Justine Carino, LMHC, is a licensed psychotherapist and host of the “Thoughts from the Couch” podcast. Justine was recently awarded the 100 Women to Know Across America award in 2025 by the Know Women Network and Top 10 Health Voices to Follow in 2025 by MSN. She currently maintains a group psychotherapy private practice in New York, where they help individuals, couples, and families decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve their relationships, and set better boundaries to create lives that are in alignment with their values. Justine also teaches ambitious women how to manage perfectionism, anxiety, and stress through 1:1 coaching programs. Justine’s advice has been featured in various media outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, Cosmo, The Huffington Post, Forbes, and VeryWell Mind. She has also been a speaker at top corporations, including Eileen Fisher, Lockheed Martin, and Know Women Media, and has been interviewed on over 45 podcasts. Justine Carino, LMHC, Psychotherapist, Coach, and Podcast Host Who is Justine Carino? Introduce yourself – your hobbies, favorites, and a bit about you at home and in business. Justine Carino, LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist and host of the “Thoughts from the Couch” podcast. Justine was recently awarded the 100 Women to Know Across America award in 2025 by the Know Women Network and Top 10 Health Voices to Follow in 2025 by MSN. She currently maintains a group psychotherapy practice in New York, where they help individuals, couples, and families decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve their relationships, and set better boundaries to create lives that are in alignment with their values. Justine also teaches ambitious women how to manage perfectionism, anxiety, stress, and burnout through her 1:1 coaching program, The Balanced Boss . Justine’s advice has been featured in various media outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, Cosmo, The Huffington Post, Forbes, and VeryWell Mind. She has also been a speaker at top corporations including Eileen Fisher, Lockheed Martin, Know Women Media and interviewed on over 50 podcasts. On the home front, Justine has been married for 11 years and has two children and one more on the way, arriving this June. Justine loves exercising and takes weekly barre and pilates classes, which feel close to home for her as she was a trained dancer from the ages of 6 to 26 years old. She values spending time with friends, her family, and practicing her newest hobby, horseback riding. How did you choose to become a licensed mental health counselor and anxiety specialist? I have always been fascinated by people’s behavior. In high school, I found myself getting really curious about the decisions people were making around me, as well as my own. I took a psychology class as a senior and fell in love with it. I went to undergrad as a premed student because I wanted to become a psychiatrist. After spending two semesters crying before and after every biology and chemistry exam, I decided science wasn’t for me. This is when I realized my real calling and purpose was to become a psychotherapist. I applied to graduate school, got in and the rest is history. Thinking back, I think I was called to focus on treating anxiety disorders because I have always been an anxious person myself, but didn’t realize it until I was an adult and in postgraduate training to treat anxiety disorders. As a toddler and young child, I was selectively mute. I only spoke to my immediate family members and grandparents. My brother, who was 5 years older, often spoke for me. Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder where individuals are literally unable to speak in specific settings due to the “freeze” response triggered by the nervous system when anxious. My kindergarten teacher encouraged my mom to get me evaluated, which really confused her because I was talking at home. Back then, no one really knew what selective mutism was. When I was six, my mom put me in dance, and that took me out of my shell. Now, I don’t seem to stop talking and get paid to talk for a living. How ironic? What specific challenges do you help individuals, families, and couples overcome in your practice? At Carino Mental Health Counseling Services, PLLC, we treat teens, young adults, families, and couples struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and relationship issues for residents of New York and Connecticut. I also have a second company in which I coach female entrepreneurs on how to take care of their mental health by effectively managing anxiety, stress, perfectionism, burnout, and creating work-life synchronicity. I am to provide this service to women in every state. Can you explain the core philosophy behind your approach to anxiety, depression, and burnout? I have extensive postgraduate training in both family systems theories and cognitive behavioral therapy. I have combined the two and discovered incredible results by doing so. Taking techniques from CBT and helping people apply them to their lives, while digging into the history of their family of origin and the dynamics at play while they were growing up, helps them understand why they have the core beliefs that they have in the first place. You can’t make a change until you have this type of clarity. What makes your work with high‑achieving women and moms unique or different from traditional therapy? Coaching has a different set of boundaries with more access to the therapist as a coach. Clients have access to me between sessions with check-in calls and messages. This often leads to live, on the spot support as my client goes through their day or week and this is not something we do in traditional therapy. Also, to do traditional therapy and help clients get reimbursement from their insurance companies, the client needs a mental health diagnosis. My coaching clients do not meet criteria for a mental health disorder and want coaching on specific skills or a road map to get their goals accomplished. How does your “Thoughts from the Couch” podcast help expand mental health support beyond traditional therapy settings? I started my podcast during the pandemic when my waitlist felt like it would never end, and we were in a mental health crisis. I felt as though more people needed access to mental health support. Not everyone can afford quality therapy, and I wanted to be a resource for people outside of my practice walls. I also wanted to destigmatize mental health and therapy and normalize conversations about it. My audience is perfectionistic and ambitious women who are creating companies and running businesses while also creating families, so these women struggle with stress, anxiety, burnout, guilt, and overwhelm. I like to pick topics that can support women in these areas, help them with their relationships, but also inspire them to keep going and dreaming. I want women to know that they don’t need to run from stress and anxiety – it doesn’t have to feel this hard. What are some of the most common misconceptions about anxiety and perfectionism that you address with your clients? A lot of people think that they need their perfectionism in order to be successful, accomplished or good at what they do. This makes pulling back on perfectionistic thoughts and behaviors a huge challenge for many women. The truth is, we don’t need to rely on perfectionism to make things happen for us. It is just one part of ourselves that we have been conditioned to believe makes us who we are. It was an adaptation to make us feel safe and in control at some point in our lives, most likely during identity development in childhood and adolescence. This perfectionistic part was often positively reinforced by reactions from our parents when we overachieved, or peers when we were very likeable and reliable. It is hard to let go of something we are positively reinforced for, until we realize it may no longer serve us as well as it used to. We can still be very successful without the weight of perfectionism and anxiety. You just have to be taught how to rewire your brain to allow this change. That’s what I help women do. Can you share a success story or example of how your guidance has helped someone make lasting change? I had a client tell me last month that she has healed more by working with me for the past 15 months than she has over the past 15 years! I was so honored, I can’t even describe the feeling. She was a survivor of trauma in adolescence, was in and out of a variety of treatment programs and has met with different types of therapists over the years, so when she said this I felt so confident in the work I am doing. I was able to see an outcome. I know my ability to combine cognitive behavioral therapy and family systems techniques is unique but truly effective, and her saying that to me validated everything I have been working on over the past 15 years. I never stop learning my craft and tweaking my skills because I want to see the change. If I am not helping someone, then what am I even doing? What are the key tools or techniques you teach clients to regain calm and confidence in their lives? I combine a few different modalities- cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, internal family systems, and Bowenian Family Systems. It’s amazing how the different tools and techniques from each modality really complement each other and come together as a perfect recipe for change. I help clients understand the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and actions and how that patterning influences the decisions they make, the relationships they have, and the feelings and patterns they are struggling with. I help clients understand their subconscious core beliefs that influence their automatic thought patterns, which have been highly influenced by their family of origin, culture, and life events. I help clients identify what they currently value in their lives and teach them how to set boundaries around these values so they feel in alignment with their lives. I also use exposure therapy to help clients rewire their brains and achieve the goals and changes they want to make for themselves. What inspired you to create programs like The Balanced Boss™ for stressed‑out women? My own struggles with running a business and becoming a mother at the same time during the pandemic inspired me. It was March 2020, and like many women, I was trying to do everything at once. I had a three-month-old breastfeeding baby and a toddler who was potty training and regressing with sleep. I was running therapy sessions on Zoom while bouncing a crying baby between sessions and a three-year-old with no preschool due to the world shutting down. I was trying to be the calm, grounded therapist my clients needed while also being the present mom my kids deserved. I was growing my practice that had a waitlist, recording a podcast that was ranked in the top 3 %, and honestly, I thought I was handling it pretty well. Until I developed Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune condition where your body literally starts attacking itself. My anxiety and stress was through the roof, which was so ironic given I am an anxiety treatment specialist. I knew I couldn’t be alone in this struggle, so I started focusing my content online and on my podcast to serve high-achieving females. I felt like successful working women needed more support. 