I used to write a lot, in Indonesian.
Stories, essays, metaphors. I loved weaving meaning between the lines. Some of it ended up online. Most of it stayed in journals and unfinished drafts.

But when I started writing in English, I held back.
It felt like I had to sound more polished, more certain, more perfect.

This book is part of reclaiming that voice.
Not the polished one, the honest one.

I grew up in conflict-affected Aceh, and lived through the tsunami that reshaped everything. Later, I found myself navigating new systems, new languages, and the invisible expectations placed on women of colour in leadership.

The Soft Power Manual is part memoir, part reflection.
It explores leadership, identity, ambition, care and self-trust in a world that often rewards performance over presence.

If this resonates, this is where the book begins.