As someone who works closely with international families navigating the ups and downs of life abroad, Mirsada Hoffmann connected with knowitall to share her experience, a great value to our international community here in Switzerland. Her work centers on supporting parents raising children across cultures—helping families build emotional resilience, strengthen connection, and find steadiness in the face of change.
We caught up with Mirsada and asked her a few questions.
What has been the inspiration behind Thriving Global Family?
I started Thriving Global Family because, as a mother of four, I saw firsthand how layered and emotionally complex international life can be—for children and parents alike. Every move affected our family in different ways. What worked for one transition didn’t necessarily work for the next. Concerns shifted as the kids grew, and I came to understand just how deeply my own emotional state impacted their ability to adjust and thrive.
Parenting is already a complex job—even in one language, one culture, and one school system. Add the layers of international living—new countries, unfamiliar languages, shifting educational expectations—and it can quickly become overwhelming. While the global lifestyle offers incredible opportunities, the harder, more human aspects are often hidden or dismissed. This can leave families—especially parents—feeling isolated.
I started this work to create the kind of support I wish I’d had: community, connection, and real conversations that help families feel seen in both the joy and the struggle.
Every move affects families in different ways
Have you been working on this idea forever, or was it something that came to you recently?
This has been a true labor of love. Raising four kids across continents, cultures, and school systems—while navigating different personalities, needs, and challenges (and let’s not forget a global pandemic)—often without a reliable support network, has taught me more than any course ever could.
I’ve been living, learning, and growing alongside my children for years. I didn’t wake up one day with a business plan—I lived the need. And I know I’m not alone. There’s deep wisdom in these lived experiences, and I want to make that wisdom more accessible to the international families who need it.
What is the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome?
Time. Hands down.
There’s a saying that everyone has the same 24 hours in a day—but as any parent knows, those hours get divided across everyone else’s needs, often leaving very little for your own dreams. Building something while mothering, managing, supporting, and simply showing up for four kids is no small task.
Time has been my biggest challenge—but also my greatest teacher in learning how to focus on what truly matters.
What are your plans for the future?
My hope is for every international parent to feel truly seen—for the richness and the complexity of the life they’re navigating. This isn’t just about survival—it’s about helping families thrive emotionally, socially, and relationally.
Looking ahead, I want to make support more accessible across both economic and geographic lines. While expat life is often seen as glamorous, the financial and emotional realities can be quite different—especially for families. I’m working toward solutions that offer real value without adding to parents’ already full plates.
What is your favorite product or service you offer, and why?
At the heart of everything I do is connection. My favorite offering is any space that brings parents together around real, meaningful conversations—whether that’s a workshop, group coaching, or a casual parent circle.
When parents feel safe to talk about the hard stuff, something shifts. They realize they’re not alone, and they leave feeling both seen and better equipped to support their families. That’s the kind of magic I’m proud to be part of.
What clients are saying about Thriving Global Family
“Mirsada’s insightful coaching outlines the pillars of emotionally intelligent parenting, empowering us with the concrete steps parents can take today to create more self-awareness and self-regulation in our daily family lives.”
“Thank you, Mirsada, for opening us up to such a valuable and rich series of conversations. It was great to connect with like-minded parents and talk so openly about modern parenting challenges. I appreciate all the resources and look forward to more.”
“I had such an easy time opening up to Mirsada—she was easy to talk to and I instantly felt understood and comfortable.”
“Mirsada helped me become more aware of how my approach wasn’t helping to build the relationship with my daughter that I wanted.”
Discount when you sign up for Thriving Global Family's newsletter
Anyone who signs up for Mirsada's newsletter in the next week will receive a CHF 50.- discount on any service they choose.
Please visit this direct link for the newsletter.
Anything else you think our readers would like to know?
Just this: parenting abroad is a beautiful, complicated journey—and you don’t have to do it alone.
Whether you’re just starting out or deep in the thick of it, there’s space for your questions, your doubts, and your dreams.
You deserve to feel supported.
And your kids deserve to see what real, imperfect, connected thriving can look like.
Author bio
Whether you’re just starting out or deep in the thick of it, there’s space for your questions, your doubts, and your dreams. You deserve to feel supported. And your kids deserve to see what real, imperfect, connected thriving can look like. Mirsada Hoffmann supports parents raising children across cultures—helping families build emotional resilience, strengthen connection, and find steadiness in the face of change through Thriving Global Family.
Thriving Global Family
Mirsada Hoffmann
www.mirsadahoffmann.com