1 in 4 families in America have a female breadwinner now, but women are still “expected” to do certain things while also working and advancing their careers. Women have a lot of pressure on them about what a “good mom” and “good wife” should look like and what success should look like. This leads to a ton of stress, anxiety, and burnout for women who are growing businesses while building families. We can’t do it all; we need a lot of help, and we need that to be okay with that in our society today. My generation of women did not have many models of how we are supposed to do this, so we are figuring it out now with each other. We need to change narratives around what success can look like for women and who our families and society can support us in these roles as leaders. That’s what I hope my program can do. From your experience, what is the biggest barrier people face when seeking mental health support and how do you help them overcome it? I think there are a few things. The first is stigma. A lot of people think therapy is for someone who is severely “mentally ill” or has been traumatized in some way, and many people come to therapy without a mental health diagnosis. Whether or not people want to admit it, our mental health is a significant part of how successful we are, how our relationships go, and how satisfied we are with our lives. You don’t need a diagnosis to benefit from support. I also think a lot of people are resistant to hiring support and think they can figure everything out themselves, but this belief prevents them from growing and scaling their business. I can’t tell you how many women I have met whose perfectionism has actually blocked them from making more money or having more time. Lastly, I think people lack access to quality mental health care. Not everyone can afford private pay therapy and coaching, and when they try to use their health insurance, the paneled providers are full with 6-month wait lists. This is why I offer free content on my podcast, email list, and social media. I also have sliding scale slots for clients who cannot afford my full fee. What message would you like potential clients to hear – and why should they reach out to you for support today? I want women to remember that they can be successful and sane. You do not have to sacrifice your peace, presence with your family or mental health in order to achieve your professional goals. The women I work with aren't broken. They're not too much or too sensitive. They're carrying patterns that made sense once but don't serve them anymore. They're brilliant, capable women who are ready to stop running on external conditioning and start leading from their own wisdom. When my clients learn to put down old patterns and trust their own authority instead of their inherited anxiety, they don't just transform their businesses but they transform their whole lives. They become the leaders they were meant to be. The mothers they wanted to have. The women who show up fully without burning out completely. Because the world doesn't need more women who look perfect on paper. The world needs more women who know that success and peace can coexist and that you can be ambitious and also at ease. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Justine Carino, LMHC

Maya Akai is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with over two decades of dedicated experience in mental wellness within the social service and mental health sectors. She possesses a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Addiction Studies, complemented by certification as an addiction counselor. Maya Akai Monet Gavin, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Who is Maya Akai Monet Gavin? Maya Akai Monet Gavin-Winters, LCPC, CADC: Two Decades of Mental Health Advocacy, Crisis Expertise, and Empowering Voices. Raised in the Midwest by a hardworking family, Maya Akai's perspective was broadened from a young age through travel, visiting over 18 countries and 24 of the 50 United States. This foundation of strong values and diverse global exposure has fueled her two decades of dedication to the mental health and social service sectors. As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Maya transforms her complex experience into real-world impact. Her academic journey, culminating in a Master's degree from a respected university, continues as she pursues a PhD in Psychology, currently focused on expanding research into the mental health dynamics of menopause. Maya spent fourteen critical years in crisis intervention within the Emergency Service Department of a major medical center in the Midwest. This extensive, high-stakes background has forged her proficiency in navigating diverse populations and challenging mental health situations. She has collaborated closely with various key governmental and community-based social service agencies, including those specializing in child and family welfare, domestic violence, and sexual assault. While skilled at assisting clients across the lifespan, she holds a specialized passion for women's health and the unique challenges of emerging adulthood. Beyond the clinic, Maya leverages her commitment to empowerment through media. She hosts the influential weekly podcast, M.A.Y.A. My Ambition, Your Ambition, which is globally distributed to encourage and uplift listeners. Furthermore, she serves as a monthly featured guest on a prominent Chicago radio station, where she actively champions mental health awareness and drives public discussion. What inspired you to start M.A.Y.A: My Ambition Your Ambition and focus on mindfulness? My deep passion for communication began early, leading me to pursue a degree in Communication Studies with a focus on broadcasting. I discovered my love for speaking and connecting with people through performing arts in high school, which fed my creativity. My radio career unexpectedly launched after I won an audition for a radio host position at a top-ranked sports station in Chicago. The moment I first spoke into a microphone, I knew I had found a passion with immense potential and purpose, setting the stage for my podcasting journey. Mindfulness was an obvious choice for me, as it serves as a foundational skill for emotional and mental evolution. I was driven to introduce people to this essential concept. How does your 20+ years of experience in mental health shape the way you help clients? Two decades in this field have illuminated the profound importance of silence, patience, and ensuring every person feels truly seen and heard. Crucially, I've come to understand the transformative power of compassion and that our inner light often shines brighter than we realize. In every interaction, I approach clients with empathy, honesty, and compassion. Still, above all, I acknowledge and honor their individual uniqueness and personal nuances. These are the invaluable lessons time has taught me. What common challenges do people face that your work helps them overcome? Many individuals struggle with common challenges in family, friend, and work dynamics. A frequent issue is feeling unsupported or undervalued, often leading to heavy burdens of guilt and shame. These feelings typically result in mental and emotional destabilization. My approach is to help clients overcome the stress, struggle, and disappointment they've been dealing with, facilitating the healing process so they can transition from merely surviving to truly thriving. How do you define mindfulness, and why is it essential for life balance? Mindfulness is the key to achieving balance in all areas of life. To be mindful is to objectively recognize when life feels overwhelmingly stressful, when your Mind feels full, rather than actively seeking equilibrium. This balance involves navigating both successes and struggles with a clear, objective perspective. Essentially, mindfulness means paying attention, in an observant and objective way, to all factors impacting your emotional and mental health. This awareness allows you to make necessary adjustments to prevent distress. Recognizing the sources of imbalance is the necessary first step toward achieving a balanced life. Can you share how your motivational speaking events help people take action in their lives? Motivational speaking events serve as powerful catalysts, transforming abstract concepts – such as ideas, dreams, goals, and feelings – into tangible realities. My purpose as a speaker is to connect with participants by offering a message that engages, informs, inspires, or elevates their personal discovery. I am committed to delivering practical, actionable speaking engagements that ensure attendees always depart with valuable insights and tools they can use immediately. What can someone expect from working with you one-on-one in coaching or counseling? Therapy is a really personal, active journey focused completely on you, my client. Building trust, being open, and offering unconditional support are the absolute keys to our relationship. Your specific mental and emotional needs and goals will always drive the work we do (because therapy is work!). You can expect some tough moments as we move toward the comfort you're looking for. But don't worry, all this effort happens in a therapeutic space that's always safe and totally accepting of who you are. How do you help young adults prepare mentally, emotionally, and financially for college life? Working with young adults is a vital and rewarding experience focused on facilitating self-discovery. The goal is to guide them past external expectations that limit their authentic selves, to let their authentic selves emerge. My therapeutic approach helps young adults establish authenticity, self-awareness, and resilient confidence. This identity work is holistic, spanning emotional, mental, physical, social, and financial domains. This deep process unlocks psychological shifts, helping them internalize self-worth beyond external validation. They develop self-compassion, buffering against self-criticism. This journey ultimately builds self-efficacy – the belief in their capacity to navigate challenges, set goals, and proactively shape their future with resilience. What role does recovery coaching play in supporting someone dealing with self-sabotage or addiction? Recovery coaching provides a supportive, non-judgmental environment to foster sustained sobriety through accountability. Recognizing that recovery is a non-linear journey with inevitable challenges and setbacks, as a coach, I act as a dedicated, future-focused partner. Unlike therapy, which addresses the past, coaching is action-oriented, focusing on developing concrete strategies, life skills, and healthy habits. The coach offers consistent encouragement, helps identify core values, and collaboratively sets incremental goals. Crucially, the relationship emphasizes accountability through creating a clear recovery plan, monitoring progress, and addressing deviations. This framework helps individuals restructure their lives, equipping them with proactive coping mechanisms for predictable challenges like cravings and stress. Can you describe a breakthrough moment you've seen with a client that illustrates the power of your approach? Working with a client who had a history of trauma revealed a direct link to their long-term substance abuse. By identifying the underlying trauma, we were able to establish the connection to their addiction struggles. The therapeutic approach focused on addressing the source of