What’s new in the blog?

Lately, I have been captivated by the concept of authenticity—what it means to be an authentic leader, friend, and human being.

This fascination began during a class I teach at Virginia Tech's Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability, where I serve as a Professor of Practice....

Recently, I’ve been having trouble focusing on my work. I attribute this persistent state of distraction to the constant noise around me: the appalling political news, the disasters cropping up around the world due to climate change, and the difficulty of the games I play daily in The ...

I am naturally curious and passionate about learning and exploring new endeavors. However, earlier in my career, I often jumped from one opportunity to another. My priorities shifted frequently, and my attention span was limited. It was as if I were a squirrel in a park full of acorns, darting...

Think about what gets you out of bed and excited to go to work. If you are lucky enough to feel energized about your job, chances are your career aligns with your values.

I’m not referring to the generic and mostly ambiguous statements you add to your resumes or post on your office walls. I...

Ah, spring! I love this season. I'm always so nostalgic in the spring and summer, recalling the ice cream socials my small community held on the church lawn and the strawberry rhubarb pie my grandmother and aunts prepared each spring. We had an abundance of rhubarb in our family garden, and it...

Let me tell you about Jeremy (not his real name), the master of charisma and grand gestures. Jeremy was a senior-level leader in one of my client organizations. This guy was the epitome of charisma, always drawing attention to himself. Jeremy was known for wooing stakeholders and customers with...

Time is a curious phenomenon, almost like a character in the story of our lives, changing roles as we grow. My relationship with time is continuously transforming, as I face various phases of my life and career.  Time has morphed from a barrier in my youth to a precious...

We are Always Evolving, So How Can We Be Authentic?

Authenticity is often discussed in conversations about self-identity and personal growth, but its meaning can be as elusive as appealing. What does it mean to be oneself? Many people grapple with this question, particularly as they encounter...

I have been hearing a lot of talk about authentic leadership lately. And guess what? It seems like we don't all share the same definition.  

Authentic leadership seems to be one of those ambiguous concepts everyone discusses, as if we all agree on a precise definition. 

I teach a...

Who could have foreseen that the aftermath of a challenging year would lead me to the profound transformation brought about by peonies? Every Spring, a bed of these flowers in the community garden where I exchanged wedding vows becomes my sanctuary, my reset button. And this Spring, I found...