Insights | Philanthropower

When did you last acknowledge the strength you carry?

Not the polished achievements. Not the easy wins. The quiet resilience built in life’s lowest points. The lessons learned in moments no one else saw. That strength is what allows us to show up with clarity and conviction. It shapes how we lead. It determines how we partner. And it is often the difference between collaboration that merely functions and partnership that truly flourishes. We have spoken about what makes partnerships thrive: knowledge, shared language, passion, a

7 days ago2 min read

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Maya Angelou

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on three components which contribute to building authentic relationships, which lead to partnerships: Passion. Language , which reaches the heart and mind, and how we communicate. And today, something that sits underneath both of those: having knowledge worth sharing. The kind of knowledge that allows us to contribute with confidence, to be useful rather than performative, and to build trust and respect through what we bring to

Feb 122 min read

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart” - Nelson Mandela.

Last week, I reflected on the power of passion and how it inspires those around us. But passion on its own isn’t enough. For it to truly land, we have to speak in a way the other person can hear and connect with. It’s a simple but powerful reminder: the language we use has the power to create powerful ripples, far beyond what we realise. Whether you are cultivating a relationship to advance your philanthropy or just in your personal life, the right approach makes all the diff

Feb 61 min read

Passion is contagious.

Research by Sigal G. Barsade at Yale University demonstrated that emotions truly are contagious within groups. Her experiments showed that when positive moods are expressed, they spread. For foundations and philanthropists, this matters. In my experience, funding decisions aren’t made solely based on evidence and data. They’re shaped by the confidence of the people behind the work, the trust they inspire, the emotions they awaken, and the clear sense that they truly understan

Jan 292 min read

“If you dream it, you can do it…”

I saw this quote (in French) on the wall of a meeting room last week, and it felt like a simple, beautiful reminder of what’s possible when peers collaborate and dream together. One of the most powerful ways to build strong working relationships? Time spent together - face-to-face. And that’s exactly what last week was all about for me. After over a year of working together, I finally had the pleasure of meeting my client’s teams in person for the first time in Amsterdam and

Jan 201 min read

“Connection is why we’re here; it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.” Brené Brown

Looking ahead to 2026, my focus is clear: enabling changemakers to tackle today’s challenges in ways that meaningfully better our world. Over the years, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about and actively creating connections and collaborations. Some relationships flourished. Others did not. Some that I thought would go nowhere unexpectedly thrived, while others that seemed promising never materialised. Each experience taught me something about trust, connection, an

Jan 152 min read

This year, I’m focusing on connections that energise, uplift, and drive impact

As the new year kicks in, many of us feel overwhelmed by the familiar pressure to write down resolutions, goals, targets, and "big plans for 2026", some of which are unrealistic or set up to fail. This year, I’m focusing my energy where it truly counts: on the relationships that allow me to support others, support my growth, and remind me of the shift from merely getting through life to genuinely thriving. 2026 will not be easy sailing. It is likely to test our resilience, ad

Jan 92 min read

Celebrating a fantastic collaboration!

I greatly appreciated collaborating with the LGT team on researching and producing the “Wealth for impact, Global perspectives from the next generations of wealth holders” study. You can download the study here

Nov 5, 20251 min read