the trauma, which involved building robust support networks and providing essential resources. These steps were crucial in creating safe environments, allowing the client to feel secure enough to actively choose healing rather than continue coping with adverse life circumstances they had previously felt compelled to accept. How does your podcast extend your mission of inspiring ambition and healing? M.A.Y.A., an acronym for "My Ambition Your Ambition," is a dedicated movement focused on holistic personal growth and well-being. My central mission is built on a dynamic three-pronged approach: to Inspire, Motivate, and Activate individuals to take purposeful action in their lives. Actual personal development stems from a clear vision coupled with actionable steps. Therefore, M.A.Y.A. goes beyond mere inspiration by offering pragmatic, actionable strategies designed to address and overcome life's most challenging and complex situations. The podcast resources and programs are carefully curated to transition abstract goals into concrete realities, providing the necessary tools to navigate obstacles and foster resilience. By aligning personal ambition with a clear path forward, M.A.Y.A. catalyzes transformative, sustained personal evolution. What advice would you give someone who feels stuck and is ready to make a meaningful change now? The essential ingredient for change is immediate action, not procrastination. People frequently hesitate to make necessary or desired life changes because they fear stepping outside of their comfort zone. This comfort zone is often rigidly defined by convenience, control, and consistency. Hitting the limits of this comfortable space can lead to stagnation or the feeling of being stuck. To overcome this, one must be willing to leave one's comfort zone to find the connection they feel is missing. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Maya Akai Monet Gavin

Written by Zeljka Cacic-Escalera, Transformation Coach Zeljka is a transformation coach and founder of Day One with Zeljka. She coaches ambitious women through personal and professional change using mindset work, self-leadership, and the body–mind connection. Her mission is to help you take your power back and create a life that finally feels like yours. Feeling stuck in life can be surprisingly isolating. On the surface, everything may look fine. You might have a career, responsibilities, and a life that appears stable or even successful. Yet internally, something feels unresolved. There is often a quiet sense that you are not fully living the life you are meant to live. Many people experience this at some point. What once motivated them no longer does. The goals they worked toward no longer feel fulfilling. There is a growing awareness that something needs to change, even if it is not yet clear what that change should be. This moment is not a failure. It is often the beginning of a deeper transition. Why feeling stuck is not the problem Most of the people I work with are capable, reflective, and self-aware. They understand their patterns and often know why they feel the way they do. Still, they remain stuck. This is because awareness alone does not create change. Knowing what is no longer working does not automatically reveal what should come next. At this stage, many people try to push harder, set new goals, or distract themselves with productivity. Yet the feeling persists. What is often needed is not more effort, but a deeper shift. The difference between coaching and transformation coaching Traditional coaching is often focused on goals, performance, and outcomes. It works on the level of action. This can be helpful when someone knows what they want and simply needs structure or accountability. Transformation coaching works differently. It focuses on identity, emotional patterns, and inner leadership. Instead of asking what you want to achieve, it asks who you need to become in order to live differently. Rather than solving isolated problems, it looks at the underlying patterns that shape decisions and behavior. Lasting change rarely comes from better strategies alone. It comes from identity shifts. When the way you see yourself changes, your choices change. When your emotional responses change, your behavior follows. Over time, your outer life begins to reflect this inner transformation. When an old identity no longer fits Many people feel stuck because the version of themselves they have been living from has outgrown its purpose. What once worked no longer fits who they are becoming. This can feel uncomfortable and confusing. From the outside, everything may look fine. Inside, there is a sense of misalignment. This is not something to fix or ignore. It is a signal that growth is taking place. I see my role in this process as a bridge builder. I support people in moving from where they are now to who they are ready to become, not by pushing or fixing, but by creating clarity and alignment through a structured transformation process. Where to begin when you are ready for change If you recognize yourself in this, you may be wondering where to start. Transformation is not a single moment. It is a process. It begins with understanding where you are in life right now. It continues with defining who you want to become beyond old roles and expectations. It becomes real through aligned action taken from that new identity. In my twelve-week transformation program, I offer a clear roadmap for exactly this journey. We move through these phases step by step, creating space for awareness, alignment, and meaningful change. If this resonates with you and sparks curiosity, you can find more about my work on my website . I also offer a free discovery call , where we have the opportunity to meet, talk openly, and explore whether working together feels aligned. Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Zeljka Cacic-Escalera Zeljka Cacic-Escalera, Transformation Coach Zeljka is a transformation coach and founder of Day One with Zeljka, with a professional background in international corporate and consulting environments. Years of working in high-performance, results-driven settings shaped her deep understanding of pressure, self-doubt, and identity loss behind outward success. Today, she bridges business acumen with mindset work, self-leadership, and the body-mind connection to support ambitious women through meaningful change. Her mission is to help you take your power back and create a life that finally feels like yours.

Written by Dr. Tywana Robinson, Executive Leadership Strategist, Coach, Founder, and Author Dr. Tywana Robinson is the creator of the Pivot with Purpose Framework. She is the founder of Thriving Minds Learning Solutions, author of the book THRIVE: 6 Essential Practices to Living Abundantly, published in 2020, and equips professionals in navigating pivotal seasons. During a team meeting, we had a major decision to make, but no one was in charge. I realized I had useful things to say when the conversation started to slow down. I did not have the lead title, but I spoke up and, to my surprise, the team agreed with me. I learned that day that you do not need a title, an office in the corner, or an organizational chart to be a leader. You can be a great leader even without formal authority. Real leaders can influence people, be straightforward, and lead from where they are. I have been in charge for 25 years and have seen that people do not follow titles; they follow conviction, confidence, and purpose. According to a Forbes report, more than 80 percent of entry-level workers believe that effective communication of a leadership mindset is important, and more than 80 percent believe that leadership training is a useful skill. For example, Maria, who was new to her role, was inspired by a coworker who did not hold a managerial title but consistently demonstrated a leadership mindset by being clear and having a strong sense of purpose. Maria’s story supports the data and shows that being a good leader is not about where you sit, but about how you influence others and what you aim to achieve. The title myth Many professionals are still waiting for permission to lead. They believe that once they receive a promotion, certification, or recognition, they will be fully in charge. But waiting for rank can often slow progress and come with hidden costs. When you hesitate, you may miss opportunities to contribute new ideas because you do not voice them or test them out. This can lead to disengaged teams, where potential leaders fail to inspire or motivate others because they do not step forward. In addition, people who are perceived as passive may experience slower promotions because others do not see them as ready to advance. Highlighting these missed opportunities helps expose why this myth persists. It starts with you leading. It begins with the choices you make, how you navigate uncertainty, and how you act when fear is present but purpose is stronger. We all face moments when we are unsure of the next step. What matters is what we choose to do in those moments. Think about a recent situation where you had to make a decision that felt intimidating. What helped you move forward? What made your voice stronger? This self-reflection helps connect these ideas to your own experience. Some of the most impactful leaders I have worked with were not the highest-ranking people in the room. They shaped culture, outcomes, and direction simply through their behavior and clarity. Pivotal seasons show you how to be a leader Taking on new roles, transitioning to a different organization, reinventing yourself, or feeling uncertain often reveals where your leadership foundation truly lies. Think about the tension in an uncertain board meeting, the charged atmosphere surrounding change, or the quiet pressure that builds when your role shifts unexpectedly. These sensory experiences signal opportunities for growth that exist within periods of transition. These seasons can create fear, self-doubt, and hesitation. At the same time, they offer some of the greatest opportunities for development. When familiarity is removed, leaders are compelled to confront deeper questions: What am I without this title? What do I believe in? What kind of difference do I truly want to make? These are not just professional questions. They are invitations to reconnect with purpose. Why purpose is the anchor You may want to pause when you hear the word “purpose.” It is not a slogan; it is a way to take ownership. Leaders who understand what drives them make clearer decisions and are more effective at guiding change. They create a sense of safety, not because they have all the answers, but because they understand why they do what they do. Research from Harvard shows that leaders with a clear purpose are 60 percent more likely than their peers to outperform them in employee engagement and innovation. To apply this daily, start each morning by reconnecting with your primary goal. Consider how the tasks ahead align with your broader vision. Then choose one small action that supports that purpose. This practice transforms purpose from an idea into a lived experience and turns inspiration into consistent leadership. When rank fails to guide action, purpose becomes the compass. It helps leaders make decisions during uncertainty and act in alignment with what matters most. Leading without asking Leaders must understand that they do not need permission to lead with