Some moments call for stillness. Others demand action and honest conversation. This one calls for all of the above and even more. I’m heading to Skoll World Forum 2026 from 21 to 24 April to make sense of what this moment asks of philanthropy and our wider sector. The need to come together has always been there….now it feels more urgent. The world is moving so fast and unpredictably. I’m looking to engage in honest, grounded conversations about what this means in practice and

Is the act of “Giving” itself under threat? Is philanthropy standing in quicksand? Is philanthropy caught between a rock and a hard place? Is philanthropy living a new reality? These are questions racing through my mind. If you work in or alongside philanthropy, you may recognise them. Which one resonates most? #Philanthropy   #Change   #NavigatingChallenge   #ANewWorld   #WhatComesNext

The values we are taught at home quietly shape how we approach work, philanthropy, and relationships. I was raised to value integrity and connection, and I carry that with me to this day.   Many have not had the right guidance early on, but they chose good values, creating a better legacy and taking a different path for their children, family and their work. I spent time with my family last weekend, and it reminded me of how grounding those bonds are, especially in these diff

The events since this weekend are shaking people, families and organisations across the globe. Travel disrupted. Loved ones at risk. Anxiety rising… Here’s the thing: Anxiety doesn’t stay with you. It ripples out, touching everyone around you, making a tough situation even harder. We are all feeling it, at work or at home. I have family and loved ones in the Middle East right now, and I am hyper-aware of how I need to manage my own energy. So, I am intentionally holding onto

A conversation starts with a promise. You share ideas. Momentum feels possible. And then… the energy stalls… Follow-ups fall flat, or don’t happen at all. The connection doesn’t seem to grow. Sometimes, conversations stall for all sorts of reasons: timing, work pressure, personal challenges, or sometimes just because it’s not the right fit.   One way that works for me is to re-ignite conversations by giving people space to think, nurture an idea, or just be ready. Respecting

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

After years of conversations with philanthropists, I noticed one difference that consistently stood out: their mindset, specifically,  a...

I am glad to be back after my first three-week break since 2018. It took some coaxing from friends and my husband to unplug, and I am...

I saw David Guetta, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Tate McRae, and Calvin Harris live this summer, and their performances gave me inspiration...

Over the years, through my work with philanthropists and grant-making foundations, I have learned that building and deepening...

I shudder when I hear these questions, not because they shouldn’t be asked, but because they often reflect a misunderstanding of what...

As the past 31 days come to a close, I’ve taken a moment to reflect on what’s fuelled my mind, heart, inspiration and learning. For me,...

Earlier this month, I greatly enjoyed moderating a Skoll  TheSidebar  session on Trust-Based Philanthropy, exploring whether we can truly...