Written by Davinder Grewal, Founder of Wellbeing Prime | Psychological Wellbeing Consultant Davinder Grewal, Founder of Wellbeing Prime | Psychological Wellbeing Consultant. Mission to enable the learning of Psycho-educational gems that set us free. Anxiety has become one of the most common psychological experiences of modern life. While anxiety itself is a natural and necessary human response, the pace, pressure, and complexity of today’s world mean that many people are living in a near-constant state of internal alert. When experiencing anxiety, it can feel out of control, isolating, silent, extreme, noisy, and intense. Anxiety has no prejudice. You can be male, female, young, old, rich, or poor. One can feel alone even when in a room full of people. In the beginning, we can hypothesise that anxiety presented itself when early humans were in the presence of threats from the elements and wild animals. At this point, the body would have had reactions such as heart palpitations, sweating, shaking, and so on. In the present modern world, anxiety tends to present itself when we have concerns about health, relationships, money, jobs, family, and the list goes on. However, like early humans, our mind and body still react in the same way. We would benefit from listening to our body. At its core, anxiety is the nervous system’s way of protecting us from perceived threat. Historically, these threats were physical and short-lived. In the modern world, however, they are often psychological, ongoing, and ambiguous. Work demands, financial pressures, social expectations, and a 24-hour news cycle mean the brain rarely receives a signal that it is safe to stand down. Technology has intensified this experience. Constant connectivity blurs the boundary between work and rest, while social media quietly reinforces comparison and self-judgement. Many people find themselves measuring their worth against unrealistic standards of success, productivity, and emotional resilience. Over time, this can lead to chronic stress, sleep disruption, emotional exhaustion, and a persistent sense of unease. Our body gives us the signs, so let’s listen to our body. Cultural narratives also play a role. Busyness is often rewarded, vulnerability discouraged, and wellbeing treated as something to be addressed only once performance begins to suffer. For leaders and professionals, there can be an unspoken expectation to cope regardless of personal cost. From a psychological wellbeing perspective, anxiety is not a weakness or a failure of mindset. It is often a sign that the system has been under pressure for too long without adequate recovery. Meaningful support therefore goes beyond surface-level techniques. It involves helping individuals understand their stress responses, rebuild boundaries, and create sustainable rhythms that support both performance and mental health. At Wellbeing Prime, the focus is on working with the human system rather than against it, whilst recognising that resilience is not about pushing harder but about listening more carefully. In a world that rarely slows down, anxiety can be an invitation to recalibrate, reconnect, and move towards a more grounded and sustainable way of living. Listen to your body. Follow me on Instagram for more info! Read more from Davinder Grewal Davinder Grewal, Founder of Wellbeing Prime | Psychological Wellbeing Consultant Anger is one of the most misunderstood emotions, often viewed as destructive or shameful. But beneath the surface, it’s a powerful messenger that reveals our boundaries, values, and unmet needs. In this article, Davinder explores the psychology, physiology, and cultural dimensions of anger and how to transform it into emotional awareness and strength.

Written by Jessica Lagomarsino, Business Strategist Founder of Cusp of Something, Jessica Lagomarsino, helps women integrate personal growth with strategic clarity to build intentional brands, businesses, and lives. She writes on introspection of purpose, inner work, and entrepreneurship. Imposter syndrome often appears at the very edge of growth. It is that uneasy mix of excitement and fear that arrives the moment you begin to step into something larger. For many, it feels like proof of inadequacy, yet in truth, it signals expansion. The feeling of self-doubt is not a reflection of capability but of the mind and body adjusting to a new level of potential. Psychologically, imposter syndrome arises from a gap between your current self-perception and your evolving reality. You are doing something new, yet your inner narrative still belongs to a previous version of you. This creates what psychologists call cognitive dissonance, a tension between who you believe you are and what you are proving yourself capable of becoming. That tension is uncomfortable because it means you are quite literally on the cusp of something new. When we begin to succeed or stretch in unfamiliar ways, the mind naturally questions stability. The familiar stories that once kept us safe, stories about competence, control, and belonging, suddenly feel outdated. The nervous system, wired to protect, interprets change as uncertainty. This is why even positive transformation can feel uneasy. The body is not resisting success, it is seeking balance in a new reality. In these moments, the goal is not to silence doubt but to understand it. The inner voice that asks, “Who am I to do this?” is actually revealing what part of you is ready to evolve. Self-doubt can serve as a mirror that reflects the edges of growth. When acknowledged with curiosity rather than judgment, it becomes a teacher that highlights what skills, beliefs, or habits must mature to meet the next level you are stepping into. Reframing imposter syndrome through a psychological lens helps transform the experience from threat to opportunity. Instead of asking what is wrong with me, ask what is changing in me. This question shifts awareness away from fear and toward integration. Each time you choose to move forward while feeling unsure, you reinforce new emotional and cognitive patterns that make confidence more natural over time. Self-regulation supports this process. Grounding practices such as deep breathing, stretching, or a brief walk allow the body to release tension and return to the present moment. Writing down specific accomplishments can also counter distorted thinking and remind the mind of evidence it tends to overlook. Even small acts of self-recognition strengthen what psychologists refer to as self-efficacy, the belief that you can influence outcomes through your own effort. Leaders and high achievers often experience imposter syndrome precisely because they care deeply about the quality of their impact. The same sensitivity that drives excellence can make them more aware of their imperfections. Yet awareness is not weakness, but rather the foundation of empathy, humility, and authentic leadership. Recognizing your own self-doubt can actually make you more compassionate toward others who feel the same. When seen from this perspective, imposter thoughts are not barriers to overcome but signals of inner expansion. They show that you are operating beyond the boundaries of what once felt safe. They remind you that growth is not a single leap of confidence but a continuous process of recalibration. Every time you stay present through discomfort, your nervous system learns that uncertainty can coexist with capability. Confidence is not the absence of fear, it is the integration of it. Those moments when you question yourself are not proof that you do not belong. They are evidence that you are evolving and standing once again on the cusp of something new. Imposter syndrome, when understood rather than feared, becomes an invitation to embody the next version of yourself. It asks you to align your thoughts with your potential and to trust that what feels uncomfortable today may be the clearest sign that you are becoming who you were meant to be. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jessica Lagomarsino Jessica Lagomarsino, Business Strategist Jessica Lagomarsino is a business strategist, guide, and founder of Cusp of Something. After years in corporate strategy and project management, she followed a pull toward more meaningful work. Today, she supports women in building aligned businesses through clarity, intentional action, and deep personal transformation.

