Mohamed Semra on making history
6/24/202642 min
Hello!
We’re back with another Life Lessons episode. Today, we’re joined by Mohamed Semra, the Mayor of the City of Maribynong and the first person of Sub-Saharan African descent to be elected mayor in Australia. Born in Sudan, Mohamed arrived in Australia as a refugee at the age of three with his mum, Samira, and five siblings.
In this conversation, Mohamed shares the pivotal moments that shaped his journey into leadership. From overcoming a childhood stutter with the support of a teacher and finding confidence through debating, to speaking out after a viral incident of racial profiling that ultimately led to changes in inclusion practices at Apple stores around the world.
We also discuss Mohamed’s path into public service, the importance of representation, and his vision for creating positive change in the community. At just 27 years of age, Mohamed is truly only getting started.
If you’d like to support Mohamed, you can follow his Instagram page @mayor_mohamed_semra.
Thank you so much to Prime Video for supporting this episode of Inherited. Watch the highly anticipated series, "Every Year After", exclusively on Prime Video.
Your host today was Ruby Hall (@rubytuesday2.0), and the guest was Mohamed Semra (@mohamedsemra).
Inherited is produced by Monica Vantilburg and executive-produced by Lucy Hunt.
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We’ll be back with another episode on Tuesday!
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMohamed Semra· Guest0:00
Would I go back and take away my stutter? Would I go back and take away the racism I experienced? I wouldn't, 'cause it's all led me to the person I am today.
Ruby Hall· Host0:07
You're the first person from Sub-Saharan Africa to be elected as mayor in Australia.
Mohamed Semra· Guest0:11
It was very unsafe for my mom to remain where she was, and so for the sake of herself, for the sake of her kids, she, she decided to escape and seek a better life in a new country. Being a young Black boy growing up in Australia, going to school, not seeing yourself represented in the curriculum, not seeing yourself represented in the staffing, it's easy to disassociate yourself from an environment where you feel like you don't belong. We went to look at the new iPhone, and security automatically realizes we're there, starts circling our table. And I look at the security, 'cause it's a bit uncomfortable, and I go, "Is there a problem?" The security goes, "No, but there's going to be."
Ruby Hall· Host0:46
This episode of Inherited is brought to you by Every Year After, the highly anticipated series following two lifelong friends as they explore the question: What if your first love was destined to be your soulmate? Watch it now exclusively on Prime Video. [gentle music] Mohamed Samra, welcome to Inherited Life Lessons.
Mohamed Semra· Guest1:10
Thank you for having me on, Ruby. Very much excited for this.
Ruby Hall· Host1:13
You are a busy, busy man.
Mohamed Semra· Guest1:15
Yeah.
Ruby Hall· Host1:16
So, thank you for making the time to come on Inherited. What were you doing right before you've arrived here today at Shameless Media?
Mohamed Semra· Guest1:21
I was at our youth summit. So we bring together six schools within our municipality, young people, all super eager to learn, contribute their ideas,