Shawnna von Blixen is the programme coordinator for children's rights at the Council of the Baltic Sea States. She previously worked for the U.S. State Department and the European Union, and holds a master's in political science from Uppsala University. When she's not busy building international networks and landing grants, Shawnna enjoys wandering around both in cities and in nature, especially in her home base of Stockholm, Sweden.
It was by chance - standing in line to pick up a UPS package - that Shawwna von Blixen would meet a diplomat, which ultimately led to a change in career and in location. At the time, she enjoyed her role where she helped bridge the communication gap between graphic designers and software engineers, but Shawnna was also aware of her interest in international relations. Within a year of the meeting, Shawnna was setting off for Sweden where she would have the opportunity to start work in that field.
“If I were a less stubborn person, I would not have made it work,” explains Shawnna.
Today, her career in international relations focuses on children’s rights, at the Council of the Baltic Sea States, an intergovernmental organization made up of 11 member countries plus European Union representation. Shawnna works to activate a network of professionals who are meeting children at difficult times in their life - moving as migrants, victims of human trafficking, or those otherwise exploited in some manner - with the goal of the Council being to promote best practices for children’s rights across Europe and beyond.
Joining us to share her story, Shawnna opens up about the juxtaposition between her work and making the choice to not have children; the challenges and rewards of living abroad; and the role of email boundaries and outdoor time to support her mental health.