Stephanie Woods did not grow up around boardrooms or balance sheets. She grew up in New Jersey in a big Italian family where money was tight and responsibility came early. Her mother worked as a waitress. She attended Catholic school. She was a latchkey kid who learned how to take care of herself and keep moving. Those early years shaped how she works today. Her career has not been about flash or shortcuts. It has been about building things that solve real problems and hold up over time. “I learned early that if you want stability, you have to build it yourself,” Woods says. Early life and first lessons about work Woods was an honor student in high school, but college was not an option. There was no money for it. After graduating, she went straight into the workforce. That decision forced her to learn on the job. She watched how businesses ran. She paid attention to what worked and what failed. “I didn’t have a safety net,” she says. “So I paid attention to everything.” That habit stayed with her. Instead of chasing titles, she focused on understanding systems. How money moved. How people made decisions. How small gaps could cause big problems later. Entering the trades through HVAC Her career took a defining turn when she and her husband became owners of Airheads HVAC. As President, Woods became deeply involved in the day to day reality of residential service work. She worked close to customers. She worked close to technicians. She saw how fast small issues could become urgent ones. “In HVAC, people don’t call you when things are fine,” she says. “They call when something is broken and they need help now.” That proximity to customers gave her insight many business owners miss. Homeowners often wanted to move forward with repairs but struggled with timing and cost. Trade companies wanted to help, but they could only do so much. “There was a clear gap,” Woods says. “People needed solutions, not delays.” Seeing the financing problem up close Running Airheads HVAC made one issue impossible to ignore. Many homeowners needed financing to move forward with repairs. At the same time, trade companies wanted a reliable way to offer that option without taking on extra risk. Woods saw that most lending options were not built for this situation. They were slow. They were confusing. They were disconnected from how trades actually operate. “That disconnect was costing everyone time and trust,” she says. Rather than accept it as a fixed problem, Woods decided to build something new. Building AH financial That decision led to the creation of AH Financial, where Woods now serves as Chief Executive Officer. The company focuses on financing for residential repair clients and partners directly with trade companies. AH Financial was designed around real workflows. It supports contractors who want to offer financing without becoming lenders themselves. It helps homeowners move forward with needed repairs without added stress. “We built it around how people actually make decisions,” Woods says. “Not how spreadsheets think they should.” Her experience in HVAC shaped every part of the model. She understood urgency. She understood trust. She understood that repairs are rarely optional. Expanding through real estate investing Alongside her operating roles, Woods has been a real estate investor for more than 15 years. Investing added another layer to her understanding of property, maintenance, and long term value. “Real estate teaches patience,” she says. “You can’t rush durability.” That perspective reinforced her approach to both businesses. Systems need to last. Short term fixes create long term costs. Leadership rooted in community Woods’ work does not stop at business. She is deeply involved in community organizations, especially in Pasco County. She serves on the Leadership Board of Metropolitan Ministries. She is also on the boards of HubLife Charities and Trinity Chat, a community give back program. She helps organize local events like golf tournaments, Halloween events, and family festivals. Many are sponsored through Airheads HVAC, and she serves on the planning committees. “Community is where accountability lives,” she says. “You see the same people everywhere.” That closeness shapes how she leads. Reputation matters when your work and life overlap. Balancing business and family Outside of work, Woods is focused on health, fitness, and family life. She and her husband have three children. She works out regularly and makes time for travel and food when she can. “You can’t build everything at once,” she says. “You have to choose what lasts.” That mindset runs through her career. She has built two businesses by staying close to the work, solving specific problems, and avoiding distractions. Stephanie Woods  has brought big ideas to life by keeping them grounded. She did not chase trends. She followed need. Her career shows how practical experience can lead to strong systems that serve people well.

Written by K. Joia Houheneka, The World's Premier Excellence Coach K. Joia Houheneka is a global leader in luxury entrepreneurship. She is the founder of Club Elevate+Aspire+, an application-only, exclusive community for entrepreneurs building high-end, premium, and/or luxury businesses. Most entrepreneurs are running outdated software. Not their CRM. Not their tech stack. Their mental operating system, i.e., their fundamental assumptions about how value works, what's possible, and whether another's win diminishes or expands one’s own potential. “Abundance multiplying abundance. That’s what luxury should mean.” (From “Quotes on Luxury” by K. Joia Houheneka) This matters more than your business model and more than your strategy, because every decision you make runs through this operating system first. And if that system defaults to scarcity, if it assumes limited resources, zero-sum games, and winners who need losers, then brilliance elsewhere will not save you. But there is another way, and it is not theoretical. In fact, it is happening right now, in places you might not expect, creating results that reshape what humanity believes to be possible. Abundance is a choice, not a circumstance What if abundance is something you make, starting with something you build into your very psyche? The Society of Actuaries describes an abundance mindset as “outgrowing limiting beliefs and reframing challenges as opportunities.” Forbes research shows that individuals who adopt this belief make better decisions and act more strategically, recovering from setbacks with resilience. But here is what stops most people, they think abundance means ignoring constraints. It does not. Consider a striking reality. While over 800 million people still live in extreme poverty, more than 1.5 billion people have escaped it since 1990, a reduction greater over the last 35 years than in all prior human history, according to Our World in Data. That is not wishful thinking. That is what happens when entrepreneurs and innovators choose to see scarcity not as a permanent condition but as a temporary challenge. The economy is not a zero-sum game where one person’s gain means another person’s loss. Through creativity and voluntary exchange, prosperity expands for everyone. This is the core of the abundance mindset, the rejection of scarcity’s tyranny in favor of genuine possibility. Nowhere does this philosophy shine more brightly than in the ranks of OLENT in South Sudan, where entrepreneurship is turning scarcity into opportunity. But before we get there, we need to understand more about this operating system. Ancient pattern, modern application King Midas learned the hard way. According to legend, everything he touched turned to gold, which might sound like abundance until you realize he could no longer touch his daughter, taste food, or experience connection. He had maximum accumulation and minimum life. The pattern appears everywhere, hoarding creates actual scarcity, while the circulation of trade creates actual abundance. This is not a metaphor. It is a mechanism. Consider this, fire spreads without diminishing. One candle lights millions more. The original flame loses nothing by spreading into a wildfire. Yet so many treat business the way Midas treated gold, hoarding it, protecting it, fearing its theft. However, what if your competitive advantage is not what you guard, but your capacity to stay ahead of the curve you are creating? The psychological substrate: Why your brain defaults to scarcity Your brain evolved in an environment of genuine scarcity with limited territory, limited food, and limited mates. The ancestors who saw threats faster survived to pass on their genes. Those who did not got eaten. This means we have all inherited a negativity bias, with a brain that weighs bad over good roughly five to one. That was a survival advantage then. It is a competitive disadvantage now. Modern complications just fuel a downward spiral, comparison addiction fueled by social media, hedonic adaptation that makes every achievement feel empty within weeks, and loss aversion that overweights protecting what you have versus creating what comes next. The result of all this? Too many entrepreneurs operate in permanent scarcity mode, even the successful ones. You hit seven figures and feel like a failure after meeting the eight-figure entrepreneur at the conference. Your brain calibrates to a relative position, not an absolute achievement. The hedonic treadmill never stops, unless you interrupt it deliberately. The meaning of abundance beyond material wealth Abundance is deeply tied to moral elevation. It is positive-sum thinking that sees markets as places where everyone can grow together. In a previous article, I explored how wealth comes in three forms, creation, fortune, and coercion. Only creation, the making of value through voluntary exchange, is the supreme moral good. Fortune is mere luck, coercion is evil theft. This triad reveals abundance as generosity, the generous act of making more rather than taking from others. Economists from Adam Smith to Friedrich Hayek have long recognized the ethical dimension of markets, highlighting how voluntary exchanges generate “unintended social benefits” and a spontaneous order that guides prosperity. Ultimately, abundance is about so much more than economics. It carries a spiritual quality. It cultivates gratitude for what we have, stewardship over resources entrusted to us, and intrinsic worth independent of income or assets. The abundance mindset nurtures purpose and hope, especially in societies where material wealth remains scarce. This brings us to where philosophy meets reality, where theory becomes transformation. Entrepreneurship as the engine of abundance: OLENT’s story John Mustapha Kutiyote, Executive Director of OLENT, the Organization for Liberty and Entrepreneurship, shares a guiding conviction, “We believe in the fact that if an individual is empowered economically, they can stand on their own and prosper.” Supported by Atlas Network, OLENT trains South Sudanese youth, women, and market traders in entrepreneurship as a pathway to dignity and peace. Their programs include a three month blended learning course, combining digital technology, radio pitches, and local mentorship, that teaches business fundamentals alongside free market values. This is an abundance mindset meeting resource constraints and refusing to accept limitation as destiny. OLENT operates on “belief capital,” the conviction that mindset precedes material change. This aligns with findings that collaborative, empowerment-driven organizations catalyze lasting prosperity. Here is what makes this profound, OLENT is not waiting for perfect conditions. They are not saying, “first infrastructure, then education, then entrepreneurship.” They are saying entrepreneurship creates the conditions for infrastructure and education. That is the abundance operating system running in the hardest possible environment, and winning. The power of a widow’s property: Mary’s story of renewal In a poignant story filmed by Atlas Network, Mary, a widow from Yambio, faced eviction when her husband died, a common practice that denies widows their property rights. Suddenly homeless and without income, Mary struggled to support her children. OLENT’s training helped Mary understand her legal rights under South Sudan’s constitution, rights she had never known existed. With OLENT’s legal coaching, she took her case to court. The judge ruled in her favor, allowing her to reclaim the family home. But Mary did not stop there. Applying OLENT’s entrepreneurial training, she opened a restaurant that now feeds her family, employs others, and sends her children back to school. Her journey from displacement and despair to economic independence showcases an abundance mindset in its purest form. Freedom paired with enterprise can overcome entrenched injustice. Her story shows that property rights are not just legal instruments. They are the license to build, create, and thrive. Mary’s victory proves something essential, when one person claims their right to build, a whole community rises. She did not just create a business. She created a proof of concept. Others saw what she did and understood, this is possible for me too. This is how abundance multiplies. Ripples of abundance: OLENT’s expanding impact OLENT’s work continues with new projects and initiatives that highlight how seeds of abundance grow into thriving, self sustaining systems. John reflects, “We prefer to focus on what’s going right, the positive things we’ve achieved, because when we have a positive mind, everything will one day come to pass.” This is strategic focus, because what you pay attention to expands. OLENT could spend all their energy documenting problems such as corruption, poverty, and conflict. Instead, they focus on solutions, on proof points, on Mary and those like her who are building despite constraints. That is the abundance operating system running at full capacity. John adds something that cuts to the heart of everything, “Business is the solution to everything. If you want peace, business is the way toward it. If you want prosperity, business is the only way to it.” Not government programs. Not aid dependency. Not waiting for perfect conditions. Business, the voluntary exchange of value, creates dignity, opportunity, prosperity, and abundance for all humanity. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from K. Joia Houheneka K. Joia Houheneka, The World's Premier Excellence Coach K. Joia Houheneka is on a mission to Elevate Luxury to make luxury synonymous with excellence. She has a background as the owner of a luxury travel agency, Delve Travel. However, much of her current work involves coaching entrepreneurs in her bespoke method that combines luxury business strategy, training in flow states & self-actualization, and growth-focused travel – it is designed for those who are serious about achieving excellence and flourishing across all areas of life. Entrepreneurs with high-end, premium, or luxury businesses are invited to apply for a Complementary Level membership to Club Elevate+Aspire+ to discover more.

