Newsletter & Podcast

For much of his career, Roger Federer was the embodiment of calm, a maestro who navigated the dynamism of a professional tennis match with a serene intensity that seemed almost untouchable. But the champion we remember is not the player who started. Early in his...

Imagine being born in 1997 in Swat, Pakistan, a region once known as the “Switzerland of Pakistan” for its snow-capped mountains and lush valleys set against the striking Hindu Kush mountain range. Raised by a father who was a passionate educational activist, you are...

Imagine you’re on the verge of a career-making—or breaking—move. It could be launching a new venture, leading a major international expansion, or betting on a disruptive technology. The uncertainty is immense, the stakes are sky-high, and fear is a rational response....

Confidence is often considered a critical ingredient for courage—the inner conviction that we can face daunting challenges and act boldly. While building a robust sense of self-efficacy through personal mastery is undeniably crucial for this internal belief, in many...

You’re backstage, moments away from giving the presentation that could define your career. You’ve done the preparation, you know your narrative and figures inside and out, and you’ve certainly given countless presentations before. Still, staring at a sea of a thousand...

When a gunman began a deadly rampage during the Lunar New Year celebrations in Monterey Park in January 2023, the last person anyone might have expected to intervene was Brandon Tsay. The 26-year-old grandson of the Lai Lai Ballroom's founder was a self-described...

In moments of high pressure or when the world feels particularly chaotic, maintaining composure can seem like an almost impossible feat. Whether we're navigating professional challenges or personal turmoil, our ability to remain centered is continually tested. But...

In moments of high pressure or when the world feels particularly chaotic, maintaining composure can seem like an almost impossible feat. Whether we're navigating professional challenges or personal turmoil, our ability to remain centered is continually tested. But...

In the unpredictable landscape of leadership and life, uncertainty often provokes a deep-seated fear, prompting us to hesitate or even freeze. One effective strategy to manage this pervasive fear and act with courage is to pursue a strategy of Optionality....

An adapted version of this newsletter first appeared on Inc.com Businesses leaders must have clear sense of purpose to guide them through the financial, political, societal and environmental challenges facing them today. So says Dilhan Pillay, the CEO and...

An adapted version of this newsletter first appeared on Inc.com Piyush Gupta joined Citibank right out of business school, with his ambitions focused on climbing the career ladder: How could he get the big promotions, snag the best assignments and become the...

An adapted version of this newsletter first appeared on Inc.com Values and purpose should come first. Then financial success will follow naturally. That is the lesson offered by Mona Ataya, founder and CEO of Mumzworld, the first and largest online baby store in the...

An adapted version of this newsletter first appeared on Inc.com The Mahindra Group’s purpose is a single word: Rise. It’s a word that guides how the company operates internally and how it runs both its commercial and charitable efforts. It includes rising through...

An adapted version of this newsletter first appeared on Inc.com When David Vélez wanted to start a digital bank in Brazil, a lot of people told him it would be impossible. And that made him all the more determined to do it. As the Colombian-born entrepreneur recalled,...

An adapted version of this newsletter first appeared on Inc.com When executives can connect their personal history and purpose with their organization’s purpose, the results can be profound. That’s certainly the case for Rosalind “Roz” Brewer, who became CEO of...

An adapted version of this newsletter first appeared on Inc.com Alan Jope, CEO of Unilever since 2019, can trace the company’s purpose all the way back to its founding over 130 years ago. That’s when a man named William Lever began selling soap with the goal of making...

A shorter version of this newsletter first appeared on Inc.com The opponents of enlightened capitalism are pushing back. They mean well, but they’re stuck in the clouds. Those who believe capitalism has grown too “woke” now have an investment fund just for them....

A shorter version of this newsletter was published on July 12, 2022 at Inc.com. It’s great that shareholders are pressuring leaders to lead more purposefully. But leaders must also know how to get the basics of purposeful business right. It’s proxy season again, and...