who you’ve become
What’s the most impactful work I do with social leaders? Help them ‘change their mind’.Literally.By getting these leaders to change their outlook so fundamentally that they see opportunities rather than limitations…then they move from problem solving to possibility creation. And that’s the difference between treading water and actually swimming to a destinationOur mental outlook is [...]
Helena* is typical of most the social leaders that I work with. She’s been moving through life…instead of actually living it. On the outside, she’s remarkably accomplished and successful. Inside, she’s overwhelmed, stressed and fearful. Depleted. Anything but joyful and energized. I see it again and again. Quite contrary to what many would imagine, [...]
The social entrepreneurship movement is on the rise globally in terms of size, scope, and degree of available support. Gen Y (also known as Millennials) and early-Gen Z, known to be more socially conscious and engaged, now comprise the majority of the workforce in many countries. These change agents will increasingly be the driving [...]
From economic growth to growth in wellbeing Over the last century, humanity has revolutionized both science and technology at a rate never before seen in history. We’ve conquered the world, and engineered technologies and physical developments as much as we felt was ‘humanly’ possible. Up until now, this progress has been largely focused on [...]
During a work trip to Nepal, I attended the funeral of the Tibetan Lama, Rinpoche Geshe Lhundrup Rigsel. It was a day-long ceremony at the Kopan Monastery assisted by 900 monks. A long procession carried the Lama’s body to the place of cremation in a meditative sitting position and dressed like a deity. Hours [...]
My mobile phone rang with a call from Burundi. Through static and whistling wind, I heard the voice of Kandinda, the Congolese vice-president of the Karurama refugee camp from where I had returned a few months earlier. We had worked side-by-side in Cibitoke, situated in the triangle between Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi, and very fast [...]
I remember the scent of the Arabic sweets my mom brought with her back from Lebanon. She kept them in a special cupboard and we were not allowed to touch. I often opened the door to this cupboard to inhale the exotic fragrance of orange blossom, rosewater and cardamom, staring intently at the dried [...]