It’s 11:25 p.m. and I’m seated in a bustling Indian restaurant in Toronto. The scent of cardamom and cumin hangs in the air. The servers speak in Hindi and Punjabi as they glide between tables. The families eating here laugh over biryani and butter chicken, and I don’t need to peek behind the … [Read more...]
The Quiet Power of Playing the Long Game
There’s something oddly comforting about short-term wins. They give us something to point to - proof of progress, signs of momentum, applause. But in the obsession with now, we often forget that most of what truly matters happens slowly, invisibly, and without ceremony. The long game doesn’t … [Read more...]
One Intentional Hour
There are days when nothing works. The to-do list stares back blankly. The coffee goes cold. The conversation didn’t go how you hoped. A setback stings more than it should. Maybe there were tears, maybe just the familiar ache of disappointment. Whatever the cause, the spiral feels real. We’ve … [Read more...]
When They’re Almost There: The Turn Back to Familiar Paths
People turn. Not because they’re cruel or careless, but because they’re human. In moments of doubt, uncertainty, or discomfort, most of us will return to what we know - even if it’s less exciting, less visionary, or even less rewarding in the long run. It’s not a flaw. It’s a survival … [Read more...]
“I Told You So” Is Not Leadership. It’s Ego in Disguise.
There’s a moment - when things unravel, when a plan falls apart, when reality collides with ambition - where someone steps forward and says, “I told you so.” And in that moment, something subtle but powerful is revealed: not insight, not foresight, but failure. Not the failure of a project, or a … [Read more...]
Mentorship is Not a Meetup: On Readiness, Reciprocity, and Respect
Lately, I’ve found myself hesitating when asked to mentor someone - not out of unwillingness, but because of a recurring issue: a lack of shared understanding around what mentorship really entails. It seems many people seek out a mentor as if it’s the next logical step, without pausing to reflect … [Read more...]
The Apprenticeship Was Never Meant to Be This Fast
Co‑ops and internships have been misunderstood. In my humble opinion, the co‑op - and by extension, the internship - was born from the spirit of the apprenticeship. A concept built not on transactions, but on transformation. For generations, people who were curious and serious about learning a … [Read more...]
If the Next Twelve Months Look Like This One
Every once in a while, life hands you a question so clear it almost stings: If the next twelve months looked like the last one, would you be proud of where you end up? It’s an uncomfortable question, mostly because it leaves no place to hide. It doesn’t ask whether you're busy or trying hard or … [Read more...]
Backbone Over Comfort: The Quiet Bravery of Conviction
Leadership is rarely glamorous in the moment it matters most. It’s not the boardroom photo or the inspirational quote; it’s the silence that follows an unpopular opinion, the long pause before someone says, “I disagree,” and the lonely stretch between dissent and decision. True leadership, the … [Read more...]
I Don’t Dream of Retirement, and That’s Not a Problem
Recently, I came across another early retirement post on LinkedIn - the kind that comes with heartfelt reflections, sincere gratitude, and a new chapter wrapped in a bow. I paused, smiled, and genuinely appreciated the discipline, intention, and optimism it takes to design a life that allows for … [Read more...]
The Joy of Building People
Some people build products. Others build companies. But the work I’ve come to love most - the work that energizes me every morning - is building people. Not in the abstract, theoretical way we sometimes toss around in leadership circles. But in the trenches, in real time, through the process of … [Read more...]
The Algorithm Can’t Look You in the Eye
Over February and March this year, I spent a few weeks walking through India - part work, part wandering, part listening. In every conversation, every transaction, every quiet observation at the edges of the chaos, I found myself returning to one core truth: high touch will always, in the end, … [Read more...]
Courage Feels Terrible – And That’s How You Know It’s Real
People often misunderstand courage. I misunderstood it for years. I used to think it was something you either had or didn’t, that brave people felt strong and certain before taking a leap, while the rest of us waited until we were “ready.” But I’ve learned that courage feels nothing like … [Read more...]
Mentorship Is Not a Role – It’s a Mindset
I recently shared the news about my engagement with Catalyste+ as an expert advisor in a volunteer capacity. Many congratulations have come my way, along with a few questions - one of the most common being, “How do you find time for these?” The answer is simple: it’s giving back. Through time, … [Read more...]
The Weight of Old Narratives
Time moves. Life moves. People move. Yet, for all our acknowledgment of change as a constant, we rarely grant that same fluidity to the way we perceive others. We hold on, sometimes stubbornly, to outdated impressions of people, locking them into versions of themselves that no longer exist. We … [Read more...]