Written by Isabel Theissen, Motherhood & Leadership Coach Isabel Theissen is an ICF-accredited motherhood & leadership coach with a background in digital marketing at leading global fashion brands. She supports modern mothers in navigating career and motherhood with more clarity, confidence, and compassion so they can thrive, personally and professionally. Motherhood is one of the most profound transformations a woman can experience. Beyond the visible changes to daily life, it initiates a deep internal shift. One that reshapes identity, priorities, and our relationship with ambition, purpose, and self-worth. For many modern mothers, especially those balancing ambitious careers and family life, this transition can feel both expansive and destabilizing. It is not simply about adding a new role. It is about becoming someone new. When the old identity no longer fits Before motherhood, my identity was strongly anchored in my career. I worked as a senior digital marketing manager for global fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Farfetch, and H&M. My life was fast-paced and achievement-driven, filled with travel, long hours, and clearly defined professional goals. After the birth of my son, I returned to work after five months of maternity leave, stepping into a new corporate marketing role. I believed I could simply resume my previous rhythm and expectations. Yet internally, something had shifted. At work, I felt motivated and capable, yet guilty for being away. At home, I felt deeply connected to my son, yet mentally preoccupied. I moved constantly between roles, but felt fully present in neither. What once felt fulfilling now felt fragmented. The life I had carefully built no longer fit who I was becoming. At the time, I didn’t realize that this sense of disorientation was not a personal failure, but part of a larger, and largely unspoken, transformation. Understanding matresence Later, I learned that this experience has a name, matresence. Matresence describes the ongoing psychological, emotional, and identity transformation that occurs as a woman becomes a mother. Much like adolescence, it is not a single event, but a process that unfolds over time and continues long after pregnancy and birth. Philosopher Osho captured this shift succinctly, “When a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother never.” This resonated deeply. I had not lost myself. I had become someone new. My sense of meaning, my priorities, and even my internal compass had reorganized. Understanding matresence offers relief. It validates what many mothers struggle to articulate. You feel changed because you are changed, physically, emotionally, and psychologically. During the first postpartum year, the body undergoes one of the most dramatic hormonal shifts of adult life. At the same time, the brain rewires itself to support caregiving, strengthening areas linked to empathy, vigilance, and emotional connection. While adaptive, this neurological reorganization can temporarily affect focus, memory, and cognitive clarity, which is often experienced as brain fog and belittled as ‘mommy brain’. For high-achieving women accustomed to mental sharpness and productivity, this can be particularly confronting. To help make sense of this transition, the matresence change curve traces the different stages many women move through in the first year postpartum, physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Each stage is fluid and nonlinear, and understanding this can help normalize challenges rather than internalize them. Letting go of who you were What is rarely acknowledged is that matresence also involves loss. Not loss as in losing yourself, but the necessary letting go of a former version of yourself. For women who have built their lives around independence, ambition, and high standards, motherhood can feel like a rupture. The transition from autonomy to responsibility, from control to uncertainty, from personal goals to shared priorities can trigger deeply personal questions: Who am I now? What do I want my life to be like? How do I integrate who I was with who I am becoming? This in-between phase can feel uncomfortable and overwhelming. Yet it is also where growth begins. Reconnecting with who you are, beyond your roles Motherhood does not erase ambition or individuality. It calls for integration. Reconnecting with yourself during this phase often begins by separating identity from roles, or who you are from what you do. Reflecting on the qualities that define you at your core, beyond job titles and achievements, can be grounding. Traits such as creativity, curiosity, compassion, resilience, or humor often remain constant. They shape how you do things, even as what you do evolves. Inviting reflection from close friends can also offer clarity. Others often see our strengths more clearly than we do, especially during periods of self-doubt. Combining self-reflection with outside perspective can help rebuild a sense of self that feels both familiar and newly aligned. Becoming a new version of yourself Motherhood expands us. It deepens our capacity for empathy, presence, and purpose. Over time, many women feel a growing desire to live more intentionally. Not only for their children, but for themselves. This transformation is not about returning to who you were before motherhood. It is about consciously shaping the next version of yourself. A version that integrates ambition with meaning, achievement with alignment, and success with fulfillment. When we release the expectation of “bouncing back” and allow ourselves to evolve, we reconnect with our inner authority. We remember that we are capable of creating lives that reflect who we truly are now. A new chapter If you are feeling disconnected, uncertain, or in transition, know that this phase is a chance to realign. Matresence invites you to redefine success, reprioritize what matters, and meet yourself with more compassion during one of life’s most formative transitions. The transformation you are experiencing is not just about becoming a mother. It is about becoming more fully yourself. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Isabel Theissen Isabel Theissen, Motherhood & Leadership Coach Isabel Theissen is an ICF-accredited Motherhood & Leadership Coach dedicated to empowering women through one of life’s most transformative chapters: motherhood. Before coaching, Isabel built a career in digital marketing at global fashion brands including Tommy Hilfiger, H&M, Farfetch, and Ecco. Her experience in these fast-paced environments gives her firsthand insight into the challenges women face when juggling ambition with motherhood. Today, Isabel supports modern mothers in navigating career and motherhood with greater clarity, confidence, and compassion. Through her work, she supports mothers in creating space to thrive, both personally and professionally.

