Shoshana Stewart

Shoshana Stewart is the president of Turquoise Mountain, an NGO founded in 2006 in Afghanistan by His Majesty King Charles, to preserve cultural heritage and support artisans where their traditions are under threat. Shoshana lived in Afghanistan for five years when she first joined, and has led the project to create over 25,000 jobs, bring over $17 million of crafts to market, build the Institute for Afghan Arts and Architecture, restored over 150 historic buildings in the Old City of Kabul, and provided primary healthcare for almost 200,000 people. She has also expanded the project to work with artisans in Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan (including Syrian refugees), and Palestine.

Shoshana has an MBA from the London Business School, a master’s degree in Education, and a bachelor’s degree in Astrophysics. She is also a Senior Fellow at Yale’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs.

Shoshana shares with Anne her life’s serendipitous journey which began in astrophysics, before leading her to teach 8th grade science, and that saw her find her way to Afghanistan, in a career cultural heritage restoration in Afghanistan.

Turquoise Mountain was created with the original goal of revitalising Kabul’s architectural legacy, as Shoshana explains, and now supports artisan communities in several regions of the world. Shoshana emphasises to Anne the organisation’s expansive work with artisans and, in some areas, with refugees in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine and Myanmar.

Further going into Turquoise Mountain’s initiatives, Shoshana tells Anne about her experience and the collective effort that was the restoration of the area of Murad Khani in old Kabul and how putting the art school in the centre of the old city gave the project a sort of a beating heart for this impressive regeneration project.

She shares compelling stories of resilience and creativity, showcasing how these efforts were helped by global collaborations. Designers like ethical jeweller Pippa Small play a pivotal role in this story, bringing Afghan jewellery to international markets and highlighting the powerful impact of blending tradition with modern market strategies.

Through these partnerships, Shoshana further emphasises how the work of the nonprofit not only preserves cultural heritage, but also creates sustainable livelihoods for artisans.

Shoshana also tells Anne about her decision to pursue an MBA to address market challenges, which showcases her commitment to finding innovative solutions for artisan communities.

Their discussion touches on the significant challenges posed by recent global events, including political upheavals and the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the resilience of the communities supported by Turquoise Mountain. The organisation’s ability to maintain connections and support artisans through these turbulent times is a testament to its enduring impact.

As the conversation unfolds further, Shoshana highlights the transformative power of cultural heritage in fostering connections between artisans and clients, and changing perceptions about regions often associated with conflict. Anne then touches on broader themes of mindfulness and intentional living, and Shoshana shares the practices that ground her amidst the ongoing challenges she experiences.

This interview provides a rich illustration of stories and insights from Shoshana’s work with Turquoise Mountain. It paints a vivid picture of how cultural preservation can create a positive global impact, demonstrating the importance of heritage and craftsmanship in building resilient communities.

A compelling conversation with an exceptional leader and advocate for the craftsmen and craftswomen she supports. Happy listening!