purpose, clarity, and courage. This realization is one of the most powerful shifts a person can make. People can develop internal authority, meaning the ability to influence others without relying on a title. Here are three simple ways to begin practicing this: Step 1: Know your value by reflecting on your skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Understanding your strengths builds confidence, even without formal authority. Step 2: Communicate with intention. Before meetings or conversations, clarify what you want to accomplish and ensure your contributions support that goal. Clear, purposeful communication strengthens influence. Step 3: Act with purpose. Align your actions with your core values and goals. Consistency builds trust and earns respect over time. These steps form the foundation of leadership expressed through how you speak up when it matters, set boundaries aligned with your values, and demonstrate confidence during uncertainty. You are responsible for your growth and the impact you create. Inner authority emerges when you stop waiting for external validation. That is when leadership strength expands, regardless of where you sit on the organizational chart. The purposeful pivot When I work with high-achieving professionals, I often observe a similar pattern. Many are successful, yet something feels misaligned. John, for example, was a marketing executive who advanced quickly. On paper, he had everything: promotions, a strong salary, and recognition from colleagues. Yet despite these achievements, he felt unfulfilled and wanted his work to contribute more meaningfully. Many people share this experience. They accomplish a great deal, yet long for deeper alignment with their values, greater purpose, and a more meaningful impact. Pivoting does not mean abandoning success. It means redefining it. When leaders intentionally change direction, they do more than shift roles. They reshape how they lead, who they serve, and the legacy they leave behind. Last thought Leadership has no hierarchy. You owe it to yourself, the people you serve, and the legacy you are creating. The first step is choosing to lead yourself. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Dr. Tywana Robinson Dr. Tywana Robinson, Executive Leadership Strategist, Coach, Founder, and Author Dr. Tywana Robinson is a distinguished leader across the military and higher education. She brings a blend of strategic leadership, operational excellence, and human-centered development. She has led complex organizations, advanced institutional strategy, and built systems that drive measurable results while cultivating equitable, high-performing cultures. Today, her mission is to help professionals navigate pivotal seasons, overcome fear with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Mehreen Omar is the Co‑Founder & CEO of SupperClub Middle East, a trailblazing luxury-membership platform redefining the meaning of lifestyle access across nine countries. What began as a bold idea in 2020 has grown into a regionally celebrated brand, one that global banks, top hospitality groups, and elite partners trust to deliver premium experiences with discretion, ease, and value. Mehreen Omar, Co-Founder & CEO Who is Mehreen Omar? I'm the Co-Founder and CEO of SupperClub Middle East. I build things that didn't exist before, platforms that shift how people access luxury, experience their cities, and think about what membership should actually mean. I also mentor founders who are brave enough to challenge industries that desperately need disruption. What inspired you to start SupperClub, and what problem are you solving for your members? Honestly? I was tired of the absurdity of it all. You're a paying member, but you can only bring two guests. You have "unlimited" access, but only four times a month. You get a discount, but first you need to show a card, enter a code, and have an awkward conversation with your server. I thought: Why does accessing the best of a city have to feel like navigating an obstacle course? SupperClub exists because luxury should be effortless, not exhausting. We remove every barrier between desire and experience – no vouchers, no limits, no fine print. Just seamless access to the extraordinary. How does SupperClub differentiate itself from other lifestyle or membership platforms? Most platforms give you deals. We give you freedom. Unlimited guests. Unlimited usage. No codes, no vouchers, no cards to flash. You book through SupperClub, show up, give your name, and everything is already taken care of. It's discreet, elegant, and designed for people who value their time as much as their experiences. The difference isn't what we offer; it's what we don't ask you to tolerate. What can members expect when they first join SupperClub? Immediate access. No waiting periods, no "getting started" tutorials. From day one, you're unlocking exclusive discounts and offers at Jumeirah, Ritz-Carlton, Rosewood, Mandarin Oriental – elite venues where service is an art form. These aren't public promotions or deals anyone can find online. They're privileges negotiated specifically for our members, applied automatically at booking. Your reservations get priority. Your experience is frictionless. Most memberships make you work for the perks. We make the perks work for you. How do your exclusive partner experiences elevate the lifestyle of your members? We don't partner with venues that check boxes. We partner with venues that set standards. Every restaurant, beach club, spa, and hotel in our network was chosen because they deliver consistency, exceptional service, and experiences worth remembering. Our members don't wonder if they're going to have a great night – they know they will. That confidence? That's what elevates lifestyle. Knowing that wherever you go, excellence is the baseline. What are the biggest benefits your members tell you they've gained from using SupperClub? Three things come up constantly: time, ease, and unapologetic indulgence. They're dining out more because it's no longer complicated. They're bringing whoever they want because there's no guest limit. They're saving significantly without feeling like they're "using a coupon." But what I hear most? "I stopped overthinking it. I just go." That's the point. Luxury shouldn't require mental math. How does SupperClub make accessing luxury experiences more seamless and affordable? Technology. Intention. Discipline. Our platform is built so exclusive discounts and offers apply automatically the moment you book – no codes, no screenshots, no showing a card. These aren't generic promotions; they're member-only privileges that don't exist anywhere else. You don't ask for your discount; it's already embedded in your reservation. Affordability isn't about slashing prices. It's about exclusive access that compounds value when you can bring unlimited guests and use these offers unlimited times. The savings become exponential. When access is seamless, you use it more. When you use it more, the value becomes extraordinary. What kind of results do your clients experience after becoming members? They stop rationing joy. I see members who used to save fine dining for special occasions now going twice a week. Families who never brought their kids to luxury venues because "it's too expensive" now making it a regular thing. Corporate clients using us to close deals, reward teams, and entertain clients without the usual hoops. The financial savings are real, but the psychological shift is bigger. They stop asking "Can I afford this?" and start asking "Where do I want to go tonight?" How do you decide which brands and venues to partner with? I ask one question: Would I bring someone I'm trying to impress here? If the answer is no, we don't partner. Service quality, brand reputation, and consistency are non-negotiable. I'm not interested in volume – I'm interested in venues where our members feel genuinely taken care of. We're building a portfolio of experiences people remember. That requires curation, not collection. What has been your biggest achievement with SupperClub so far? We've expanded across multiple countries, onboarded hundreds of premium partners, and built corporate loyalty integrations with brands like Visa, Samsung, Skywards, and Adnoc. But the achievement I'm proudest of? Changing the conversation. Five years ago, "membership" meant restrictions. Today, because of what we've built, people expect better. They expect unlimited. They expect seamless. They expect what SupperClub delivers. That shift – that's legacy. What advice would you give someone hesitant to invest in a lifestyle membership like SupperClub? Stop thinking of it as a discount card. It's an investment in how you live. Calculate how many times you've skipped a great restaurant because you were mentally adding up the cost. Or chosen a mediocre option because it was "easier." Or said no to spontaneous plans because it felt too complicated. SupperClub removes that friction. It gives you permission to say yes more often. And when you say yes more often, life gets infinitely more interesting. If you value your time, your experiences, and your peace of mind, this isn't an expense. It's infrastructure. What's next for SupperClub, and how will you continue to help members unlock value? Geographic expansion is already underway. Deeper partnerships with global brands. A more intelligent platform that anticipates what you want before you ask for it. And more curated privileges that extend beyond dining, travel, wellness, entertainment. But here's what won't change: our obsession with removing friction. Every decision we make is filtered through one lens: Does this make our members' lives easier, better, richer? If the answer is yes, we build it. If not, we don't. The goal isn't to be the biggest membership platform. It's to be the one people can't imagine living without. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Mehreen Omar

