Entrepreneur and human rights advocate Donna rebels kindly

“I was born a Kurd during the Iran-Iraq war, and grew up grappling with questions of injustice, identity, and self-determination from early on, all deeply political and personal.  

I came on a refugee boat, from Bali to Darwin and was detained in detention centres."

For Donna, studying law and becoming a lawyer felt like a natural next step. 

"I wanted to defend human rights against discrimination and oppression, but also understand how power works, and how it can be challenged with principle.” 

“I chose Victoria University because the law faculty was close to the courts, right in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD on Queen Street, a very practical location.  

It meant I could learn the law in the morning and see it in action in the afternoon. That proximity gave me the chance to frequent the courts and take practical placements in chambers.  

Our campus was also regularly visited by barristers, judges, and even police officers, they came to speak, to teach, and to challenge us. Those conversations and connections were invaluable.” 

Studying at VU helped Donna land a role at a corporate law firm. She continued to study, pursuing her a postgraduate degree in international relations and eventually landing a scholarship at Korea University to study peace and security.  

“In Seoul, I worked at a human rights organisation. After three years immersed in Korean culture, and marrying a South Korean man, I returned to Australia and became a mother of two.  

Parenting was a deeply transformative rite of passage which led me to another crossroads.” 

Donna switched gears and founded a sustainable, ethical, purposeful bag company called Shér & Seo.  

“At the same time, I began public speaking, sharing my refugee journey and how to turn adversity into power.  

I shared how I turned the buckets I fetched water with during my refugee days to fashionable Bucket Bags sold on Kind Rebel.” 

“My business journey led me to develop the Kind Rebel philosophy, which is now becoming a book, set for release in early 2026.  

The Kind Rebel is more than a concept first developed and told through my TEDx talk. It’s a way of being. It’s about defying with purpose. 

It’s a call to those who don’t want to choose between kindness and strength, who believe that rebellion can be compassionate, and that change can come through kindness, not just resistance. 

Kind Rebels are everywhere, from Malala to Mandela. They are the change makers and innovators everywhere being the change they wish to see.” 

"Success is not about status for me but service and contribution. And excellence means showing up with integrity, even when no one’s watching.

“To me, success is alignment. It’s when your work reflects your values.  

It is better to live your own authentic life and fail (learn) than to live someone else’s life and succeed.

After my book is released, I plan to launch a series of books about Kind Rebels and those who choose purposeful living. I want to bring this philosophy into organisations, schools, and communities. 

I want to build a movement with impact around the Kind Rebel philosophy and sustain it through books, courses, and merchandise so I can keep spreading this message of possibility, courage, and transformation.

My purpose is simple: to remind people that their authentic stories matter, and that they can defy with purpose and still be kind."

Donna's story shows just how unique each of our journeys can be. If you're interested in using law as your own jumping off point? VU is here to help you shape your own unique career path.

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