My Story
I’m Shemsiya Waritu, an African-Australian Muslim woman of Oromo heritage.
Thirty years ago, I immigrated to Melbourne in search of, like so many before and after me, a better life.
In some ways, life did get better. I married, had four beautiful children, and helped financially support my large family back home in Ethiopia.
But I was also filled with a severe lack of self-confidence and personal vision. I feared making mistakes, doubted my capabilities, and regularly shut down my own dreams. Choosing to stay small, I settled for much less than what I deserved, and actively avoided opportunities for my own personal growth, development and joy.
Ten years ago, however, I took a risk on myself. Encouraged by a dear friend’s insistence that I was ‘untouched gold’—heavy with untapped potential, buried skills, and trapped capacity—I began to step out of my comfort zone to see what I could achieve, despite having no formal education or qualifications.
Doing so completely changed my life, and opened an entirely new world of possibilities. I started a fulfilling career in Community Work with the City of Wyndham, became a public speaker and mentor, and published my first book, Untouched Gold.
I transformed as a person, learning to value myself the way I do others, and showing up in the world from a place of self-worth, self-confidence, and an unwavering belief in my ability to contribute meaningfully to my communities.
But as I did so, I began to notice others in the same situation I was once in. People—particularly youth, women, and people of colour–with so much to offer to the world were choosing not to because of an internal belief that they were simply not good enough.
I’ve now made it my life’s mission to support people in building the personal growth necessary to achieve their dreams. With a focus on youth and educational empowerment, holistic self-development, relationship guidance, and community building, my platform Shemsi Speaks offers:
Tailored mentorship and coaching to individuals and families
Empowering workshops for school and youth groups, as well as community audiences
Inspiring keynote addresses for speaking engagements at conferences, ceremonies, community events, and more
Diversity and cultural sensitivity consultation support for organizations and institutions