Written by Marcia Anita Hobbs (BNoose), Entrepreneur/ Activist Marcia BNoose, born Marcia Anita Hobbs, is a renowned human rights activist, Fashion Designer, and Model/ Actress in Australia. Founder of the 'Human Rights Brand' Barbwire Noose Clothing , Marcia is recognized for her charitable contributions, autobiographical authoring, and pageantry title holdings within the pageant world. If your only exposure to the world of pageantry is a three-minute clip of a " viral fail, " a minute of glamour, or a reality show featuring high-strung stage parents, you're missing the most interesting part of the pageant scene. The landscape of pageantry has shifted from being just about who has the most symmetrical face, the highest heels, and runway perfection, it has evolved into a high-stakes incubator for personal development, fostering brains, passion, compassion, charity, and beauty. The concept of a "beauty queen" has undergone a radical transformation. No longer defined by antiquated standards of perfection, the modern titleholder is a community architect and a brand strategist. I, Marcia Anita Hobbs , as your Ms Legacy International Australia Finalist 2026 (as televised on Channel 10 and Seven Network), National Finals in Sydney from Wednesday, 17 June to Friday, 19 June 2026, have seen firsthand how a pageant program rooted in genuine values can turn a platform into a movement, as the current director of Legacy International Australia, Em Hardwicke, has shown by launching her charitable movement, “B’Kind.” When a program is built on a foundation of genuine intent and charitable values, it doesn’t just produce a winner, it produces a leader. Here is how a positive pageantry experience can be a life-changing catalyst for empowerment. 1. The interview: A career launchpad in disguise Most people dread job interviews. Pageant contestants, however, learn to treat them like a sport. A genuine program prioritizes the private interview, where a candidate must defend their opinions, explain their "Platform" (their chosen social cause), and remain composed under pressure. Critical thinking : You aren't just memorizing lines, you're learning to articulate complex thoughts on global issues. The "30-second" rule: Learning to deliver a punchy, impactful message in a short window is a skill that translates directly to boardroom pitches and networking. Authenticity : The best programs today value the "real" you over a scripted version. Learning to be your authentic self while being scrutinized is a superpower. 2. The power of the platform The " charitable heart " of pageantry is what separates a vanity project from a movement. Modern contestants are essentially unpaid CEOs of their own nonprofits. Whether it’s advocating for neurodiversity, environmental sustainability, or literacy, the "Platform" requirement forces a young woman to: Identify a need: Researching local or global gaps in service. Organize action: Planning fundraisers, speaking at schools, and lobbying for change. Measure impact: Seeing the tangible results of their labor. When you spend a year serving others, your perspective shifts. You realize that the crown isn't a trophy, it’s a megaphone. This sense of purpose provides a level of fulfillment that no "Best in Evening Gown" award ever could. 3. Resilience under the spotlight in pageantry Candidly, pageantry is a vulnerable experience. You put your body and face, your hard work, your style, and your heart on a stage to be judged. It is both daunting and the ultimate resilience training. A positive program teaches participants that "losing" isn't a failure, it’s a data point. It teaches you how to: Receive constructive feedback without crumbling. Celebrate the success of others (the true definition of "Sisterhood"). Pick yourself up, analyze your performance, and try again with more wisdom. "The goal isn't to be better than the girl standing next to you, it's to be better than the version of yourself that walked into orientation." 4. The myth of the "mean girl" One of the most life-changing aspects of a healthy pageant environment is the professional network. You are suddenly in a room filled with future doctors, lawyers, activists, and entrepreneurs. The "Sisterhood" isn't just a marketing slogan. When you're backstage pinning someone else’s zipper or helping a competitor remember her stage walk, you're building a bond based on shared ambition. These women can become your lifelong friends, venture partners, board of directors, the people you call when you're applying for a mortgage or a new job. A genuine pageant experience has charity at its core. When a system prioritizes service, the atmosphere backstage changes. The "mean girl" tropes of the past vanish, replaced by a collective drive to impact the world. Empowerment through authentic advocacy As the founder of the human rights brand Barbwire Noose® Clothing , my life has been dedicated to advocacy and activism. Stepping back into the world of pageantry in 2026 with Legacy International allows me to scale that mission. Refining the voice: The program focuses heavily on public speaking and personal branding. For me, this continues my work of turning years of activism into a polished, professional message that reaches the halls of government and the hearts of the public. The power of networking: One of the most life-changing aspects is the global sisterhood. Like-mindedness and being surrounded by women whose goals are big and actions are prominent. Women showing the world we can be ‘anything’ we dream, from CEOs and legal advocates to community leaders. We aren’t competing for a piece of the pie, we are working together to bake a bigger one. Charity is a value, not a chore Whether it’s advocating for disability rights, mental wellness, or human rights, as I do through my work and my books, for example, The Story Behind the Brand, a pageant crown serves as a legal and social passport, a responsibility, not just an opportunity. A platform that should cast no judgment upon another and empowers fellow sisters (and brothers) to be their best. Pageantry opens doors that might otherwise be closed, allowing us to represent the voiceless on a global stage. The verdict: A launchpad, not a finish line The life-changing verdict is that if you approach pageantry with a heart for service and a mind for leadership, it is impossible to walk away unchanged. You gain: Resilience: The ability to be scrutinized and remain standing in your truth. Authority: A platform that validates your expertise and your passion. Legacy: The satisfaction of knowing you’ve left your community better than you found it. A positive pageantry experience ends with a version of yourself that is more confident, more articulate, and more aware of the world’s needs. Whether you walk away with a title or just a suitcase full of memories, the internal transformation is permanent. The crown might eventually go in a box on a shelf, but the ability to walk into any room and command it with grace? That stays with you forever. My reign as Ms. Legacy International Australia Finalist 2026 is about more than a sash, it is about the enduring power of a woman who knows her worth and uses her platform to spark progress, paving the way for the next generation to follow their dreams, lead, and be a voice. Yours, Ms. Legacy International Australia Finalist (2026) "My legacy isn't a logo. It’s the bridge built between the struggle and the solution." – Marcia Anita Hobbs Not just a title, a movement. Through my initiative, A Better World, and my work as a human rights entrepreneur, I have spent over two decades advocating for the voiceless and defending the fundamental rights of every individual to be recognized under the law. My legacy project focuses on empowerment. Sometimes, it is the hardest paths that produce the strongest leaders, and that grit without purpose is just noise. The 'Barbwire Noose' we often find ourselves in during life, which at times replaces our safety net of justice and community support, is not binding. You are special, you matter, you are loved, and you are bound by nothing in this life that you do not choose. "A Better World" is the mission. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Marcia Anita Hobbs (BNoose) Marcia Anita Hobbs (BNoose), Entrepreneur/ Activist A life like a little rock princess at times, Marcia is a leader in legislative change, politics, and the business world. Protesting for change throughout the state of South Australia and beyond, Marcia has dedicated her life to empowering those who feel they have no power or truly do not have power at all. A student of policy and governance, Marcia contributes to sustainable changes within government and the fashion sector. Heavily invested in environmentally friendly fashion. Marcia is bold, outspoken, and an active change-maker. Her mission is "a better world".

Written by Egbert Schram, Group CEO Egbert Schram is a global authority on cultural analytics. As Group CEO of The Culture Factor Group, he helps executives navigate the paradoxes of cultural data while looking deeper at what drives people. Author of "Navigating Foreignerness" and a new book on lessons from natural resource management, he is seen as a delicate provocateur. In my first book, Navigating Foreignerness, I explored the idea that we are all "foreigners" in some capacity, whether by nationality, generation, or function, and that success depends on testing our assumptions before we act. Today, as we stand at the precipice of an AI-driven revolution, we face a new kind of "foreignness," the integration of artificial intelligence into the very "soil" of our organizational systems. Many leaders view AI simply as a tool for efficiency. However, through the lens of a forester, I see it differently. You cannot force growth, you can only design the conditions, the environment, the soil, the light, that make it possible. AI is not just another piece of technology, it is a fundamental shift in the environment that forces us to re-evaluate the "operating system" of our organizations. The gap between strategy and purpose In my work with the Culture Factor Group, I often encounter "Strategic Sabotage," where a brilliant strategy is undermined by an underlying culture that isn't "fit for purpose". AI amplifies this risk. If your strategy involves rapid AI adoption but your actual culture remains risk-averse and means-oriented, the technology will stall. AI can be useful as well to further your sense of purpose as an organization. Our sense of purpose comes from making work life a consistent experience. We use AI to get a picture of what is the desired culture an organization claims to have ,  and the interesting thing is, they’re all pretty much the same across industries. A recent study we did among 94 Finnish stock-listed companies' public cultural profile concluded that, for instance, in highly regulated sectors like banking (Nordea) or energy (Fortum), we frequently observe a "Strict" control dimension necessitated by compliance and safety. Conversely, in creative and tech sectors like gaming (Rovio or Remedy), an "Easy-going" control environment and "Goal-orientation" are common to foster innovation. Nordea Bank reveals a culture classified as "Means-oriented," where employees describe the pace of work as bureaucratic and report that less than half of meetings are effective. In such an environment, the integration of AI might stall because the practical experience of employees remains focused on processes and rules rather than outcomes. Conversely, creative and tech sectors like gaming often foster an "Easy-going" control environment to drive innovation. Rovio Entertainment (known for Angry Birds) exemplifies this with a culture that values independence and responsibility, providing gaming zones and lounges to maintain a relaxed atmosphere that encourages initiative. The cultural blind spot: Why "custom agents" aren't enough If AI does not necessarily impact the “desired” culture, as regulations tend to have a stronger impact, then where does AI impact culture? A common misconception is that AI can simply "learn" culture from data. However, recent tests conducted by our team using custom-trained AI Agents against validated cultural benchmarks proved otherwise. These agents, even when equipped with the Six Dimensions of National Culture, struggled significantly with cultural nuance. Average error: AI agents like "Indian" or "American" personas remained far off the mark with an average Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 27.25. The Finnish exception: While the "Finnish Agent" showed modest improvement, AI still failed to capture the lived phenomenon of culture. Neutrality bias: AI often leans toward certain cultural biases rather than opting for neutrality, shedding light on the inherent cultural influences embedded within its programming. This data proves that culture is not just a collection of facts or a dataset to be decoded, it is a context-rich, emotionally