Meet a Sandbox Member: Kyra Choucroun
“Kyra Choucroun is one of the editors of The Gopher Illustrated and a political fiend. Her interests range from International Political Economy to Development and Conflict resolution. Fresh out of a Masters from the London School of Economics, Kyra is hard at work in London.” That’s how Michu Benaim, co-founder and co-editor of The Gopher Illustrated describes Sandboxer Kyra Choucroun. Kyra on facebook.
Tell us the story of your latest project:
The Gopher is the result of the combined passions of its editors, Michu Benaim, Lope, and myself. In May 2008, during one of my visits to Venezuela, we simply convened and decided that we would take over the world. How? We simply read each other’s minds and said “We should start a magazine.” A few brain-storming sessions later…well, our beloved Gopher was born.
What are you doing and how did you get there?
Right now I do two things: I conduct research for a non-governmental conflict resolution organization focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and nurture my love for the arts by developing The Gopher Illustrated. My love for research is really a product of my educational background…I guess once a nerd always a nerd. My work for the Gopher, on the other hand, comes from passion for the arts, and our combined desires to make that art a “collectible in motion.”
Tell us about the biggest successes and failures in your life. What worked, what didn’t, and what did you learn?
My biggest success so far has definitely been creating something out well…nothing. The feeling that three people, with widely different backgrounds yet deeply common passions, can forge and execute an ambitious venture together is indescribable. The success of the Gopher has shown me the incredible possibility of the entrepreneurial spirit to shape the world around us. The feeling of failure, however, is also impossible to avoid. As a lover of the political and economic study of the developing world, it is difficult not to feel some sense of failure every time the world witnesses tragedy. What I have learned, however, is that it is crucial not to let this feeling overcome your ambition to make a difference, and rather transform it into action.
What do you want to achieve in the next week, the next year, the next 10 years?
Next week: I’m learning how to bake. Hopefully not to set my flat on fire while attempting to somehow create some kind of peanut butter cookies.
Next year: Be well established in the field of international development.
Next 10 years: Hopefully I have been able to find that work-life balance that is so difficult to attain. And run an awesome magazine.
What was your most inspiring moment during the last two weeks?
Listening to Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sound of Silence.” One of the most serenely inspiring songs ever!
How could other Sandboxers and the outside world support you and why would that be exciting for them?
I believe that big ideas are a product of the inspiration and knowledge one gains from being surrounded by dynamic, exceptional and original people. It is through this kind of interaction that one can attain not only the inspiration to act on ideas, but also attain access to the necessary resources to materialise on this very inspiration. It is in this way other Sandboxers can help: by watering the seed of ingenuity and then helping that seed blossom into a world changing initiative.
Kyra’s favourites:
Place on earth- A tiny crepe stand in Le Marais, Paris.
Travel destination during the last year- Sydney, Australia
Drink- Shirley Temple
Quote- “The first step — especially for young people with energy and drive and talent, but not money — the first step to controlling your world is to control your culture. To model and demonstrate the kind of world you demand to live in. To write the books. Make the music. Shoot the films. Paint the art.” – Chuck Palahniuk
On the 23. February 2010 at 19:42 o'Clock
Oh hey hooray!!!!