Sowda, a mother, author, and eye health professional, brings her expertise from her background in eye health, particularly within pediatrics, and her early childhood education experience. Sowda has her master’s degree in orthoptics and vision health. Sowda aims to diversify children’s books, believing that children need to see themselves reflected in the stories they read. Sowda moved from Australia to Minneapolis, now calling it home in the United States. Inspired by her experiences growing up in a foreign country, Sowda published her first book, “The Magic Headscarf,” to encourage youth to be proud of their uniqueness by celebrating diversity, focusing on characters who are Muslim and with African roots.