Hala Batainah 
As we move toward the end of the year, many of us start thinking about resolutions; those lists of things we promise ourselves will somehow make the next year better, more productive, more something. “Get fit. Save money. Travel more. Write the book.” Sound familiar? Safe to say we have all been there. The gyms … Read more
One of my favourite poems since childhood has been Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken. It captures a universal truth: life’s paths are shaped as much by the choices we do not make as the ones we do. Frost writes, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less travelled by, and … Read more
Every year is a story, and you are its hero. As we near the end of 2024, it is very tempting to view unfinished goals as loose threads—narratives left hanging, plans paused, or dreams deferred. But what if we reframed these as part of a larger, ongoing adventure? In Christopher Booker’s The Seven Basic Plots, … Read more
There is a quote by James Hollis (a prominent Jungian psychoanalyst) that I love and keep coming back to: “It’s the nature of nature to change.” I love it personally, but I also love it because it resonates deeply with the realities of leadership. Whether in life or business, change is not an option, it … Read more
It is that time of year again. Last week, on November 15th, we marked Women’s Entrepreneurship Day. I could not let it pass without reflecting on what it truly means to celebrate women entrepreneurs. I am not talking about the surface-level “rah-rah, girl power” kind of celebration (though, hey, there is always a place for … Read more
If you have ever played a game of poker (not a game I play) or watched a detective show (Detective Columbo is a favourite of mine), you would have probably heard the term “tell.” In poker, a tell is a subtle hint—often unconscious—that reveals what a player is thinking or feeling. It could be a … Read more
Have you ever sat through a training course, listening intently, only to find that one thing truly resonated? That one line—seemingly offhand yet profound—can reshape your approach in ways you did not expect. I have been there. A few years back, during yet another sales methodology course (I have lost count of how many over … Read more
When was the last time you were taken by surprise by a simple yet profound realisation about the people around you—a genuine understanding that each person you encounter carries a life as complex and vivid as your own? Their experiences, struggles, and joys create a tapestry as intricate as yours, woven with challenges and triumphs … Read more
Let us be honest. We don’t always feel like stepping into that meeting room or hopping on that Zoom/Teams call. Our energy might be low, our minds elsewhere—maybe the baby kept you up all night, or you have just hit that mid-afternoon slump. And sometimes, there’s no option to reschedule or take a long break. … Read more
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant dream—it is a reality, already shaping how we work, think, and express creativity. As exciting as this transformation is, it raises some important questions for leaders. I love the potential of AI. I gave a presentation on what I wanted from AI seven years ago (see here … Read more