The Author

Valerie Dost von Dostenberg is a Swiss-American adventurer, memoirist, Navy Seabee veteran, and internationally seasoned Chief of Staff and Estate Manager whose life has unfolded across 76 countries, countless reinventions, and more than a few extraordinary plot twists. Fluent in multiple languages and born with an insatiable curiosity for the world, she has built a career navigating the demanding inner workings of ultra–high-net-worth households, luxury estates, and high-profile principals—while somehow maintaining her humor, grace, and signature Swiss efficiency.

At thirty-six, Valerie did something most people only dream (or panic) about: she enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve and became a Seabee, stepping into a chapter filled with grit, sweat, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments that reshaped her confidence and resilience. Her military journey, paired with her global travels and civilian career, gives her a perspective that is equal parts grounded and adventurous.

Her life has also been profoundly shaped by heartbreak and the loss of loved ones, experiences that deepen her writing with honesty, tenderness, and emotional clarity. Whether trekking through Southeast Asia, coordinating chaotic celebrity households, hauling her belongings across the country in a U-Haul with her dog Duke in the passenger seat, or rebuilding life in a tiny cottage in Colorado, Valerie approaches each new beginning with courage, wit, and a spirit that simply refuses to quit.

Today, she lives in Denver, Colorado with her beloved rescue dogs, Duke and Coco Chanel, and continues to write, explore, and say yes to the unexpected. Her debut memoir, Borderless, captures a life lived boldly—one adventure, one heartbreak, and one reinvention at a time.