Lately, I’ve been closely following the news from Turkey. It’s heartbreaking. And it brings back a lot.

Eight years ago, we made the decision to move to the UK — in part because we sensed that challenging times were ahead back home and we wanted to give our son the best we can. It was a choice shaped by hope for stability and opportunity. And while I still believe it was the right decision, there’s a part of the story we didn’t fully anticipate— or at least, what we didn’t fully grasp — was the quiet ache of not truly belonging anywhere anymore.

When you leave your home country for a better future, you carry both hope and grief in your suitcase. Hope for what’s ahead. Grief for what’s left behind — even if what’s left behind includes unrest, unpredictability, or pain.

Over the years, I’ve built a new life in the UK. I work with people I deeply respect, my child is growing up speaking two languages, and our day-to-day life is full of comfort and choice. And yet, there are moments when the feeling of placelessness surfaces. You’re never quite from here. And after a while, you’re not fully from there either.

I know this feeling isn’t unique. Many of the leaders I coach — especially those living as expats or navigating global careers — share versions of this same story. Leading in a new country brings professional complexity, yes, but it also comes with an emotional undercurrent. You’re adapting to new norms, codes, and cultures, all while trying to maintain your sense of self. You’re building influence in systems where you may always be slightly on the outside. You become incredibly adaptable, but sometimes at the cost of feeling rooted.

Expat life can be rich and full of growth. But it can also be lonely. There’s a tension between gratitude and displacement. Between creating a new home and knowing that part of your heart is anchored somewhere else.

And in moments like these — when something painful unfolds in your country of origin — the emotional distance becomes even harder to navigate. You’re far away, but deeply connected. You’re safe, but not always at peace.

To anyone reading this who feels torn between countries, cultures, or identities: you’re not alone. It’s okay to grieve what’s lost, even if you chose to leave. And it’s possible to slowly find belonging in spaces you once felt foreign — sometimes through relationships, sometimes through values, and sometimes simply through time. And please remind yourself that these very challenges, the ones that stretch your sense of home and self, also shape your leadership in powerful ways.

Not feeling rooted teaches you to lead with empathy. Navigating unfamiliar systems builds cultural intelligence. Working through displacement fosters deep resilience. And constantly adapting? That becomes your superpower.

And don’t forget, home isn’t always a place. Sometimes it’s a feeling we build, one moment of connection at a time.