Written by Hitesh Chellaney, Financial Freedom Coach Hitesh Chellaney is a Financial Freedom Coach, speaker, and author of the upcoming book The 7 Habits of Financially Free People. He helps ambitious professionals master both the inner and outer game of wealth to create a life of true freedom and fulfillment. Every January, millions of people set financial resolutions with genuine intention. And almost every year, the outcome is the same. Around 80% of New Year’s resolutions are abandoned by February, with many people losing momentum as early as the second week of January. By the end of the year, this number rises even further, as high as 92% of people fail to follow through on the resolutions they set. This does not happen because they didn’t care or because they weren’t motivated. It happens because motivation alone is not designed to last. Financial resolutions collapse quickly because they rely on a fragile combination of willpower, delayed results, and unrealistic expectations. Initial enthusiasm fades, daily life takes over, and old patterns quietly return. This is not a personal failure. It is a structural one. And I want you to know this clearly, this is not your fault. Why most financial resolutions are doomed from the start A resolution is, by definition, born from lack. You set a goal because something is missing: More money More control More freedom More security Pressure can be effective in one way. It gets you started. But pressure is not sustainable. Pain is very good at initiating change, yet it is terrible at maintaining it. This is why so many financial resolutions follow the same trajectory: A surge of motivation A phase of discipline Mental and emotional fatigue A return to familiar behavior The issue is not effort or intelligence. The issue is the model of change itself. Goals are finite, standards are identity based A financial goal is something you work toward. A financial standard is something you live by. When you set a goal, your attention is fixed on a future destination: “When I reach X, then I’ll feel safe.” “When I earn Y, then I’ll relax.” This creates two problems. First, the present moment begins to feel like a sacrifice, something to endure until results arrive. Second, once the goal is reached, there is an unspoken question waiting. Now what? Goals end. Identity does not. Why standards change everything Standards are not about what you will achieve one day. They are about how you choose to operate today. Before you can choose differently, however, something crucial needs to happen first. Pause here for a moment Take a deep breath. Place one hand over your belly button. As you breathe in through your nose, feel your lower belly inflate. Breathe in for five seconds Hold your breath gently in your lower belly for five seconds Breathe out for five seconds through your mouth, without pushing the air out, just letting it flow Repeat this five times. As you do this, you may notice something subtle but powerful, a return to safety. From this place of safety, you are no longer reacting to what you want to avoid. You are now able to sense what feels expansive. From safety to expansion Expansion does not mean overwhelming yourself. It means noticing which next step: Feels exciting Feels aligned Feels like growth without triggering fear This is how identity based change begins. Ask yourself: What would the next version of me naturally do differently? What feels expansive, not forced? What excites me when I imagine living that way? That next version of you is not a future destination. It is a state you begin embodying now. How standards are actually set A standard becomes a standard when it delivers immediate benefit. To determine whether something is a true standard, ask, "When I live this way, what does it give me in the moment?" Peace of mind. Clarity. A sense of empowerment. Self trust. For example, a next level standard could be, “I do not spend money when my intuition is not aligned.” This can be surprisingly powerful. Some people feel pressure to spend money in ways that do not align with their values, family expectations, social pressure, or guilt driven decisions. A new standard might be: No more financial energy leaks. I will not spend a single euro if it does not feel aligned in my body. For one month, you bring conscious attention to every transaction. Then you reflect: How much calmer do I feel? How much more empowered am I during the day? How much clearer is my relationship with money? Those immediate emotional benefits are what turn behavior into identity. Why standards outperform goals Goals rely on patience and discipline while waiting for results. Standards deliver benefits now. This is why pleasure sustains change better than pain. Pain is excellent at getting you started. Pleasure is what keeps you moving. When something feels good in the same day, consistency becomes natural. That is alignment. And alignment lasts. Reviewing and evolving your identity Do not change your standards every week. Give your nervous system time to adapt. A powerful rhythm is: Set a standard Live it for a month Review how your new self feels Decide what the next level of identity is Each month, you are not chasing goals. You are becoming someone new. What to do instead in 2026 Instead of asking, “What do I want to achieve this year?” Ask: “What financial behaviors make me feel grounded?” “What standards reflect who I am becoming?” “What identity do I want my daily decisions to reinforce?” Then live those standards, without waiting for a finish line. This is how financial freedom is built, not by chasing outcomes, but by embodying them. An invitation for the year ahead If you don’t want 2026 to become another repetition of previous years, insight alone is not enough. Lasting change requires: Structure Guidance A container that supports identity level transformation In my Financial Freedom Year Program, I coach people through both the inner and outer game of wealth so financial growth becomes calm, consistent, and sustainable. If this resonates, consider that your signal. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Hitesh Chellaney Hitesh Chellaney, Financial Freedom Coach Hitesh Chellaney is a Financial Freedom Coach, keynote speaker, and founder of Emotioneel Fit Nederland. After reaching the top 1% of earners and realizing success without freedom is empty, he dedicated his life to helping others find fulfillment through financial freedom. He combines psychology, emotional mastery, and wealth strategy to help people heal their relationship with money and design lives that truly serve them. Hitesh is the author of the upcoming book The 7 Habits of Financially Free People, where he distills his signature framework for achieving both wealth and inner peace.

Written by Michael J McCusker, Founder/Podcast Host Michael J McCusker is a Global Freedom Fellow, a multiple author, and host of the acclaimed “Lived Experience Podcast Series.” He’s a respected advocate for justice reform and a thought leader in Lived Experience Leadership, using storytelling to spark social change. Let’s be honest, thought leadership has become one of those buzzwords that gets thrown around like confetti at a branding workshop, loud, flashy, and often hollow. Forbes even called it the most annoying business term back in 2014. But strip away the jargon, and you’ll find this truth, real thought leadership isn’t about ego or empty positioning, it’s about impact. It’s about becoming a key person of influence in your industry by sharing the one thing no one else has, your perspective, shaped by your skills, expertise, and lived experience. In a noisy, overcrowded digital world, people don’t just want more information, they want insight. They want someone they can trust, someone who’s been there, done the work, and can translate experience into value. That’s where true thought leadership begins, not with a fancy title or a perfectly crafted post, but with the courage to share what you know, what you’ve seen, and what you’ve earned. If you’ve been in the trenches, leading teams, solving real problems, navigating failure, creating results, then you’re already sitting on a mountain of value. The only question is, are you ready to step up, speak out, and let people know what you stand for?  Over the years, I’ve learned what it really takes to stand out, not with hype, but with hard-earned insight. These 8 truths come from lived experience, not theory, and they’ll help you cut through the noise with clarity, credibility, and confidence. Love your topic, or leave it You can’t fake passion. Not for long, anyway. The digital world is saturated with people trying to speak on things they’ve barely lived through. But organisations, clients, and audiences? They can smell a Walter Mitty from a mile off. If you're going to claim space in a crowded field, make sure it's one you’ve bled in. The kind of knowledge that comes from lived experience can’t be Googled. It comes from doing the work, failing forward, and sticking around long enough to have the scars to show for it. Love your topic so much you’d speak on it even if no one was watching. That’s where your edge lives. Get real, seriously Authenticity isn’t a strategy. It’s a mirror. Do people know what you stand for? Or are you switching up your identity to suit the audience in front of you? That’s a dangerous game, and eventually, it cracks. You don’t need to be loud, flashy, or controversial to lead. But you do need to be you. People buy into people, into energy, into integrity, into consistency. And the only way to build that trust is to show up as yourself, flaws, doubts, and all. Have an opinion. Be open to challenge. Know your lane. That’s where credibility is born. Authority comes from accountability Credentials are nice. But character counts more. When I speak with people in the criminal justice space, those who’ve been through the system, the reason they open up is simple, they know I’ve walked parts of that road too. Just like in addiction recovery circles, people connect when they sense authenticity and accountability. If you want to be a voice of influence, show your receipts. Show your lessons. Show your growth. Thought leadership without lived accountability is just noise. Start writing, and keep writing When I first started sharing my writing during the pandemic, I wasn’t doing it for claps or likes. I was doing it to make sense of a world that had turned upside down. I was a father of twin girls, caring for loved ones who got sick, and like many others, I was processing the chaos through story. That choice to write, and publish, changed everything. Here’s the truth, if you want to build authority, you need to hit ‘share.’ Not once. Not perfectly. But consistently. Because the world doesn’t know what you’re thinking. You have to tell it. Your story might just be the medicine someone else needs to move forward. Collaborate without fear We’ve become so paranoid about idea theft that we’re afraid to talk to each other. But here’s a reality check, no one can steal your story. Ideas are only powerful when you act on them. And if someone else got to it first? That’s because they moved faster. Surround yourself with people who challenge and elevate you. Join collectives, masterminds, spaces where generosity is currency. Be the kind of person who shares insights freely, and watch what comes back to you. Impact multiplies in community. Get social, but with purpose You don’t need to be everywhere. You just need to be consistent somewhere. Pick your platforms. Learn their rhythms. Share your truth with intention. This isn’t about going viral, it’s about being visible to the people who need what you’ve lived, learned, and built. You don’t need a team of marketers behind you. You need clarity. Why do you do what you do? Who are you trying to help? And what’s the story that connects those dots? That’s the content strategy most people forget. Put your face in the frame You don’t need fancy production or a film crew to show up. You need a phone, a bit of courage, and something meaningful to say. Start showing up on video, even if it’s just 20 seconds on Instagram Stories. People want to see you. Not the curated version. The real you. That’s where trust lives. That’s where influence begins. Public speaking might feel daunting. But what’s the alternative, staying hidden? Practice every day. You’ll get better. More importantly, you’ll get realer. Network like your voice depends on it Because it does. The most successful people didn’t get there alone. They were introduced, recommended, remembered. Why? Because they added value. They showed up consistently. They became known, not just for what they knew, but for who they were. Conferences, events, webinars, small group meetups, be in the room. Say yes more often. Speak up when the moment invites it. Your voice matters. Make sure people hear it. There’s no knighthood into thought leadership No one hands you the title. There’s no ceremony. No social media crown. You earn it, one real conversation, one post, one uncomfortable video at a time. Thought leadership, when stripped of all the fluff, is simply self-leadership shared out loud. It's the brave act of turning your life experience into lessons others can use. It’s holding a mirror up to the world, and then stepping into it. So, ask yourself this, are you willing to be that mirror? If any of these speak to where you are right now, reach out, repost, share or reflect out loud. This space grows when we do it together.  Follow me on Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Michael J McCusker Michael J McCusker, Founder/Podcast Host Michael J McCusker is a dynamic storyteller and podcast host who uses the power of voice to spark meaningful change. As a seasoned leader with lived experience, they’ve dedicated their life to guiding others toward purpose, self-leadership, and impact. Through powerful interviews and transformative conversations, their podcast The Lived Experience Series  amplifies voices that are often unheard but deeply needed. A published author, Michael J McCusker, writes with clarity and conviction, Hidden Potential: Unlocking The Door Within ,  turning personal insight into universal lessons. Their work empowers individuals to own their story, speak with influence, and lead with authenticity. Whether on stage, behind the mic, or on the page, The Resilient-Irishman: How to Tackle Life's Adversities.  Michael J McCusker is committed to shifting narratives and building a legacy that inspires others to rise.

Jess Lindfield is a career strategist, speaker, and author of Play the Game. She helps ambitious women build confidence, clarity, and sustainable success through practical frameworks, workshops, and speaking. Alongside her work with Embrace Her, she works in commercial enablement at the Financial Times and is Co-Chair of FT Women. Her work blends lived experience with strategic insight, supporting women to pursue big goals without burning themselves out. Jessica Lindfield, Founder & Corporate Leader Who is Jessica Lindfield? Introduce yourself, your hobbies, your favourites, you at home and in business, and tell us something interesting about yourself. I’ve built a career that spans leadership, advocacy, and entrepreneurship, not because I couldn’t choose one path, but because each plays a distinct role in how I want to work and live. I’m the founder of Embrace Her, which is home to my book Play the Game, my workshops and speaking work, and an Instagram community of almost 50,000 women. Through Embrace Her, I support ambitious women to build careers that are both successful and sustainable. Alongside this, I work in commercial enablement at the Financial Times, where I lead complex, high-impact global initiatives, and I’m the Co-Chair of FT Women, helping to shape strategy and advocacy for women across the organisation. Rather than seeing these as separate lanes, I see them as an ecosystem. Each role informs the others, fills different parts of my life, and allows me to operate with clarity, impact, and alignment. It’s a model that reflects how I believe modern careers can be built, with intention, not exhaustion. Outside of work, I’m grounded by simple routines, daily walks, movement, and time with my partner, family, and friends, but I’m also deeply energised by travel. Immersing myself in different cultures gives me perspective, stretches how I think, and fills my cup in a way very little else does. I value having the flexibility to say yes to experiences I want to have, without overthinking or second-guessing myself. I thrive on structure, but I’ve learned to balance it with curiosity, rest, and play. Some of my clearest thinking happens away from my desk, when I give myself permission to step back. After all, as Brené Brown puts it, “It takes courage to say yes to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol.” That belief underpins how I live and work today. Something that often surprises people is that confidence hasn’t always come naturally to me. Much of the work I do now is shaped by lived experience, learning how to advocate for myself, navigate rejection, and move away from patterns of overworking in environments that quietly reward it. What inspired you to create Embrace Her, and what gap did you feel called to fill? While my move to London in 2023 was the visible inflexion point, the foundations of Embrace Her were laid years earlier. I joined an insurance company as a sales advisor at 21 and spent the next seven years building my career there. Over time, I worked across eight different roles, progressed quickly, and led teams of more than 45 people. My career focus at this time was exclusively on climbing the corporate ladder. I was ambitious, driven, and constantly moving forward, but I never paused to reflect. Behind the scenes, the pace I was setting for myself was unsustainable. I worked long hours, pushed through exhaustion, and burned the candle at both ends (professionally and socially), trying to live up to an idea of having it all together. Eventually, that caught up with me. I began experiencing panic attacks in 2021, which forced me to confront something I’d been avoiding, the way I was working and living couldn’t continue. That moment didn’t lead to an immediate change, but it did spark a quiet, persistent curiosity. There had to be a way to succeed without running myself into the ground. I started questioning long-held beliefs that success required constant overworking, that rest had to be earned, and that slowing down meant falling behind. Gradually, I began experimenting with different ways of showing up, both at work and in my life. That internal shift is what gave me the courage to make a bigger move. When I eventually left Australia, I was stepping away from a business that had grown into a billion-dollar organisation, a company I had basically grown up in and from a version of success that no longer fit. I didn’t just want a new role or a new country, I wanted a new relationship with ambition. Arriving in England, I had a rare window of space between roles. For the first time in years, I stopped. I reflected on the wins I’d never celebrated, the lessons I’d rushed past, and the patterns I didn’t want to repeat. That pause brought clarity, not just about my next role, but about how I wanted to live and work going forward. I began sharing those reflections on Instagram under the handle @embraceher.co. What started as personal processing quickly resonated with other women. As the community grew, it became clear that this wasn’t just content, it was a shared experience. That’s when Embrace Her became a calling. How did this evolve into your book Play the Game? As Embrace Her grew, I began turning the most impactful lessons into practical tools. Over time, those lessons became Play the Game, a career workbook designed to help women reflect, reposition, and move forward with clarity and confidence. The book took almost two years to write and was launched in June 2025. It’s not theory-heavy or motivational fluff, it’s a practical manual built from lived experience, designed to help women navigate their careers strategically. What gap are you now focused on filling? What’s become very clear to me is that many ambitious women aren’t lacking talent, work ethic, or intelligence, they’re blocked by self-doubt, burnout, and outdated narratives about what success should look like. Embrace Her exists to serve those women. My work helps women trust themselves, advocate for their careers, build confidence through action, and create success that doesn’t come at the expense of their wellbeing. I don’t position myself as someone who has everything figured out. I position myself as someone who has walked the path, paused to reflect, and is committed to helping others move forward with intention. How do you support women who feel overwhelmed or stuck in repeating patterns? I’m naturally very pragmatic in my approach, I’m an “it’s not that deep” kind of person, and I say that with care, not dismissal. One of my strengths is helping women distinguish between what’s genuinely life-altering and what feels heavy in the moment but won’t matter in a week or a month. We start by slowing things down and asking why, not to overanalyse, but to create clarity. Why does this feel so big? Why does the same pattern keep repeating? And does this require deep emotional work, or a practical adjustment in habits, beliefs, or boundaries? One of my core mantras is that consistently good beats occasionally great. Most women don’t