layered, and lived phenomenon. AI forces a confrontation with the " Actual Culture " of a workplace. When machines take over the routine, what remains is the deeply human, and this forces us to think much harder about the purpose of work: If AI handles the "what" and the "how," humans must reclaim the "why". Practices over values: We must move beyond aspirational values on a wall and focus on measurable practices. How does AI change our rituals, our decision-making speed, and our collaboration? Emotional preferences: Technology is global, but people remain local. Despite the belief that LinkedIn or TikTok has made us all the same, the emotional preferences that define us are deeply ingrained. What motivates a team in Sweden to use AI will differ from a team in Delhi. And this difference has increased, starting at how we raise our children, for example, when it comes to money , but also with regards to how societies teach children (future workforce) on how to deal with new technology such as AI. From intuition to infrastructure The most dangerous thing a leader can do in the age of AI is to "guess". Leaders often rely on intuition, but those perceptions are filtered through power and position. To successfully integrate AI, we must treat culture as a measurable infrastructure, a way of working that generates a "wow" effect, not a "help" reaction. As I prepare for my second book, I am focused on how leaders can ensure Cultural Executive Ownership (CEO) in this new era. We must diagnose the current state, define the "Optimal Culture" for an AI-augmented workforce, and close the gap through deliberate behavioral design. Leaders must: Diagnose the current state of culture. Define the "Optimal Culture" for an AI-augmented workforce. Design deliberate behavioral changes to close the gap between current and desired states. The augmentation paradox: Designing collaboration The introduction of AI engaging with knowledge work and creative processes is a profound shift. However, human-AI collaboration does not naturally lead to improved creativity, without deliberate structure, it typically stagnates. Research from IMD identifies three distinct activities for effective human-machine partnership: Responsive refinement: Humans generate ideas, and AI provides feedback on practical constraints. Generative expansion: AI generates new ideas based on very specific human prompts. Bidirectional development: A symbiotic relationship where humans critique AI suggestions while AI analyzes human concepts. Conclusion: Strategy should assist, humans must lead AI is not here to replace the purpose of work, it is here to force us to define it. If we do not deliberately understand how our culture enables collective learning, we will find ourselves in a state of chaos rather than innovation. As we design the optimal culture for an AI-augmented workforce, we must remain conscious of why we work in the first place. In many contexts, work shapes our identity, if the nature of work is "thinned out" by automation, we must reflect on what happens to that identity. Ultimately, while strategy should assist in navigation, the understanding and design of culture must remain firmly human-led. Follow me on LinkedIn , YouTube , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Egbert Schram Egbert Schram , Group CEO Egbert Schram is a global authority on cultural analytics and the Group CEO of The Culture Factor Group. Originally set to join the Dutch Marines, he pivoted to forest management at Wageningen University, specializing in environmental psychology and stakeholder management. After entering the market research software industry, he was tapped to internationalize a Nordic organization before eventually taking the helm as CEO. Having scaled the business to over 60 countries, Egbert now focuses on partnering with clients who view culture as the "operating system" of every organization and society. As a delicate provocateur and author of Navigating Foreignerness, he bridges the gap between human complexity and data-driven strategy.

Written by Kate Moody, Somatic Counsellor & Nervous System Guide Kate Moody is a Somatic Counsellor, Nervous System Guide, Human Design Coach, and Yoga Teacher specialising in emotional healing, burnout recovery, and intuitive realignment. Her work bridges therapeutic depth with embodied wisdom to support restorative transformation. When your outer life no longer feels like your truth, it’s not failure, it’s a soul invitation. Human Design isn’t a personality quiz. It’s a map back to the rhythm that was always yours. There’s a quiet ache I often hear from the leaders, healers, and intuitives I work with. They say things like: “I’ve done the mindset work.” “I’ve followed the steps.” “Everything looks fine from the outside... but something still feels off.” If you’ve ever felt like you’re living a life that isn’t quite yours, wearing a mask, following a script, achieving goals that no longer light you up, you’re not alone. And more importantly, you’re not broken. You may simply be living someone else’s life. Not intentionally. Not dramatically. But quietly, misaligned in small, habitual ways that slowly erode your truth. The good news? You can come home. And Human Design shows you how. The cost of living out of alignment We’ve been taught to outsource our authority, to defer to systems, strategies, mentors, even well-meaning spiritual frameworks that ask us to override our internal signals. But when you’re a Projector trying to hustle like a Generator, or an Emotional Authority trying to make instant decisions like a Sacral being, things start to crack. You may experience: Burnout from forcing your energy Confusion around what you “should” want Fragmented identity from shapeshifting The inability to trust your decisions What you’re feeling isn’t failure. It’s your body calling you back to your own blueprint. Human design as a map back to you Human Design doesn’t tell you who to become. It reveals who you already are underneath the layers of conditioning. For example: As a Projector, you’re here to guide, not grind. With Emotional Authority, you’re designed to feel your way through time, not rush clarity. With an Undefined Sacral, your energy flows in intentional pulses, not constant output. Your Profile reveals how you’re here to be received, not just what you do. It doesn’t just change how you work, it shifts how you live. You begin to make decisions from sovereignty. You begin to create from resonance. You begin to feel like yourself again. Your nervous system is the missing link In my work, Human Design isn’t just a system. It’s a nervous system language. When I read someone’s chart, I’m not just looking at their type, strategy, or centres. I’m listening for how their body has adapted to the world around them. Because burnout, overgiving, sensitivity, people-pleasing, they don’t come from flaws. They come from a nervous system that learned how to survive misalignment. Through the lens of trauma-informed insight and somatic safety, your chart becomes a mirror: For where your system has been bracing For where your truth has been overridden For the energy you’ve always carried, quietly waiting to be trusted When you see your design through the body, healing begins. This isn’t about performance. It’s about permission, to stop pushing, and start living from your own rhythm. Alignment isn’t a buzzword, it’s a frequency Living your design is a return to truth. Not another identity. Not another label. A deeper landing into your own body and energy. Because when you honour your design, you’re not just creating aligned offers or making clearer decisions, you’re building a life that feels like home. And there is nothing more magnetic than someone living from inner alignment. A soft invitation If you're quietly tired of holding it all together, and ready to remember how it feels to trust yourself again, you're not alone. This is the heart of my work. Whether through a Foundational Human Design Reading or my Burnout Recovery By Design program, I support intuitive women and heart-led humans to reconnect with the way they were always meant to move through the world. We explore: Your unique energy type and nervous system language Where burnout has crept in through misalignment How your system has been protecting you, and how to create real safety again How to regulate, re-pattern, and restore your energy Your timing, emotional landscape, and inner authority, so you stop overriding and start honouring your truth This is more than information. It’s integration. Not from the outside in, but from the inside out. You don’t have to prove your worth. You don’t have to fix yourself. You simply need to be seen with depth, care, and a map that reflects who you already are. You don’t have to keep living a life that doesn’t feel like yours. When you honour your design and listen to your nervous system’s wisdom, you begin to move from self-trust, not survival. This is the quiet revolution, returning to the rhythm that was always yours. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Kate Moody Kate Moody, Somatic Counsellor & Nervous System Guide Kate Moody is a Somatic Counsellor, Nervous System Guide, Human Design Coach, and Yoga Teacher with over a decade of experience supporting intuitive, heart-led women. She helps clients uncover the root causes of burnout by identifying where they are out of alignment with their unique Human Design and layering this awareness with nervous system education and embodiment practices. Drawing on her training in counselling, Family Constellations, and yoga philosophy, Kate guides women in restoring union between their body, mind, soul, and spirit. Her approach is both deeply intuitive and therapeutically grounded, creating restorative spaces for healing, clarity, and a return to wholeness. Recommended Reading: Return to Your Energy, Rhythm, and Truth: If you’re feeling the pull to deepen your understanding of Human Design, nervous system healing, and embodied alignment, these titles offer powerful insight and resonance: Human Design & Energetics: “The Definitive Book of Human Design” – Ra Uru Hu & Lynda Bunnell A foundational guide to the Human Design system from its original transmission. “Understanding Human Design” – Karen Curry An accessible introduction to living your design with clarity and compassion. “Gene Keys” – Richard Rudd A poetic, multidimensional journey into your DNA, shadows, and gifts, a companion to Human Design for deeper self-illumination. Nervous System & Somatic Wisdom: “The Wisdom of Your Body” – Hillary McBride An empowering invitation to come home to your body’s truth and rewrite your story from within. “The Body Keeps the Score” – Bessel van der Kolk A powerful exploration of trauma, healing, and the nervous system’s role in restoring wholeness. “Polyvagal Practices” – Deb Dana A compassionate guide to understanding and regulating your nervous system through practical, embodied tools. Alignment, Burnout & Feminine Power" “Do Less” – Kate Northrup A soulful and strategic book for women ready to align their time, energy, and business with cyclical wisdom. “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” – Emily & Amelia Nagoski A science-backed, heart-centred guide to understanding how stress lives in the body, and how to release it. “Untamed” – Glennon Doyle A lyrical, soul-stirring reminder that your truth is worth remembering, and that wholeness begins with honesty.

