leader and Entrepreneur - Sarah A. Abdallah

<p>Sarah A. Abdallah, polymath, innovator, and founder of New York-based bespoke Architecture &amp; Design Studio - Functional Creative Design, is this week's guest.</p><br><p>In this two-parter we spend the first hour exploring Sarah’s experience of being born a bi-racial child to Egyptian immigrant parents, growing up in New York, with two younger siblings.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Immersing her in a culture that nurtured her natural curiosity, her parents instilled in her the foundational values of human kindness, the importance of education, and respect and understanding of other faiths.&nbsp;</p><br><p>Sarah discusses how she developed an appreciation and love of the environment, her deep spirituality, questioning conventional wisdom, and rejecting parental pressures to conform.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br><p>Sarah recounts overcoming the limitations of dyslexia, how her childhood curiosity of after-school clubs helped shape her into the thought leader and Entrepreneur she is today,&nbsp;and her prolific educational journey through psychology, art therapy, higher education, and interior design.&nbsp;Sarah also discusses how serendipity led her, at 21, a First Generation Muslim Egyptian American to live with the then 70-year-old, iconic lawyer, Jewish civil rights activist, and philanthropic fundraiser for NYU, Naomi Levine.&nbsp;</p><br><p>In part two we deep dive into Sarah’s journey prior to starting her design studio Functional Creative Design, working with Rockwell Group, Tony Chi &amp; Associates, Perkins and Eastman, and Grand Hotels, and her vision and focus which lead her to start her studio.</p><br><p>For anyone with children, hearing Sarah’s journey and experience will provide valuable insights into encouraging young children’s curiosity and appreciation of other cultures and backgrounds and the value of education.&nbsp;</p><br><p>In part two Sarah describes the experience of working with Tony Chi Associates, Rockwell Group, Perkins and Eastman, and Grand Hotels and her desire to add an additional laye