AI geek. Mathematician at heart. Lifelong learner. Lover of books, animals, and the quiet magic of a good idea. Proud Canadian by choice.
Say hello ↓"Canada didn't just give me an education. It gave me a home, a purpose, and a chosen family."— Elnaz, on arriving in Montreal alone in 2010
Your daily affirmation
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I arrived in Canada in August 2010 — alone, an international student from Iran stepping into Montreal knowing no one. I was lost in the truest sense. But Canada, with characteristic quiet generosity, helped me find my way.
A Government of Canada scholarship brought me here for my doctorate. When I received it, something shifted. I felt indebted — not out of obligation, but out of love. That feeling has never left me.
At my core I am a mathematician — I see the world through patterns, structures, and the elegant logic that connects things. AI, to me, is just the most exciting application of that lens. I am genuinely, unabashedly, a geek about it.
Canada is my home. The moment I knew it truly was when I saw Canadians using an AI solution I had built to do their work better. That image stays with me. It always will.
What fills my world
I believe empathy is not a soft skill — it is the only path to survival for humanity in a world that is moving faster than our wisdom can keep up with. Kindness, compassion, and the willingness to show up for others are what separate a civilization from a competition. I give back in whatever form I can — supporting newcomers finding their footing, lifting up those going through hard seasons, and showing up wherever someone needs a hand. Not out of obligation. Out of the conviction that a good heart, practised daily, is the most important thing any of us can contribute.
I believe investing in schools and universities is the single most important thing we can do for our future. I also believe the gap between academia and industry must close — urgently. Knowledge without application stalls. Practice without theory drifts. I give back in every way I can: teaching, research, mentorship, and showing up wherever both worlds can meet.
I was not born here. But Canada is my home in every way that matters. I chose it, and it chose me back. Skating on the Rideau Canal on a bitter January morning. The way Ottawa explodes into colour every autumn — reds and golds so vivid they seem impossible. The brief, triumphant arrival of spring after months of cold, when suddenly everyone is outside and smiling at strangers. The long, generous light of Canadian summers. The kindness on the street, in every season. This country has a warmth that runs deeper than its winters. I carry it with me everywhere I go.
Got a spark?
A problem that could be solved with AI. Something you want to bring to life. A process that feels broken and you wonder if technology could fix it. A dream that just needs the right mind to help make it real. Let's talk.
I believe that taking care of your mind is not a luxury — it is the foundation of everything else. You cannot build anything meaningful, love anyone fully, or contribute to the world around you if you are running on empty.
Life can be hard. Some seasons are harder than others. And the most courageous thing a person can do is reach out when they need support. There is no weakness in that — only wisdom.
If you or someone you love is struggling, please know that help exists and you deserve it.
I'd love to hear from you — whether you want to talk about AI, books, or anything in between.