Written by Ralph Mandarino, Entrepreneur As an entrepreneur and craft beer alchemist, Ralph Mandarino established Necromantic Brew Co. out of a personal need. He shares insights on turning personal pain into a successful venture. Most people believe that confidence is a prerequisite for action. However, it isn’t. Confidence is actually a byproduct, not a requirement. Waiting for it is one of the most common ways capable people stall their own lives. Confidence does not create movement. Instead, movement creates confidence. The confidence myth that keeps people stuck From an early age, we’re taught a quiet lie, “Once you feel confident, you’ll know it’s time to act.” So, people wait. They prepare, rehearse, and refine, but nothing changes. The reality is that confidence does not arrive through contemplation. It arrives through commitment, the irreversible decision to move forward without guarantees. Confidence is earned after you cross a line, not before you approach it. Why the brain withholds confidence until you commit This isn’t just a motivational theory, it’s neurological. Our brains are predictive machines that assign confidence only when they have evidence, proof that you can survive uncertainty, pressure, and consequence. Without commitment, there is no data. Without data, there is no confidence. Until action is taken, fear dominates the signal because fear is designed to prevent unnecessary risk. Confidence only emerges after the nervous system recalibrates to a new normal. In other words, you don’t feel confident before the leap, you feel confident after you land and realize you didn’t break. Confidence is not a feeling, it’s a memory This is where most people misunderstand the emotion entirely. Confidence is not courage. It is not optimism. It is not belief. Confidence is stored memory. It is the accumulated evidence that says, “I’ve handled this before.” If you’ve never committed, never crossed the threshold, your system has nothing to reference. No memory. No confidence. That’s why first moves feel terrifying, and second moves feel manageable. Why high performers commit early and correct later People who consistently operate at higher levels don’t wait for certainty. They understand something others resist. Commitment creates clarity. Once a decision is made, energy consolidates, focus sharpens, and fear becomes directional instead of paralyzing. The brain shifts from “Should I?” to “How do I?” That shift alone changes performance. The real risk isn’t failure, it’s hesitation Hesitation feels safe because it avoids exposure. But hesitation comes with a cost. Momentum decays, identity stagnates, and self-trust erodes. Over time, the lack of commitment becomes evidence, not of prudence, but of avoidance. This is how capable people quietly lose belief, not through failure, but through the fatigue of delay. How to build confidence the only way it actually forms If confidence comes after commitment, the solution is not affirmations, it’s decisions. Here are three principles to recalibrate the process: Decide before you feel ready Readiness is emotional comfort, and growth rarely offers it. Decide anyway. Commit publicly or structurally Private intentions are easy to abandon. Structure creates follow-through. Commit where retreat is uncomfortable. Let action teach you who you are Confidence emerges when your nervous system updates its self-image. That update only happens through experience. Confidence is the reward, not the entry fee If you wait until you feel confident, you will wait indefinitely. Confidence is not the signal to begin, it’s confirmation that you already did. Commitment comes first, fear follows, and confidence catches up. Always. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Ralph Mandarino Ralph Mandarino, Entrepreneur Ralph Mandarino is the entrepreneurial force behind Necromantic Brew Co., Long Island's pioneering gluten-free craft brewery, born from his experience with celiac disease. As an entrepreneur and innovative brewer, Ralph offers a unique perspective on building a business by addressing niche interests. His journey highlights the power of turning personal challenges into thriving ventures that cater to often-overlooked passions, including the vibrant community of horror enthusiasts. Through his writing, Ralph shares insights on entrepreneurship, the craft beer industry, and the art of building a strong community around shared, sometimes unconventional, loves, from navigating dietary restrictions to embracing the macabre.

Written by Manusha Phoolbosseea, Master Injector/ Educator in Medical Aesthetics Manusha Phoolbosseea is a master Injector/educator in Medical aesthetics. She trained novice to experienced injectors. She founded LaBelle Aesthetics Boutique, a mobile aesthetics clinic. She is currently working on publishing her first book, "Miracle of Botox," and launching her podcast. I never imagined that my journey into motherhood would begin earlier than expected. At 34 weeks, I found myself with a small but powerful spirit baby who seemed to arrive with a message rather than a timeline. It wasn’t the story I had planned, but it became the story that shaped me more deeply than anything else ever had. The day everything shifted One moment, pregnancy felt predictable and steady. The next, my body whispered a truth I couldn’t ignore, "It’s time." Fear and calm lived inside me at the same time. I remember holding my breath between contractions, praying that my baby would be safe, healthy, and strong. The hospital lights felt too bright, and the world too loud, but inside my chest, there was a quiet courage. A mother’s courage. And then, suddenly, there she was, small, beautiful, early but whole. A 34-week miracle. A spirit baby with a purpose Some babies come on time, but mine came in perfect divine timing. There was something about her presence, delicate yet powerful, that felt guided. She didn’t need intensive interventions. No ICU. Just a little help for jaundice and a lot of love. Even the nurses noticed it. “She’s tiny,” they said, “but she’s strong. She knows what she’s doing.” And I believed them. She felt like an old soul wearing a newborn body, a spirit baby who came to teach me resilience, surrender, and the sacredness of trusting life. The postpartum awakening Postpartum wasn’t easy. It stretched me, reshaped me, softened and strengthened me all at once. My hormones crashed. My emotions rose like tides. My body felt foreign. My heart felt too open, vulnerable in a way I had never known. But there she was, my daughter, my teacher. Her breathing patterns, her tiny hands curling around my finger, her rooting for nourishment, all of it reminded me: Life does not wait for us to be ready. It invites us to rise. Healing in phases Healing wasn’t one single moment. It came in waves. The first time she latched. The first time I held her skin-to-skin and felt her settle, like she remembered something ancient. The night I cried quietly, overwhelmed but grateful. The morning she opened her eyes longer than usual and truly saw me. The day I realized I survived birth, but also became reborn. I learned to mother myself as I mothered her. Strength in the small things People underestimate late-preterm babies. They see “34 weeks” and think tiny means fragile. But my baby showed me a truth: Strength is not measured by size. It is measured by soul. She grew with determination. She fed with intention. She gained weight with a stubborn little fire inside her. And every gram she gained felt like a victory for both of us. Bonding beyond normal time Because our journey began differently, our bonding unfolded differently. We bonded in hospital rooms, in quiet dawn hours, during jaundice treatment, through exhaustion, milk tears, and whispered prayers. It wasn’t the easy bonding story found in parenting books. It was our story, raw, sacred, and full of grace. She taught me unconditional love through imperfection. The mother I became I became a mother the day she was born, but I became her mother because of the journey that followed. I learned patience I didn’t know I had, resilience I didn’t know I needed, softness I thought I had lost, and strength I did not recognize at first. She made me more human, more spiritual, and more intuitive. A journey still unfolding Every day, she continues to grow, and every day I grow with her. Our story began early, unexpectedly, beautifully. And now, looking back, I see that she wasn’t premature, she was right on time for her purpose. A 34-week spirit baby. A messenger of strength. A healer in a tiny body. A reminder that miracles rarely follow schedules, they follow destiny. Read more from Manusha Phoolbosseea Manusha Phoolbosseea, Master Injector/ Educator in Medical Aesthetics Manusha Phoolbosseea entered the medical aesthetics industry five years ago and has seen the benefits Botox brings. Treatment of lines and wrinkles is well-known, but are we focusing on migraine relief, excessive sweating, muscle spasms and stiffness, overactive bladder, eye conditions, and teeth grinding, which the majority of our audience is not aware of? Manusha has volunteered in many clinics and attended seminars to acquire knowledge and continue to learn about his fascinating neuromodulator. There are too many misconceptions about Botox. The mission is to continue educating the audience about the benefits and clients who can benefit from tailored treatment. Citation: McLeish J, Harvey M, Redshaw M, Alderdice F. A qualitative study of first-time mothers' experiences of postnatal social support from health professionals in England. Women Birth. 2021 Sep;34(5):e451-e460.

