Sarra Kaak: "Thank You for Trusting Your Intuition"

Sarra Kaak is 30 years old, Tunisian, and her job is helping people stand tall. A certified mindset coach and NLP Master Practitioner, she founded Disconnect to Connect, a project centered on mental health, mindfulness, and our relationship with work. She supports young professionals and entrepreneurs who want to move forward without burning out. A nomad for four to five years across North Africa, Asia, and Turkey, she's getting ready to hit the road again in 2026.

But behind the woman who guides others is someone who had to guide herself — with no plan, no safety net, and sometimes no idea how to introduce herself.

Building an identity on the road

Sarra's hardest moment as a nomad had nothing to do with a missed flight or a place that fell through. It was an identity crisis.

"My toughest moment was when I was switching careers and everything was still blurry. I was already into coaching, but not fully. And at the same time, marketing no longer represented me, even though it was still my identity. Meeting people all the time and not knowing how to introduce myself — it was precisely that exposure that helped me take control and build my identity on my own terms."

Travel, with its constant encounters, acted as an accelerator. By having to introduce herself over and over, Sarra eventually found herself.

Burnout, even when you love what you do

This is a topic Sarra knows from the inside — not just as a coach, but as a woman who chose to build something on her own, on the road.

"Doing what you love doesn't prevent you from overthinking, from wanting to deliver the best service, from overcommitting. And it's precisely because you care so much that it can sometimes become harder — if you don't know when to stop."

Sarra didn't wait for burnout to hit before reacting. She knows its five stages, and it's by spotting the early warning signs that she managed to step back. That's exactly what she teaches: self-awareness as the first tool for prevention.

Loneliness, as seen by someone whose job is connection

You might think that someone who works on human connection never suffers from loneliness. Sarra sees it differently.

"I'm an ambivert — I recharge both with people and on my own. There were times when I was alone and enjoyed it, and others when I needed company and went looking for it. I have no problem going up to people in a hostel or a café if I feel the right energy. But I know that's not something everyone can do."

And when the need for connection is there but the drive to reach out is missing? Sarra has her methods: regular check-ins with her loved ones around the world, group tours, or simply — sitting with the feeling, trying to understand why, and working on that part of herself.

The double singularity: woman, Tunisian, nomad

In the world of digital nomadism, the typical profile remains that of a Western man. Sarra checks two boxes that fall outside the mold: she's a woman, and she's Arab.

"There's definitely a double singularity. But in my experience, it mostly sparked curiosity in people, and I love that — exchanging about our cultures, religions, and traditions. It's not that common to meet Tunisian or Arab women travelers who do nomadism and backpacking."

A few times, curiosity took less well-meaning forms — labels slapped on too quickly, inappropriate questions disguised as interest. Sarra has learned to handle them. And she points out: they're a minority in her journey.

On female nomadism more broadly, she's clear-eyed: "Women face the same challenges as everywhere else, and the most important thing remains safety. It doesn't change the course of my experience, but I take extra precautions." She also adds that female nomads often carry an implicit expectation: that of stability, of settling down. Nomadism can then be perceived as rebellion rather than a lifestyle choice.

Disconnect to Connect: going inward

Sarra's project isn't just about coaching. It's a vision.

"In a world that constantly pulls us outward, we help you learn to go inward and use your best resources to get what you desire. We all want to do more — but at what cost? We help you achieve your dreams without losing yourself along the way."

At the heart of her method: productivity, nervous system regulation, burnout prevention — all through a holistic approach centered on mindset and NLP.

Cyclical productivity: working with your body, not against it

This might be the most original topic Sarra champions — and the most relevant one for an International Women's Day piece.

"Women go through a cycle of approximately 28 days, and that cycle has four phases. Each phase has its own advantages, which most women aren't even aware of. This means that productivity isn't linear. Instead of forcing yourself to always do more even when it gets hard, I simply teach them to do things differently — which keeps goals active with better management of our inner resources."

In other words: stop operating according to a productivity model designed for male cycles, and learn to activate the strengths of each phase. A rare message in the working world, and an even rarer one in the world of nomadism.

Travel as a school of coaching

Sarra doesn't separate her profession from her life on the road. Travel directly feeds her practice.

"The world has taught me more about people and the essence of being human. Hearing the stories of locals and fellow travelers has taught me gratitude, and how many opportunities exist in the world. But most importantly, it's about putting into practice everything I know in theory. When you're exposed to the world and face challenges, you choose to grow — and that then becomes easier to pass on to your clients."

It's the kind of encounter she experienced in Turkey and Cyprus, through couchsurfing: Kurdish hosts who opened the doors to a culture impossible to discover otherwise. The kind of experience, she says, that you can't Google.

"Thank you for trusting your intuition"

If Sarra could speak to the version of herself from five years ago — the one who had just quit her job with no plan — she would give her only one message:

"Thank you for trusting your intuition."

Today, Sarra is preparing a workation retreat in Djerba, Tunisia — a stay designed for remote workers and digital nomads who feel overwhelmed or stuck in permanent productivity mode. A blend of work time, workshops, mindfulness practices, local cuisine, and cultural exploration. The kind of experience that perfectly embodies what Disconnect to Connect means.

This article is part of our series published for International Women's Rights Day 2026. At Hello Mira, we believe that digital nomadism is best experienced when shared — with locals, with other nomads, with those who dare. That's why we give a voice to women who live this adventure every day, with their doubts, their struggles, and their vision.