I Fought to Find My Voice. Now I Use It To Empower Others.
Andrew Carlins
“As a child, I grew up with a stutter and faced many hurtful experiences.”
“Never forgetting that my own voice was once lost, I am committed to empowering underrepresented voices.”
Before Andrew found his voice, he relied on tricks. He’d write messages instead of making phone calls and used his fists to handle bullies on the school bus. That’s when he came to me, an elementary school kid held back by his stutter. Today, Andrew is on a mission to change the world—with words.
I remember when Andrew first came to me. He had a sticker business in his locker. He would write letters to minor league baseball teams, some of them would send him stickers by mail and he would sell the stickers at school. When I suggested he call the teams directly, he was hesitant but intrigued. So, we started making calls together—sometimes I’d have him teach me how to stutter (pseudostuttering as a means of desensitization to relieve his reactivity to stuttering), and other times I’d use techniques to model effective communication. As Andrew took the to the phone, his natural abilities shone through. The sticker business thrived, and Andrew realized the powerful impact of his voice. As the stickers came through the confidence grew.
Just a few weeks ago, Andrew reached out, and we went for a run. Catching up with him was a challenge—he had so much to share! I was impressed, though not surprised, by his updates.
He spoke about living and working in Washington, D.C., traveling across Asia, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and pursuing his MBA at Stanford. It’s remarkable to think this is the same middle schooler who once fought bullies. Now, he’s a professional at an international business consulting agency, tackling complex challenges and finding solutions. He surrounds himself with inspiring people and pursues diverse passions. He’s also the founding director of the Empowering Education Fund, a nonprofit that promotes educational equity for refugees and immigrants in the U.S., supported by a dedicated team of mentors.
Andrew’s journey from solving problems with his fists to his current achievements is truly inspiring. While he credits me with helping him find his voice, I’ve learned invaluable lessons from him and his family. They are among my greatest teachers and heroes. One memorable moment was when I asked Andrew if he had anything he wanted to share privately. His response was profound: “What do you mean? There are no secrets in our family. There’s nothing I would tell you that I wouldn’t share with my mom.”
As we finished our run, I asked Andrew, “What five words would you use to describe yourself today?” He couldn’t limit it to just five. Notably, stuttering wasn’t even in his top ten! Andrew said, “Stuttering may not define me now, but it’s one of the top things that made me who I am.”
Andrew came to me for help, and today, he’s giving back.
Running and catching up with Andrew Carlins
See more blog posts like this
Alchemist’s Secret by Andrew Carlins
Mother and Son Shine, Transcending Stuttering Podcast Episode #24
Stuttering Transformation by Devora
Listen to the TranscendingX Podcast
Scroll down to see Andrew’s essay, submitted with his application to Stanford University MBA program. Previously, Andrew shared his college essay, The Alchemist’s Secret.
After graduating from Duke's Fuqua School of Business, Andrew went to work at Bain & Company. He serves on the board of the The Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke, and this fall he is starting the next chapter of his journey, at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Andrew is also the founding director of The Empowering Education Fund.
As a child, I grew up with a stutter and faced many hurtful experiences. Moments when people mocked and bullied me or would not take the time to listen to me were extremely painful, but they also awarded me a distinct ability to persevere and empathize with others. Through years of speech therapy, I found the courage to speak up and vowed to use my voice to empower those whose pain has been silenced or unnoticed. Entering college, I solidified my purpose through working domestically and abroad with refugees and asylum seekers, realizing that connecting with and empowering others matters most to me.
I recall a profound conversation with *Ganza, a resettled African refugee I mentored through Duke University’s Citizenship Lab. He shared that he was ridiculed in his American high school because of his English. His experiences reminded me of my own hurtful moments. Committed to my promise, I worked with Ganza and Durham Public Schools’ Multilingual Resource Center to advocate for more inclusive environments for newcomers. Recognizing an unmet need for underrepresented voices, I dedicated my career to this community.
Next, I worked with the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, drafting legislation for Syrian refugee resettlement. Traveling across Ireland, I captured refugees' stories, which moved me to tears and showed me the urgency of improving current policy. I shared these insights with senior civil servants and UN representatives, outlining ways to expand Irish resettlement policy. I was enormously grateful when my suggestions were adopted by the Minister of State.
In Israel, I volunteered with the African Refugee Development Center, interviewing Eritrean asylum seekers who struggled in Israeli society. Moved to help, I created a podcast sharing their diverse experiences, raising awareness for immigration-related causes. Looking back, I realized I derive pride and meaning from empowering others.
My work is not done. As corporate social responsibility efforts shift conventional business, I embrace the challenge to promote social justice through advocacy and innovation globally. Never forgetting that my own voice was once lost, I am committed to connecting with and helping others by empowering underrepresented voices, so that people like Ganza are heard.
*name and country changed to protect identity