I'm I think fairly far along in the middle tier of my career, but I would like to develop the skills, connections and ideas to take me to the next level. As we know, the media is going through massive shifts, especially print media, and we really have to be able to adapt to this shifts. So it would be really good to find a team/cohort of like-minded individuals to try and develop our skills and help each other move up. Part of it is just better skills in terms of the writing but also production of content, and the other part is the networks and connections.

As an Afghan who grew up in the US but moved to different countries across Asia and the Middle East -- Qatar, Afghanistan and Turkey -- I believe I have a unique point of view to offer to the 1833 community. I also have a lot of experience with traditional (The LA Times, CNN, PBS, Al Jazeera English) media and digital media. Also, because my interests are so varied and focused on creative pursuits, I think I could bring knowledge about different industries and creatives. I want to join because I think it would be an interesting and valuable community to be part of.

My creative interests are varied. I'm a journalist/writer by trade, so obviously that means a lot of time spent reading trying to figure out how writers develop a unique voice/point of view. But I also have a keen in other creative mediums like film and fashion. Whatever the medium, what fascinates me the most is the thinking behind the work. What led the person/people behind the expression to go about their work the way they did, and do they hope to say something larger with it? I'm intrigued by how creatives develop their vision and continue to evolve/express it throughout their careers no matter the medium. So, whether it's Sabato De Sarno or Denis Villeneuve or Kehinde Wiley, what drives them? How do they go about expressing their vision throughout the course of their career and creative output?