“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Maya Angelou
- Feb 12
- 2 min read
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 the conversation. Knowledge which positions you as a leader and expert in your field.
Learning how to speak, present, and influence matters. But so does taking the time to ask whether we have truly done the work of building knowledge that is grounded in our field and worthy of being shared.
If we want to contribute meaningfully, whether in philanthropy, personally or through the causes and communities we care about, it is our responsibility to keep filling our minds. To stay curious. To keep learning.
For many of us, that learning begins with qualifications, frameworks, and theory. These are important. They give us structure, language, and confidence. But they are not enough on their own. The deepest knowledge rarely comes from formal education alone.
It comes from lived experience. From challenges, setbacks, and moments that don’t go to plan and finding a way through difficulties. Often, it is precisely those moments that offer the richest learning - if we are willing to reflect on them rather than rush past them.
Over time, something powerful can happen. We begin to merge different sources of knowledge - theory, lived experience, observation, and reflection. We don’t just accumulate information; we assimilate it.
This kind of learning shapes more than competence. It shapes judgment. Perspective. Humanity. It enables us to show up as people who add real value, not just through what we say, but through how we think, listen, and act. It gives us something authentic to share and the credibility to contribute to change.
The acquisition of knowledge is a lifelong journey. And it matters - for our own development, for the quality of our contributions, and for the difference we hope to make. I’d love to know - what experiences have shaped your deepest learning so far?
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