Building Bridges: How Liana Nitsetskaia Turned Heritage into a Movement of Kindness
Liana Nitsetskaia wears many hats. She’s the Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at TBS Design Gallery, a multi-category showroom providing architectural solutions. She’s also the founder of the Georgian Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to serving the Georgian diaspora in Northern California. But beneath these titles lies a powerful story of resilience, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to leading with kindness. Her journey—from a young girl on the shores of the Black Sea to a community leader in the U.S.—is a testament to the idea that our deepest passions often find a way to us, even if the path is unexpected.
This article was written based on the conversation on the “Let’s Talk Impact Podcast” hosted by Justyna Kedra, founder of WERULE. Click here to listen on Spotify.
From Paradise Lost to a New Beginning
Liana grew up in what she describes as paradise: Abkhazia, a beautiful region in the country of Georgia on the coast of the Black Sea. As a child, her dreams were to become a writer, a journalist, and a diplomat. However, this idyllic life was shattered by war. The region was annexed in 1993, turning her into a refugee in her own country.
“All of that did not happen because of war and because of being a refugee,” Liana shares. “Experiencing homelessness, hunger, poverty… lots of things at an early age.”
Life in a post-war, post-Soviet economy was difficult. Her path took another sharp turn when she and her husband immigrated to the United States 22 years ago. They started from “ground zero,” once again facing homelessness and the immense challenge of building a new life. Her break came when she was hired by the major retailer Nordstrom. She spent nearly 14 years in the fast-paced corporate environment, thriving in roles centered on leadership and development. It was here that a core part of her identity was forged.
“I learned about my individuality,” she explains. “I have to lead with kindness, and that has become my ethics. If I do not lead with kindness, I cannot perform well.” This philosophy of servant leadership would become the cornerstone of everything she did next.
A Foundation Born from Need and Purpose
The catalyst for the Georgian Heritage Foundation arrived in 2020 amidst global and local crises: the COVID-19 pandemic and the surreal red skies from raging wildfires in Northern California. It was a time for reflection. Liana realized her own daughter, though Georgian at heart, couldn’t read or write the language of her heritage. She saw the same was true for her friends’ children. There was no school, no center, no structure to connect the new generation to their roots.
“I said, we’re going to create one,” she recalls.
With a small group of passionate, like-minded mothers, she launched the Georgian Heritage Foundation online. They started with 45 students, teaching the alphabet and history via Zoom. The program has since evolved professionally, now offering Georgian as a foreign language, and even a unique program teaching the art of Georgian calligraphy.
The vision expanded beyond language. It grew into what Liana calls “Diaspora Diplomacy”—a belief that every immigrant is an ambassador for their country. “It is our responsibility… to be the best ambassadors of our countries,” she says. “Not hiding our heritage, not being ashamed of it, but being courageous and brave and being inspired by it.”
The Challenges and Unexpected Miracles
Bringing people together for a cause, Liana admits, is a significant challenge. “It requires a lot of effort,” she notes. “There has to be a meaningful cause enough for people to engage or invest their time or money.”
But the rewards have been profound and often unexpected. The most exciting part, she says, is “seeing the impact that this work has brought to the community, to our children, to our youth.” From harvest festivals to lecture series and art exhibits, the foundation has become a hub for connection.
Even more surprising has been the global community she discovered. Diaspora work, she found, is a “non-competitive environment” where leaders from different organizations readily share knowledge and support one another. “We become friends and we want to cherish and nurture that relationship,” she says. This collaborative spirit led her to incredible mentors, including a professor of diaspora studies from Ireland who now sits on her advisory board. “People who come and find us and want to be engaged with us—to me that’s a miracle.”
A Message to Changemakers: Become the Bridge
For other immigrants or aspiring changemakers who feel they lack the time or resources to pursue an idea, Liana’s advice is direct and powerful.
“If you wake up with the same thought every day… you have to do this,” she insists. “You just don’t wait. You do it anyway without resources, without support. Just launch it. Make it happen. If you fail, fail fast. Do it again.”
She speaks with conviction about the importance of staying true to oneself, especially for those whose heritage may be persecuted or misunderstood. Hiding your authentic self, she argues, is a barrier to happiness. The key is to be courageous.
Her final message is a call to action for unity in a divided world. “We cannot burn the bridges; they need to be built on the ground of kindness, compassion, and empathy,” she states. Her voice filled with the quiet strength of someone who has lived this philosophy, she adds, “And if there isn’t one, let’s build it.”
To learn more about Liana Nitsetskaia’s work and the programs offered, you can visit the Georgian Heritage Foundation at georgianfoundation.org.