A couple of weeks ago, I went to Brussels to see a client's work up close, not just to talk about their work but to get to know the practitioners behind it. That trip confirmed what I always advocate for: being in the room whenever I can. The most meaningful moments were not always the scheduled conversations. They were the exchanges between meetings, the unexpected questions, the shared experiences and the moments where practitioners had the space to connect beyond their rol

My daughter's school graduation was two weeks ago, marking a major milestone and a moment of pride for her, other parents, and classmates. But beneath the celebration, I felt a deeper, bittersweet sense of one chapter closing and another beginning. What stayed with me was everything beneath it. The expectations around what education for the next generation leaders should look like and what counts as "the right path“. As a mother who broke from my family's tradition, I carry a

Recent political and business events have put leadership back in the spotlight, raising familiar questions about who should lead, what qualifies someone to lead, and why public confidence in leadership feels so fragile. These are not new questions, but they feel harder to ignore right now. The more leadership dominates global conversation, the more I find myself wanting to return to something quieter and more grounded. Leadership is not limited to governments or boardrooms. I

Anyone who has a teenager will recognise this moment, especially after the weekend. You are speaking clearly and calmly, doing everything you know works, and still nothing seems to land. The same thing can happen in professional partnerships. Most relationships flow naturally. We build trust, navigate complexity, influence outcomes, and create shared understanding. Then suddenly, in one particular relationship, none of the usual approaches seems to work. I find that uncomfort

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

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

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

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

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

“It’s cheaper to do it by hand than machine,” a laundry worker in Mumbai told me. At first, I thought I had misheard him over the roar of...