Storyteller, advocate and globalist with a love for people and culture.
Host and Creator of The Qonnect podcast.
I’m Qali Id — a storyteller, cultural strategist, and creative producer exploring the stories that shape who we are, how we belong and reimagine better futures.
Born in Denmark to Somali parents and raised across multiple continents, I grew up as a third culture kid — always between worlds, learning early that identity isn’t fixed, and that belonging and purpose is something we build. That lived experience sits at the heart of everything I do: connecting cultures, translating complexity, and creating narratives that feel human in a world that often isn’t.
My work lives at the intersection of culture, creativity, and social impact. I’ve spent over a decade working across international development, advocacy, media, and brand storytelling, from global campaigns and multimedia projects to producing and hosting podcasts like The Qonnect, The ABCs of SBC, and Sex, Soap & Alcohol. Whether I’m advising organisations, interviewing change-makers, or writing, my goal is the same: to tell stories that make people feel seen, understood, and connected.
I’m especially drawn to the questions that don’t have easy answers:
What does it mean to belong in a fragmented world?
How do culture and power shape our lives?
How can we foster common purpose and dialogue in our societies?
Can business, creativity, and purpose coexist… and even thrive together?
Through my writing, podcasts, and creative work, I explore identity, global culture, migration and psychology, decoding how stories shape belonging, power, systems and the futures we imagine.
Based in Nairobi, I work globally with brands, organisations, and communities who believe that narratives can shift systems, and that purpose, vision and imagination are forms of leadership.
If you’re here, you’re probably curious about the world too.
You’re in the right place.
being qaali 