This has not been a straightforward, normal career! (But whose is?)Since 2017, I've led U.S. Chamber of Commerce affiliate in Oman, building connections and momentum in the Oman business community through programs and events. OABC is the largest and most active business networking group in the country, and our members are incredible! But as background, here's how it all began:After completing my MS in Communications and Global Business at Rochester Institute of Technology, I gained over 15 years of experience working in public relations and marketing for both non-profit and for-profit organizations in the US, Kenya, Palestine, and Oman. I worked as the Director of Communications for a Boston-based nonprofit, and often pitched urgent press releases to large media outlets and wrote speeches for use at international events, UN panel presentations, and US congressional hearings. From a focus on bridging the digital divide at TechMission.org, to helping advocate against China's One Child Policy with former Tiananmen Square leader Chai Ling, to teaching children and creating web content in war zones, it was a pretty interesting journey. In 2013, we moved to Muscat, Oman, where I started my own company, Olson LLC, under the US-Oman FTA.From 2013-2017, I specialized in creating web content, information architecture, marketing plans, and other professional materials for a diverse clientele. When I was recruited to lead OABC, I had the opportunity to host 30 business events a year, encourage companies in every sector to join the membership and collaborate together, write proposals for government grants and projects, learn the ins and outs of trade and investment, create a member-to-member mobile app, launch new programs, create high-quality videos and promote the U.S. - Oman FTA, set up regional collaborations, and highlight to all investors the beautiful country of Oman, which I've grown to love as my home.I learned this is where my passion lies: supporting Oman's economic growth, giving to the community, meeting people from all different sectors each day and learning new things...I am passionate about building bridges for increased trade and commercial relations between Oman and the U.S., and am proud to be part of Oman's Vision 2040 by bringing investors to such a beautiful country and helping people do business. www.oabc.org.P.S. One other passion is our library (www.instagram.com/olsonfamilylibrary). We run the only public lending library in Oman! Check it out!