Dr. Riza Rasco is an internationally recognized scientist, global explorer, and social impact leader. Holding a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Nottingham, UK, she is among a rare group of travelers to have visited all countries in the world.

After a prolific career in scientific research and innovation, Riza stepped away to navigate a period of personal loss, emotional upheaval, and disconnection. What began as a quest for healing evolved into a decade-long global odyssey of reflection and reinvention.

Today, she leads nonprofit and business initiatives that harness the power of travel to drive meaningful change in underserved communities. A sought-after speaker at international conferences and global forums, her work and journey have been featured in National Geographic, Forbes, The Telegraph, The Sunday Times, and other international media outlets.

The World Is My Mirror is the story of a radical midlife reinvention told through vivid, self-contained vignettes that move across every continent, country, and forgotten corner of the world.

At the height of her career as a scientist, Dr. Riza Rasco's pursuit of success, belonging, and motherhood collapsed under the weight of infertility, burnout, and grief. With no plan and no certainty, she walked away from her marriage, home, and profession, setting out alone on what became a decade-long journey through physical, emotional, and spiritual landscapes.

From Bolivia's salt flats to the bomb-scarred souks of Aleppo, from remote African villages to mountain loops in northern Thailand, each place reflected an unspoken truth, offering lessons in resilience, humility, and belonging. Along the way, she founded a social enterprise in West Africa and the Philippine Global Explorers, now the world's largest national travel club, dedicated to education, heritage preservation, and giving back.

For readers navigating burnout, loss, or transition, The World Is My Mirror is both a love letter to travel and a meditation on the courage it takes to let go of what no longer fits and to trust the uncharted road toward a truer self.