Voices of leadership
The Trauma Tax: The Hidden Cost Holding Back the World
Q&A with Mohamed Ali Diini
Mohamed Ali Diini has dedicated his career and life to addressing an invisible, 3.5 trillion dollar tax silently eroding performance in our workplaces, schools, and economies. It drives absenteeism, stifles innovation, and causes our most promising to fail. Mohamed Ali Dini named this invisible drag The Trauma Tax and proved that healing it unleashes both our potential and our prosperity.
After fleeing Somalia’s civil war at just nine years old, he grew up and established a career in the U.S. as a lawyer. But years later, he felt called back to Somalia to help young people navigate the still-present conflict and poverty. There, he saw firsthand how trauma rewires the human brain for survival, making it nearly impossible for talented people to seize opportunity.
“I envision a world where healing and opportunity go hand-in-hand..”
As founder of Iftin Global, he pioneered a model that integrates healing directly into economic programs, delivering unprecedented results: an 83% reduction in depression, 98% job retention rates, and proof that healing is a powerful economic strategy.
His research shows a $4.70 return for every dollar spent on trauma healing—proving that the most compassionate investment is also the most profitable one for the two billion people who live in communities touched by violence.
Featured in The New York Times, TIME, and The Guardian—with appearances on CNN and BBC—Mohamed has become a definitive voice on trauma’s economic impact. He is a McNulty Prize winner, Aspen Institute Fellow, and BMW Foundation Responsible Leader. Mohamed’s writing, interviews, and keynotes reach millions globally and provide leaders with the framework to unlock human potential and build a more prosperous, resilient world.
Answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Tell us a little bit about your leadership and impact journey, and the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far.
My leadership journey really started when I was working as a lawyer in the U.S. Over the years, I felt a pull to give back and return to Somalia to start a youth-based organization. Through this journey, I’ve learned to iterate and be willing to accept mistakes and pivot when facing challenges.
What’s the problem you’re trying to solve, and what are the actions you’re taking towards addressing it?
The problem I’m really trying to solve is empowering young people in conflict zones. One of the biggest challenges is that there is an invisible barrier preventing them from taking advantage of the help and opportunities I’m trying to provide — and that barrier is trauma. My mission is to combine job creation and economic development opportunities with mental health and trauma healing. I envision a world where healing and opportunity go hand-in-hand. Where we don’t just try to give someone a job and focus on economic opportunity, but think of the whole person and their wellness and mental health.
What keeps you going?
My biggest motivation is the community I work with and the people I help. Often, people tell me I’m brave for leaving the U.S. and moving back to Somalia to start working with young people. Really, I would say it takes an incredible amount of bravery to wake up every morning and face a world that traumatizes you, tells you no, and tells you to wait. I am absolutely inspired by these young people who are willing to get up every day despite their challenges. So what keeps me going is, for example, a young person telling me, “Yesterday I used the techniques I learned from the mental health counselors you provided me to help my brother with a panic attack.” It’s those simple things and those simple stories that really drive me to continue.
When was the last time you changed your mind?
We were doing economic development and job creation programs in Somalia, and a lot of the young people were dropping out and not fully participating. I had to really wonder: should we just focus on economic development? And that’s when we expanded to mental health and working with teaching people about business plans, alongside teaching them about emotional self-regulation. I think it’s important as leaders to be able to change your mind when you’re faced with obstacles that challenge your core beliefs or wrong assumptions that you may have.
If you were to write a letter to your younger self, what would you write in that letter?
I would say there is no direct path to success, and don’t let others define what success means. I grew up believing I would become a lawyer, and I started working in law, but I’ve ended up working as an activist in Somalia. I took a very different path than what I envisioned. Success doesn’t happen on a straight path, and if you don’t achieve what you want, just be patient.
About the Aspen Global Innovators Group
For over 15 years, the Aspen Global Innovators Group has championed health and development leaders and innovators from 54 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Island States to design, champion and advocate for innovative programs, policies, and partnerships that result in a safer, more equitable, and healthier future for all people and communities. Our network of 7500+ individuals and organizations has served 200 million people, improving health, well-being, and equity. We identify and amplify the voices of visionary, proven, and impactful local leaders, advocates, and practitioners. Join us in building a healthier, more equitable future at https://www.aspenglobalinnovators.org/.
About the Aspen Global Leadership Network
The Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN) is a dynamic, worldwide community of nearly 4,000 entrepreneurial leaders from over 60 countries. Spanning business, government, and the nonprofit sector, these leaders share a commitment to enlightened leadership and the drive to tackle the most pressing challenges of our times. Through transformative Fellowship programs and gatherings like the Resnick Aspen Action Forum, AGLN Fellows have the unique opportunity to connect, collaborate, and challenge each other to grow and commit to a lifelong journey of impact.
More from 2025 Resnick Aspen Action Forum
In July 2025, over 500 leaders across the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN) community gathered for our largest Action Forum to date. Joined by nearly 100 young leaders, AGLN Fellows from more than 30 countries returned to the enduring questions first posed at at the founding of the Aspen Institute 75 years go: What does it mean to lead with purpose in times of profound uncertainty?
Explore more inspiring content on leadership and change-making from the 2025 Action Forum here.