need a dramatic breakthrough, they need sustainable changes they can maintain. We focus on small, repeatable actions that rebuild self-trust over time. The shift happens when women learn to respond rather than react, replacing spirals with grounded decision-making. The goal isn’t to bypass emotion, but to move through challenges without letting every moment feel defining. Who is the ideal woman you love working with? I love working with baddies, women who follow through. Baddie (/ˈbad·ē/, noun): A woman who follows through on what she says she’ll do, even when it’s uncomfortable. She’s capable, hardworking, and deeply committed to her growth. She doesn’t need convincing that she wants more, she already knows it. When she finds me, she’s often doing fine but can sense there’s another level available to her. She’s tired of second-guessing herself, carrying unnecessary pressure, or drifting without a clear strategy, and she’s ready to move forward intentionally. My work is for women who want to elevate how they operate. I help them sharpen their thinking, build self-trust through action, and make clearer, more deliberate choices in their careers. This isn’t about fixing anything, it’s about unlocking what’s already there and learning how to use it well. By the time women leave my world, they don’t just know they’re capable, they operate like it. Calm, clear, and self-assured. What transformations do women typically experience after working with you? The most consistent transformation I see is a shift from potential to ownership. Greater clarity, discipline, and purpose. They stop relying on motivation alone and start building habits and systems that support long-term growth. They back themselves as credible A-players, holding boundaries, managing their time intentionally, and showing up with confidence. They also lean into learning. Confidence without humility becomes arrogance, and sustainable success requires both. They refine their skills, seek feedback, and stay curious rather than defensive. Perhaps most importantly, they gain clarity around their individual strengths, learning how to leverage what they’re already good at instead of trying to be everything to everyone. Can you walk us through your signature framework and how it helps women operate with more clarity, confidence, and control in their careers? My work is grounded in a framework I developed through personal experience, known as the DARE Method. Sometimes I name it directly, and other times I weave it in subtly, my priority is always meeting someone where they are. DARE is a practical operating system designed to help you move out of reaction mode and into clarity, confidence, and control. Discipline: showing up consistently and building momentum through repeatable actions. Accountability: owning outcomes without spiralling into self-blame. Responsibility: taking an active role in your career rather than waiting for permission. Efficiency: cutting noise, focusing on high-impact actions, and protecting energy. The framework is flexible and realistic. You can apply it to confidence challenges, career decisions, boundary conversations, or habits they’re building, without it feeling rigid or overwhelming. How do your book, workshops, and speaking engagements support women in different ways? Each offering meets women at different points in their journey, while supporting the same goal, help ambitious women operate with clarity, confidence, and control. Play the Game is a self-guided playbook women can return to across different seasons. Workshops, particularly within organisations, are immersive and practical, creating shared language and immediate action. Speaking engagements and keynotes work at scale, shifting perspective and sparking momentum. There’s no hierarchy in how someone engages with my work. It’s about what feels most relevant and accessible in the moment. What message would you give to women who hesitate to take the first step? You don’t need to hit breaking point to deserve support. Waiting until you’re exhausted or doubting yourself isn’t ‘strength’, it’s unnecessary pressure. The women who make the biggest moves aren’t the ones who struggle silently, they’re the ones who know when to get perspective and structure. You don’t need perfect confidence or a perfectly mapped-out plan. You just need to decide that you’re worth backing now. One intentional step is enough to shift momentum. If you want more, trust that instinct. Acting on it is often the most powerful move you can make. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jessica Lindfield

Written by Liz Emelogu, Executive Strategy & Wellbeing Coach/Mentor Liz serves as an Executive Coach and mentor with a unique emphasis on Wellbeing. She is keen to help businesses see that the emphasis on values centred on human needs can not only improve wellbeing of the people but also foster a successful enterprise. Her mantra is "People first, performance will follow." The more I become involved with executives, the more I realise that something needs to change. While the world is rising to the need for change at the top of most industries, the pace has been slow, with those at the top afraid of being the change catalyst or of being seen as “not fit for the top.” This is the reason why there needs to be a disruptive executive. “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” – James Clear For a long time, when people talked about disruption, they usually meant technology, new ideas, or big changes in the market. But here is the thing, the biggest game changer today is not about fancy tech or automated systems. It is about leaders who are brave enough to question old ways and rethink what true leadership looks like. “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi Being a disruptive executive is not about being bossy, loud, or self-focused. It is about having strong instincts, showing genuine care, and being brave enough to lead with kindness, especially when the world often pushes you to do the opposite. The disruptive executive is not someone who keeps things the way they are. They are here to make things better. They take on toxic productivity head-on. They dismantle cultures built on fear, replace rigid hierarchies with trust, and swap constant pressure for a true sense of purpose. They are not tearing things down, they are creating a spark that allows people to grow, think creatively, and see new possibilities within the organisation. 10 traits of the disruptive executive 1. They choose to lead with compassion, not control A truly disruptive executive understands that compassion is not a weakness, it is a sign of deep awareness. They see people as humans first and employees second. They listen carefully, respond thoughtfully, and create environments where people feel safe to innovate and grow. Compassion is what gives them an edge. Compassion is their advantage. 2. They trust their intuition as much as their data They rely on instinct while also respecting the numbers. Data informs decisions, but intuition often leads the way. Disruptive executives blend both naturally. They sense shifts early, before problems escalate. They read emotional dynamics and make calm, grounded decisions rather than reactive ones. Their intuition is their secret weapon. 3. They elevate team spirit They understand that culture is not built through polished strategy documents. It is created through everyday interactions and behaviours. They celebrate wins, acknowledge effort, and foster collaboration. Their momentum comes from recognising team players and strengthening collective success. Team spirit is their driving force. 4. They model integrity even when no one is watching They do what is right, regardless of who is present. They do not compromise their values based on circumstances. Instead, they use those values to shape outcomes. Their consistency builds trust, and trust creates forward movement. Integrity is their leadership foundation. 5. They are courageously authentic Disruptive executives do not hide behind titles or personas. They are honest, grounded, and real. Their authenticity gives others permission to show up fully, making communication more open and effective. Authenticity is their attraction. 6. They embrace discomfort as a catalyst for growth They do not avoid change, they initiate it. They are willing to confront difficult conversations, challenge outdated practices, and question what no longer serves. Discomfort is often where their most meaningful innovation begins. Discomfort is their doorway to innovation. 7. They prioritise wellbeing as a strategic imperative They know burnout is not a badge of honour. They protect their energy, respect boundaries, and encourage their teams to do the same. They understand that wellbeing fuels clarity, creativity, and sustainable performance. Wellbeing is their leadership strategy. 8. They build resilience through reflection, not resistance Resilience is not about pushing harder, it is about recovering wiser. Disruptive executives reflect, recalibrate, and rise stronger. They do not pretend to know everything. Instead, they invite feedback and self-evaluation, staying grounded and centred. Resilience is their rhythm. 9. They communicate with presence and purpose They choose their words intentionally and speak with meaning. They aim to communicate openly, listen deeply, and create space for diverse perspectives. They understand that communication is not only about words, but also about emotion, understanding, and connection. Communication is their bridge. 10. They lead with a vision that elevates everyone The disruptive executive not only sees what is, but they also see what could be. Their vision is bold, inclusive, and deeply human. They inspire others to rise through possibility rather than pressure. They create pathways of support, inclusion, and empowerment. Vision is their legacy. The disruptive executive is the future. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Liz Emelogu Liz Emelogu, Executive Strategy & Wellbeing Coach/Mentor Liz Emelogu works with business leaders to enhance their effectiveness and realise their full potential while protecting their mental and emotional health. She is an award-winning business mentor (received as part of her role in mentoring UK-based Businesses). She is a certified NLP practitioner, certified mental wellbeing coach, and an ILM executive coach. Her approach as a Holistic Business Architect helps leaders create a bespoke framework around strategy, people, and processes, with people at the centre of it. The emphasis on values centred on human needs can not only improve the well-being of the people, but also foster a successful enterprise that is constructed around the lives of both its employees and its customers.

