“What happened to me does not define me—what I choose to do with it does.”
Last summer in Prague, I had the privilege of mentoring at Moonshot Platform's Moonshot Camp—a powerful gathering of young leaders from around the world who are tackling the world’s most urgent challenges.
That week, I met Chantale Zuzi.
Among so many inspiring voices, Chantale stood out—not because she spoke the loudest, but because of her calm presence, her deep passion for her mission, and her unshakable thirst for learning. There was something quietly powerful about the way she carried herself. She listened deeply. She asked smart, humble questions. And when she spoke about her work, you could feel her conviction.
I later learned the extraordinary path that brought her there.
Chantale was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At just 13, she lost both her parents in a violent village massacre and was forced to flee with her siblings to Uganda. She became a refugee overnight—and the primary caregiver for her younger siblings.
She also happens to be a person with albinism, which made her a target for discrimination, violence, and exclusion throughout her life. But even in the refugee settlement, even in the face of unimaginable trauma and uncertainty, Chantale found purpose. She began advocating for girls, for women, and for others with albinism.
Now, just a few years later, she is a proud graduate of Wellesley College and the founder and executive director of Refugee Can Be, a nonprofit dedicated to giving refugee girls access to education, safety, and dignity.
In this week’s episode of The Leadership Dance, titled A Refugee Can Be Anything, Chantale joins me to reflect on her incredible journey—from caregiving and survival to leadership and impact.
We talk about:
How personal tragedy shaped her sense of responsibility and purpose
What it meant to navigate multiple cultures while building a new life in the U.S.
The moments that tested her—and the dreams that kept her going
Why she founded Refugee Can Be and what it will take to change the future for refugee girls
Her story is heartbreaking, courageous, and deeply inspiring. And most of all, it’s a call to action.
🎧 Listen to Chantale’s full story now
🌍 Learn more and support her mission: https://www.refugeecanbe.org
Until next time, keep dancing!
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