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...]
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...]
We Teach Answers, But Life Demands Questions
I’ve spent enough time around kids to know one thing for certain - they never stop asking questions. Why is the sky blue? Why do we have to sleep? Why can’t I eat ice cream for breakfast? They poke, prod, and test the world, not looking for final answers but for a way to understand what’s in … [Read more...]
What If We Stopped Asking Kids What They Want to Be?
Growing up in India, the question we were all asked was: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It was often delivered with a mix of curiosity, pride, and sometimes quiet pressure. The answers came in predictable shapes - doctor, engineer, IAS officer, businessperson - respectable, … [Read more...]