Written by Thi Quynh Trang Phan, International Education & Institutional Partnership Specialist Phan Thị Quỳnh Trang is a Vietnam-Canada-based international education and institutional partnership specialist with a strong focus on higher education systems, policy-aligned collaboration, and cross-border education ecosystem development. Vietnamese cinema has long served as a cultural mirror, reflecting not only stories on screen but also values passed through generations. The rise of Ma Ran Đô as a Gen Z actor offers an insightful case study of how heritage, mentorship, and professional discipline can shape a contemporary film identity without relying on manufactured stardom. Heritage as a cultural foundation Ma Ran Đô’s personal background reflects a traditional Vietnamese respect for education and moral cultivation. He is the maternal grandson of the Nguyễn family lineage, a family historically associated with scholarship, public service, and the belief that virtue and learning are the highest forms of legacy. While lineage does not define artistic talent, such cultural inheritance often shapes mindset. In Vietnamese society, mentorship, humility, and perseverance are not merely career strategies but ethical foundations. These values continue to appear consistently in Ma Ran Đô’s professional development. From academic discipline to performing arts Before entering the performing arts, Ma Ran Đô studied agricultural science, a path far removed from cinema. His transition into acting reflects a broader generational shift in Vietnam, where young professionals increasingly pursue creative careers while maintaining traditional respect for education and self-discipline. Rather than entering the cinema through instant popularity, he followed a mentorship-based path. Under the guidance of People’s Artist Việt Anh and Merited Artist Hữu Châu, he trained in theater at Hồng Vân Theater, beginning with backstage and supporting roles. This apprenticeship-style journey reflects Vietnam’s long-standing belief that character and craft must be developed before recognition. Film craft and professional discipline Ma Ran Đô’s cinematic debut in Nụ Hôn Bạc Tỷ (2025) introduced him as a leading actor, yet his performance demonstrated theatrical control rather than commercial exaggeration. His physical preparation, emotional restraint, and natural comedic timing contributed to a balanced portrayal that supported narrative flow rather than dominating it. The film’s commercial success established visibility, but his subsequent role in Tử Chiến Trên Không positioned him within a technically demanding genre. Portraying a young fighter pilot, he performed physically challenging scenes and demonstrated respect for cinematic realism, a reminder that action cinema requires discipline as much as spectacle. In Truy Tìm Long Diên Hương, he appeared in a supporting role within an ensemble cast. Although not central to the storyline, his screen presence contributed effectively to the tonal balance, demonstrating the importance of collaborative performance in film. Earlier, his role in Netflix’s horror anthology The Devil’s Diner (2023) revealed emotional depth and psychological control, qualities often overlooked in commercially driven casting. This project signaled his potential as a dramatic actor capable of handling complex character work. His upcoming participation in Báu Vật Trời Cho (2026) continues his deliberate strategy of genre exploration, reinforcing an artistic philosophy centered on range rather than repetition. Mentorship as a living tradition Vietnamese cinema has historically been shaped by mentorship, particularly through theater traditions. Ma Ran Đô’s career reflects this continuity. He consistently acknowledges his mentors not as career facilitators but as ethical guides. This mentorship culture reinforces professional humility and long-term commitment to craft. It also illustrates how Vietnamese Film & TV maintains cultural continuity through teacher-student relationships rather than market-driven cycles. Ma Ran Đô, his family, and his mentor, Mr. Hữu Châu Digital presence without identity dilution While Ma Ran Đô maintains a strong digital presence, his online persona remains aligned with his cinematic identity. Rather than constructing a separate influencer persona, he uses digital platforms to humanize his image without compromising professional integrity. This balance reflects a modern challenge in Film & TV, sustaining audience connection without reducing artistic credibility. His case demonstrates that digital engagement can support, rather than replace, cinematic responsibility. Fashion, branding, and visual consistency His participation in fashion and brand collaborations extends his visual storytelling beyond film. Importantly, these appearances maintain stylistic consistency with his cinematic image, reinforcing continuity rather than fragmentation. In contemporary screen industries, such coherence strengthens long-term audience trust. Cultural reflection through cinema Ma Ran Đô’s screen journey reflects a broader shift in Vietnamese Gen Z cinema. His characters often embody discipline, emotional restraint, and internal conflict, qualities deeply aligned with Vietnamese cultural storytelling traditions. Through his performances, cinema becomes a medium where modern Vietnamese youth negotiate identity between tradition and global influence. A case study of sustainable stardom Rather than representing celebrity spectacle, Ma Ran Đô represents a model of sustainable cinematic development: Career built through mentorship. Artistic growth through genre diversity. Discipline over instant popularity. Cultural respect alongside modern creativity. His trajectory illustrates that Vietnamese cinema can evolve globally without abandoning its ethical and educational foundations. Conclusion Ma Ran Đô’s rise is not simply a story of personal success, but a reflection of how Vietnamese Film & TV continues to preserve cultural values while adapting to modern creative industries. As a case study, his journey demonstrates that sustainable stardom is shaped not by algorithms or trends, but by mentorship, discipline, and cultural continuity. In this balance between heritage and innovation, Vietnamese cinema finds one of its most promising generational voices. Follow me on Facebook , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Thi Quynh Trang Phan Thi Quynh Trang Phan, International Education & Institutional Partnership Specialist Phan Thị Quỳnh Trang is a Vietnam-Canada-based international education and institutional partnership specialist with a strong focus on higher education systems, policy-aligned collaboration, and cross-border education ecosystem development. Her professional work bridges schools, universities, education organizations, foundations, and public-sector stakeholders, supporting long-term cooperation models that emphasize academic integrity, regulatory compliance, and sustainable institutional value. Rather than operating within a recruitment-driven framework, her approach prioritizes ecosystem building, strategic alignment, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Trang has played an active role in designing and facilitating transnational education initiatives, institutional partnership frameworks, and policy-adjacent education projects between Vietnam and Canada. Her work contributes to strengthening international academic cooperation while respecting the structural realities of both education systems.

