Dr. Aileen Nandi built her career around a global mindset—from serving as Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs in the U.S. Foreign Service to Vice President, Global Strategy & Analysis at AdaMed, an American medical device trade association. Her passion for developing others made becoming a Global Guru with the Open Mindset Project a natural next step. 

In Spring 2026, Aileen was paired with Maryam Mohamed, a rising junior majoring in chemistry and pre-dental. Maryam’s dream is to become a dentist and make health spaces more accessible. She’s always been drawn to hands-on learning, healthcare, and nonverbal communication, such as studying American Sign Language. 

During their one-on-one mentoring sessions, Aileen encouraged Maryam to recognize that she could gain an international perspective at home. This awareness shifted Maryam’s perspective. She realized that global doesn’t just mean travel; it’s also about understanding and connecting with diverse communities right in front of her. Aileen’s advice on cultural intelligence and understanding cultural social cues stuck with Maryam, especially the idea of consciously shifting one’s perspective to ensure your communication fits the specific community or patient you're trying to help. 

Maryam already sees her global mindset shaping the kind of dentist she wants to become and her practice. It has transformed the way she connects to people and will approach patient care. “The best way to fulfill my profession is to meet the needs of every patient,” she said. “That means code-switching and communicating in ways that make people feel they truly belong. I don't have to wait 5 or 10 years to know that a global mindset is essential in every workspace– especially health care.”

Throughout their mentorship, Aileen was impressed by Maryam’s curiosity and drive to grow. In fact, she said she gained as much from the experience as Maryam did. Aileen was excited to see the energy, dynamism and international focus of a younger generation. It also deepened her understanding of the intense pressure many young people face to succeed early– and how that pressure can shape their decisions. Reflecting on the mentorship, Aileen said, “Sometimes people just need someone to help them understand how exceptional they are. They also need exposure to different paths so they can better understand their options and choose the one that’s right for them.”

‍