Somewhere in Jamaica, Jacqueline Samaroo is crafting her article on health and fitness. On the other side of the world, in Indonesia, Kate Dench is writing her science and innovation story. Lindsay Heiman is working on a lifestyle piece from the United States. And soon, we’re going to read a political overview from Tobi Adebanjo, who is based in Nigeria.
They share no office. They simply don’t need to. Every issue of TrooRa begins with people separated by oceans but united by one editorial mission.
At the center of it is Trystanne Cunningham, someone who knows firsthand what borders cost. Growing up traveling the world with her father, Haiti’s ambassador to Washington and Mexico, Trystanne was drawn to airport newsstands. She loved the glossy covers that showed worlds she hadn’t yet visited. With time, she built TrooRa to make sure borders don’t decide who gets heard. “Talent, creativity, and innovation exist everywhere, not just in traditional centers of power,” Trystanne says.
Most magazines still rely on centralized offices in New York or London, where being physically present often opens more doors. “Publications, especially luxury-oriented publications, are usually pretty insular, class-homogeneous, and limited in scope, but being borderless lets TrooRa break that tradition,” says Amia, TrooRa’s brand ethicist.
Too often, the people best placed to tell these stories never make it into print. The writer who can’t afford to self-publish, the immigrant who overcomes the real cost of citizenship, the LGBTQ artist whose work exists outside the space of mainstream galleries—these stories rarely survive the pitch meeting.
And publishing voices from around the world takes more than recruiting writers in different countries. Their stories need context. “What may feel like a simple narrative in one culture can carry deep historical or emotional weight in another,” Trystanne notes. “That has pushed me to listen more intentionally, to ask better questions, and to ensure that the way we tell stories at TrooRa honors the fullness of the people behind them.”
Few people could tell the story of beauty standards in Argentina better than María Cueto, who lives there and reads the culture from the inside. The same goes for Andrea Villamil, who captures Colombian identity through fashion and music, and Prerna Prakash, who brings Sujani embroidery to life through the lens of her Indian heritage. These are not just diverse bylines. These stories could only have been written by the people who lived them.
Metallic wireframe globe model on stand
Yet working remotely to publish these stories from all over the world is also a colossal challenge. Different time zones, communication styles, and expectations can slow down the process. That is why Trystanne is sure that the work “requires a higher level of clarity, structure, and accountability.”
Once a new issue cycle opens, contributors start pitching from different corners of the world, each bringing stories from their own communities. Because the work is asynchronous, the editorial process runs on clear communication, shared deadlines, and transparent workflows rather than shared walls. Editors guide both the reporting and the visual direction, while Airtable keeps every stage visible to the team. The system lets dozens of people collaborate on one publication without sacrificing consistency—reporting from where they are rather than relocating to be heard.
Working this way changes more than logistics. It changes how people see the world. “I’ve expanded my mind over the past several years with TrooRa by hearing stories and little anecdotes from people and getting to see the world from different perspectives,” says Cristina Deptula. “I’ve learned that people are often similar (we’re all human) and different, but sometimes in ways you wouldn’t expect.”
“TrooRa was built on the belief that talent, creativity, and innovation exist everywhere, not just in traditional centers of power,” — Trystanne Cunningham
The model also challenges the idea that place should determine opportunity. Kate Dench points out that many professional opportunities are predetermined by location and borders, “and over time this broadens the privilege gap between the haves and the have-nots.” Borderless organizations operate differently, “allowing people opportunities based on their ability and potential rather than their zip code.”
Making those opportunities real, though, means navigating genuine friction. For Amia, it’s a communication gap: “Even though we’re speaking the same language, I constantly wonder whether I’m conveying my thoughts in a way that’s understandable past that barrier.” For Prerna, it’s the difficulty of building bonds at a distance: “Casual workplace relationships often require physical proximity and cultural congruity, which is hard when the company is borderless.”
This is the real cost of being borderless, and TrooRa doesn’t look away from it. None of the contributors interviewed described the model as easy. But most saw the difficulties as a fair trade for what it creates. As Hayley Vandermaarl puts it, “it allows us to practice patience and empathy, which is never a bad thing.”
Top view of computer monitor setup
The model changes how people feel about their work—not only as employees, but as individuals who are trusted and valued. Working among international colleagues, Jacqueline finds her skills recognized beyond the boundaries of her own country. Ossiana Tepfenhart sees borderlessness as a mindset: “As an American, my culture is often the default, and I assume everyone thinks the same as me. Challenging myself to see things through other lenses is the definition of borderless.”
While one story is being edited in one part of the world, the draft of another is just beginning somewhere else. No single office could hold them all. Together, they become one magazine.
That shared space with no walls and no single address didn’t happen by accident. It was a conscious choice from the very beginning: Trystanne built a community, and each member contributes to it. TrooRa doesn’t claim borders have been erased. It insists they shouldn’t decide who gets to speak.
“At its core, TrooRa being borderless is about building something that reflects the world as it truly is—diverse, complex, and full of voices that deserve to be seen,” Trystanne says.
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©2018 -2026 – TrooRa is a registered trademark of Rare Luxury Living LLC TrooRa Magazine, A Fortunest Group and is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
By clicking “submit,” you agree to receive emails from TrooRa and accept our web terms of use and privacy and cookie policy. *Terms apply.
©2018 -2025 – TrooRa is a registered trademark of Rare Luxury Living LLC TrooRa Magazine, A Fortunest Group and is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
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