Eric Morrison of New York City  didn’t start his career in technology. He began with a love of history at Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and won the John Addison Porter Prize. “History taught me to ask why things happen the way they do,” Eric says. “That curiosity still drives my work today.” After Yale, he pursued a Master of Science in the Social Science of the Internet at the University of Oxford. “Oxford helped me understand how technology and society shape each other,” he explains. “A lot of UX professionals still think that design holds the power to explicitly determine how people use technology; but the reality is much more dynamic.” This academic foundation set the stage for a career focused on understanding users and drawing inspiration from how they ultimately define (or redefine) the purpose of technology you put in front of them.  Early career and UX research foundations Eric’s first steps into UX research were shaped by his interest in human behavior and technology. He worked with companies such as TikTok and Disney, leading projects and teams that combined qualitative research, interviews, surveys, and ethnography. “I’ve always been drawn to the challenge of translating research into action,” he says. “It’s about more than data – it’s about stories, patterns, and real human needs.” One memorable project involved analyzing user engagement on a collaboration platform. “We found that people were avoiding certain features not because they were hard to use but because they didn’t fit naturally into their workflows,” Eric recalls. “Once we understood the context, we could help design solutions that actually worked for users.” Leading research at Google Today, Eric works in research roles that touch on AI and the workplace. He is personally interested in how AI can be used to support collaboration and creativity rather than replace human effort, with a consistent emphasis on keeping people in control of how these tools are used. Eric emphasizes transparency and ethics in AI design. “Users need to trust the systems they use,” he explains. “If they don’t understand what AI is doing, it won’t be effective. Clear communication and control are essential.” Translating research into product strategy One of Eric’s greatest strengths is turning insights into actionable strategy. “Research is only valuable if it changes how decisions are made,” he says. By combining quantitative measurement with qualitative observations, Eric helps product teams make informed choices. More broadly, Eric highlights that studies of productivity tools often reveal challenges that quantitative data alone cannot capture. He emphasizes the value of pairing metrics with qualitative insights to better understand how people experience their work. Ethical design and human-centered technology Eric believes that ethical design is central to the future of AI and UX. He studies not just how people use technology, but how it affects behavior and relationships. “Responsible design is about fairness, privacy, and inclusion,” he says. “It’s about designing AI that respects people and earns their trust.” He also highlights the role of diversity in research. “Including different perspectives helps uncover hidden biases and ensures that products work for everyone,” he notes. For example, he advocates for the practice of habitually including non-target audiences in research. “It’s often only when you shift your attention outward from your precise target audience that you can fully grasp the unexpected uses and outcomes of the technology you design.” Life in New York City Outside of work, Eric draws inspiration from his environment. He currently lives in New York City, where the fast pace and diversity of the city help him observe human behavior in real life. “Living in New York keeps me curious,” he says. “There is always something new to learn about people, culture, and how we interact with technology.” Looking ahead Eric Morrison’s career demonstrates how research and empathy can guide smarter technology decisions. From his early days studying history and internet behavior to leading AI research at Google, he has consistently focused on understanding people first. “My goal is to make technology that genuinely helps people,” he says. “If research can guide that process, we build tools that are not only useful but meaningful.” With more than a decade of experience, a strong academic background, and a focus on ethical and human-centered design, Eric continues to shape the future of UX and AI. His work proves that understanding human behavior is the key to creating technology that works for everyone.

Written by Tricia Brouk, Founder of The Big Talk Academy Tricia Brouk helps high-performing professionals transform into industry thought leaders through the power of authentic storytelling. With her experience as an award-winning director, producer, sought-after speaker, and mentor to countless thought-leaders, Tricia has put thousands of speakers onto big stages globally. I was recently flying back from Houston, where I had spent the day directing two of my VIP clients for an intensive filming session on set. We'd done deep work crafting their stories, refining their delivery, and creating those powerful moments that make a talk truly unforgettable. And on that flight home, I realized something important: one of the most valuable things I teach my clients isn't just how to give a big talk. It's how to recover from giving one. Because when you speak at your highest level, it takes everything out of you. The hidden cost of great speaking When you step onto that stage, when you share your message with the world, when you open your heart and give your audience the gift of your voice and your story, you are giving it all. You're pulling from your deepest reserves of energy, emotion, and presence. Think about the last time you gave a big talk. Remember the adrenaline, the focus, the way time seemed to both stretch and compress? That's your nervous system on high alert, performing at its peak. And while it's exhilarating in the moment, there's always a comedown. There’s always that post-event drop, that depletion that hits you afterward, sometimes immediately, sometimes the next day. If you don't have a solid recovery practice in place, you're setting yourself up for burnout. And there's a difference between burning bright and burning out. You're an athlete on stage As speakers, we are athletes. We perform at peak levels, channeling tremendous energy and presence. And just like any athlete, we need intentional recovery to sustain our performance over time. Recovery isn't a luxury or something to squeeze in when you have time. It's a non-negotiable part of becoming a truly masterful speaker. Because becoming masterful isn't just about what happens on the stage. It's about how you take care of yourself off the stage, too. Without recovery, there is no mastery. Without health and wellness, there is no lasting impact. The four pillars of speaker recovery A powerful recovery practice includes four essential components, and I encourage you to personalize each one based on what truly replenishes you. Physical restoration Speaking is an intensely physical activity. You're using your voice, your body, your breath. You're managing adrenaline and cortisol. Your heart rate is elevated. Your muscles are engaged. And afterward, your body needs attention. Maybe it's gentle movement a walk in nature, some yoga, or stretching. It might be hydration and nutrition, replacing the calories and fluids you've burned through. It might be rest, allowing yourself to sleep, or simply being still. For me, after a big speaking engagement or directing my clients, I always make sure to drink twice as much water as I think I need, and I prioritize protein to help my body recover. I also schedule a massage in advance, so that I know when I get home, it’s in my calendar. Emotional processing When you speak, especially when you share your story, you're opening up emotionally. You're making yourself vulnerable. You're connecting deeply with your audience. And that emotional openness needs to be honored and tended to. It might be journaling about the experience, what went well, what surprised you, and what emotions came up. It might be talking with a trusted friend or colleague who understands what you've just done. It might be meditation, prayer, or simply sitting with the feelings that have arisen. I always tell my clients: schedule at least 30 minutes after your talk for emotional integration. Don't rush to the next thing. Allow yourself to feel what you feel. Become aware of your awareness, one of the pillars in my book Being Smart is Stupid . Mental reflection Your brain has been working overtime during your talk, tracking your points, reading the room, adjusting in real time, and managing time. And afterward, your mind needs space to process and integrate. This could be a structured debrief, reviewing what worked and what you'd do differently next time. It might be celebrating your wins, no matter how small. It might be allowing yourself to step away from analysis entirely and give your mind a complete break. When I work with my speakers, we always build in reflection time not to critique, but to capture the learning and growth that each speaking opportunity provides. And then one week later, it's the quarterback and the coach watching the recording play by play to improve the game. Spiritual reconnection Speaking at its highest level is a spiritual practice. You're serving as a vessel for ideas, for transformation, for connection. And after you've channeled that energy, you need to reconnect with your own spiritual center. It might be a creative expression that's just for you, not for any audience. For me, after a big directing project or when I've been speaking a lot, I always make time for silence, even just 15 minutes, when I don't have to use my voice at all, when I can simply be with myself and reconnect with why I do this work in the first place. I get still. Another pillar from Being Smart is Stupid. Building your personal recovery practice You might be thinking: "I don't have time for this. I've got to get to the next engagement, the next client, the next opportunity." But here's what I've learned: you don't have time "not" to recover. To begin building your personal recovery practice, start by noticing what speaking specifically takes from you. Are you physically drained? Emotionally depleted? Mentally foggy? Spiritually disconnected? Get specific about your personal experience after taking the stage. Then, experiment with different recovery activities and note what truly replenishes you. Maybe it's social time for you, while it's solitude for someone else. Maybe it's vigorous exercise for one speaker, while for another it's gentle rest. There's no one-size-fits-all approach here. Finally, formalize your practice by scheduling it in advance. Block time in your calendar for recovery just as you would for the talk itself. Make it non-negotiable. Communicate it to your team or family so they can support you in honoring this time. The path to mastery Recovery isn't a sign of weakness. It's a demonstration of wisdom. The speakers who sustain long, impactful careers aren't the ones who push through exhaustion and ignore their needs. They're the ones who understand that their ability to serve their audiences depends on caring for themselves first. A high-level speaking practice requires intentional recovery. When you honor your need to restore, process, reflect, and reconnect, you don't just protect yourself from burnout, you elevate your craft. You show up more present, more powerful, and more authentic every single time you take the stage. Big stages are waiting for you. Build in your recovery practice so you can take them again and again. For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website ! Read more from Tricia Brouk Tricia Brouk, Founder of The Big Talk Academy Tricia Brouk helps high-performing professionals transform into industry thought leaders through the power of authentic storytelling. With her experience as an award-winning director, producer, sought after speaker, and mentor to countless thought-leaders, Tricia has put thousands of speakers onto big stages globally. She produced TEDxLincolnSquare in New York City and is the founder of The Big Talk Academy. Tricia’s book, The Influential Voice: Saying What You Mean for Lasting Legacy, was a 1 New Release on Amazon in December 2020. Big Stages, the documentary featuring her work with speakers premiered at the Chelsea Film Festival in October of 2023 and her most recent love is the new publishing house she founded, The Big Talk Press.