baumkuchen In Shirakawa, Japan, I came across a café known for its baumkuchen  — a German cake baked in thin layers on a rotating spit until it resembles the rings of a tree. There were two versions: one light and fluffy, the other darker and denser. We debated which to choose. The lighter one looked beautiful and uniform; the darker one seemed overdone. In the end, we picked the version that offered both. It turns out we both liked the one that looked the worst. The darker,

This photo was taken in Kenroku-en Garden in Kanazawa, Japan. The tree’s sprawling branches are supported by an intricate system of wooden posts — each placed with care to carry weight, balance tension, and prevent collapse. At first glance, it looks excessive — almost fragile. This isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom. The Paradox of Growth in Tech Startups love speed. We celebrate agility, hustle, and the ability to “move fast and break things.” In reality, unchecked growth can caus

This photo looks serene — like I had Kyoto’s temples all to myself. In reality, it was anything but calm. The path behind me was shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists. It was hot, humid, and overwhelming. I remember pausing, taking a deep breath, and framing the shot so that I could focus on what was right in front of me instead of the chaos surrounding me. That moment reminded me of one of the most underrated leadership skills: composure. As leaders, we don’t always get to choo

When the Horses Refused to Work Years ago, I volunteered as an aid in a horse-therapy program. I thought I’d love it. It combined two things I value deeply — helping people and connecting with animals. There were  meaningful moments. One woman with microcephaly would light up when she saw me. I wore her favorite color, purple, every week to strengthen our bond. But something felt off. It was the horses. They didn’t enjoy their work. You could sense it in their hesitation — a

Coralina in Cotacachi, Ecuador Last month, I found myself standing on a hillside in Cotacachi, Ecuador, participating in a workshop that combined Noetic Science , intuitive communication , and heart–brain synchronization alongside a herd of horses. In the exercise, I was tasked with guiding a horse named Coralina  to step into a simple hoop on the ground. It sounded easy enough. But like most things that reveal our inner state, it wasn’t. At first, Coralina stepped one hoof

We had 90 seconds to make our train connection in Japan. My husband and I were sprinting down the platform, backpacks bouncing, hearts racing. Then— clunk.  My Hydroflask flew out of the side pocket and rolled across the tiles. In that split second, I had two choices: 1️⃣ Stop for the water bottle and miss the train. 2️⃣ Keep running and lose the water bottle. I chose the train. As the doors were closing behind me, a man came running - hand outstretched, smiling, my water bot