Written by Joseph C Pledger JR, Eds., Educational Specialist Joseph C. Pledger Jr., EdS, is an accomplished master of the storytelling adventure. Though shunned by world affairs dinner table guests, it became his civic innovation that was sought and bought by justice reform. Thus, “The Microchip” appreciated the wrongfulness of his actions. A Microcomputer Systems Manager, AI Scholar, and JEDI Developer. Google explained how to retrieve employee access to its Truck Leasing Division. In 2022, I was intrigued by a job application for a Beachwood, Ohio logistics dispatcher within Go Penske’s talent management spreadsheet. While utilising my Chromebook’s Linux OS, I employed my quarter-century of soft microcomputer skills and training gained through spectral academic study and professional Progress 4GL relational database analytical development at Bryant & Stratton College and Aurora Products. My programming of Google Console kicked back the desired credentials. So, I accepted access and ventured further into a graphical monitoring station of light pulsing sequences. Directing me, I stumbled upon a forbidden database of kickbacks for employees. But discussing its existence is grounds for criminal prosecution from Penske. Single Sign On employees must be of traditional American citizenship who can trace their lineage of wealth through the nomenclature hierarchy based on the Founding Families of America. With America’s descendants of slavery in constant flux for cash payments, gaining reparations from the public’s trust resulted in today’s DEI debacle. So progress is met with my paradigm, or pathway, to follow. “Become The Duke, Silver or Golden Ducat Coin, Who Simply Trapped the Wealth Gap” If you can realise your very own American economy, then this paradigm will extract wealth from any industry or transaction producing real value. I have identified, in the US, the gamification for it to really happen. So raise your fist of fate and pass the plate. “Because Black Wall Streets Ain’t Got Nothing on What’s Happening With Us Folks” The real values will never leave your community ever again. Infiltrators and haters will attempt to sabotage the plan. The reparations deal is in Trump’s hands. This Financial Juneteenth, Elon Musk salutes the “Jive on the Back Hand Side.” The Official Million Dollar Bill was a document approved by the United States Treasury Department and Secret Service over forty years ago. Establishing trust and goodwill in any community is the basis of industry!  Circulating novelty notes repairing bonds promotes brands to build.  Raising a trading desk of assets owned and controlled by the brand traps the wealth gap of real value transferred into and out of any community.  Trading desks, acting as financial institutions, easily form circulation patterns, keeping real values from escaping community members, as stakeholders.   DUBIT uses a download of 32 spreadsheets, calculating formulas generated by formatting rows and columns of cells to worldbuild game systems into a virtual economy for players and gamers.  The Official Million Dollar Bill and DUBIT will terraform the landscape and identity politics of Black communities, with thousands of jobs for Black marketers, and build them into brands. Becoming the silver or golden ducat coin Simply, you can be the embossing upon ordering an acquisition of these novelty notes. Shout out what the bearer of the bond can expect for you to do for you, to be known and respected. Although The US Sun Times pro rates personal essays, they refused to release a paradox foiled by its paradigm. Since BlackNews will never understand the value of vision, Publisher Dante Lee decided our content needed to be newsworthy. So beware, race hustlers and culture vultures. You can clickbait your subscribers while fielding all day. Brainz. Send us folks more brains. Magazines. Because these folks are tired of playing politics with the living dead. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Joseph C Pledger Jr, Eds Joseph C Pledger JR, Eds., Educational Specialist Cited for his Strategic Expertise, "The Microchip" appears distinctly listed within the 76th EDITION of Albert Marquis' Who's Who in America for 2023. Trading business licenses with whoever purchases and browses such periodicals and literature to pick his brain.

Written by Paula Margulis, Master Leader in the work of Transformation As an Empress, an Entrepreneur, and A Master Leader in the work of Transformation, Paula guarantees a new idea leading to a new game. New game = New results! Here we are… on the slow approach to the completion of this guided tour. I invite you to stay seated for the remainder of this journey. And yes, we’re about to hit some turbulence as we move through some rough weather. Ha! Jokes aside… we are about to cross into more tumultuous terrain. And before we do, let’s revisit the stops that brought you here. The first stop was a real eye-opener, you are your greatest asset, investment, and gift. The next few stops offered you an opportunity to discover what life can feel like when you are aligned, balanced, grounded, in homeostasis, living into your vision, a life by your design. We also acknowledged how you’ve lived up until now, and where you may have been operating on autopilot. As we moved through the middle of the journey, we explored all things related to The Gap, your gap: where you are versus where you want to be, and what lives in between. Those are my favorite stops. Do you have a favorite so far? Now… let’s continue. All that knowledge and wisdom of self has led us to the opportunity to shift something in your life, to shrink the distance between who you are today and who you get to be. Last month’s article began to broach this subject. Today, we go in. Shall we? Buckle up. Today, we step into breakthrough. Today we declare: I trust myself. Today we declare: I am worthy. Today we declare: I deserve my best. Today we choose: change, growth, empowerment, and greatness. You’ve had the chance to assess your current reality. You’ve had the chance to acknowledge where you’d like to be. You’ve had the chance to explore what lives between you now and you in your vision. Now… here comes the interruption: What’s in the gap? What’s in your way? What’s in between you now and the life you say you want? Do you know? Can you see it? The space inside the gap is often filled with: limitations obstacles hardships challenges and the stories we tell ourselves about all of it And here’s the breakthrough: Once you name what’s in the way, it becomes workable. Once you call the elephant out, it has a face. And when it has a face, you can handle it. So here’s your opportunity: Call out the elephants in your room. Metaphorically speaking, what are the limitations, obstacles, hardships, and challenges that are holding up your show and keeping you from closing the gap? Name them. Look at them. Acknowledge them. Sit with them. Learn from them. And then… choose to release what no longer serves you. Let me give you an example. Once upon a time, I had a belief that earning a powerful income meant I would experience pain. The belief was simple, making money is painful. That belief was created through childhood experiences. And because it formed early, it lived quietly in my system for years. The result? For five years, I never made more than $100,000. Not a dollar more. It was as if my life had an invisible ceiling. That’s what I call an intangible limitation. Now, I want to be clear, the articulation I’m giving you today comes after years of re-circuiting my brain and healing my heart. Back then, what I thought was true sounded like this: I’m only as good as this income. I don’t deserve more. I’m not worthy of more. I can’t make more. That was obviously not the case. Obviously, I could make more. Obviously, I was worth more. Obviously, I deserved more. So what was really in the gap? Stories. We are deeply impacted by the stories we tell, repeat, and believe. So… what are you telling yourself? What are you saying to yourself when you hit a challenge, obstacle, or limitation? What stories rise up when life asks more of you? For me, the inner noise sounded like this: “This is it.” “This is as good as it gets.” “There’s no hope.” “There’s no point.” “Will it ever get better?” “What’s wrong with me?!” And that’s where the breakthrough begins. Mirror work. When you reach an obstacle… What story do you immediately attach to it? Because here’s the truth: It’s not only the hardship that’s in your gap, it’s the meaning you’ve given it. So take some time this week and: identify each elephant in your room listen for the noise in your mind clarify the stories being communicated by you and your environment This is your breakthrough moment. Because when you can see what you couldn’t see before, you can change what once felt impossible. Making moves to close your gap becomes remarkably more attainable, and can be received with love and generosity, once you remember. You are your greatest source of everything. Want support? If you’re ready to create real breakthroughs, not someday, but now, support can change everything. When you’re done circling the same patterns, reach out. I’d be honored to walk with you. Book your call here . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Paula Margulis Paula Margulis, Master Leader in the work of Transformation As the CEO of PawlaNation Inc., which was founded in 2018, a Business Marketing graduate and licensed Realtor since 2011, Paula is a seasoned full-time Sales Representative with EXP Realty. She continuously chooses to expand and build her empire, which includes Chief Networking Officer of Total Knockout Referrals, Founder & CEO of PawlaNation Leadership, Foundation & Sanctuary. For the past 12 years, she has been choosing her personal development in a committed and rigorous manner, leading herself to her personal power, potential, authenticity, vulnerability, peace, and serenity, all the way being guided by a powerful vision and mission; to empower humanity with their humanity.