Born in Kashmir, India and raised in four countries, Upasna’s writing talks about the jinns of our past and belonging. In her 20-year career, she has led strategy for organizations such as the University of Michigan and McKinsey. As the CEO of nonprofit Peerbagh, she encourages reading and storytelling. She has published nonfiction books including Loal (Gulshan, 2024) and has an upcoming young adult fiction book, Notes of Freedom (LitKanmani, 2027).  She edits Bento – the only South-Asian children’s magazine in print and co-hosts a global kidlit podcast, Zubaani. Upasna has won writing awards from Centrum, SCBWI, Kweli, and others.