Since the news of my candidacy for Director-General of the @WHO became public, I have received so many messages of encouragement and kindness from around the world. Thank you. For your words, your trust, and for believing in me. But yesterday, I received one message that made me rethink how I want to tell the story of this campaign. It was from my wife, Lilya. My biggest believer, my strongest supporter, and the love of my life. And it reminded me of something she told me just a few days ago. We were getting ready, and once again I was wearing one of those dark, very serious ties. I told her: “Lilya, I don't like these ties. This is not me. I like something more stylish, more my style. And my happy socks! And my red sneakers...” She looked at me and said: “Then stop. Just be yourself.” Just be yourself. Maybe that is exactly how I should approach this journey. If I am asking the world to trust me with such an important responsibility, people should know who I am. Not only what I think about healthcare, WHO, financing, access or global health. But how I think. What shaped me. Who shaped me. What I believe in. What makes me laugh, what makes me angry, what gives me hope. So during this journey, I am going to tell stories. And the first one had to be about Lilya. We met during the first days of medical school and studied together. We have been very close friends ever since. Many years later, I finally realized what apparently should have been obvious much earlier: we should spend our lives together and be the closest friends. Today, Lilya is an ophthalmologist and a deeply caring doctor who genuinely loves her patients and her work. She is a wonderful mother to our two children and, most importantly, an extraordinary human being. She also has an incredible talent for creating beauty around her. Give her an empty room, a dinner, an event—anything—and somehow she transforms it. She loves bringing people together and making every detail beautiful. Perhaps because she sees beauty everywhere. And perhaps because she is so beautiful herself 😍 Being my wife is probably not easy. I travel too much. Even when I am home, my mind is often somewhere else—thinking about the next idea, the next project, the next thing that needs to be done. And she is the person who brings me back. Back to life. Back to enjoying the moment. And sometimes, back to being myself—with the ties I actually like, my colorful socks, and, yes, my red sneakers. Thank you, Lilya, for your love, your patience, your support—and for reminding me to just be myself. The best is yet to come. Thank you, my love. ❤️ P.S. Women are great leaders. And great doers. I am really happy to see three incredible women also running for this job. @HananBalkhy @DrMariaNeira Dr Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari So, gentlemen, it looks like it is going to be tough for us. ☺️ @hans_kluge @BudiGSadikin