There are moments when your voice becomes impossible to ignore. This is the story of how pressure clarified my purpose, sharpened my leadership, and revealed the future I am built to lead in.

AI was supposed to make work easier.

Instead, in many organizations, it has done the opposite — not because the technology is flawed, but because the roles around the technology are.

The modern workplace now moves at a velocity the human brain was never designed to sustain. Workloads accelerate. Expectations multiply.

Communication channels expand. And somewhere in all that speed, something quietly vanishes: Clarity.

Most people use AI to write faster. I used it to learn who I was. Over the past year, writing with machines became a mirror that stripped away the noise, surfaced my patterns, and revealed a voice I didn’t know I had.

People don’t remember flawless. They remember feeling seen.
They remember the human who made the stress smaller, the journey lighter, the moment calmer. They remember the person who didn’t just process them, but acknowledged them.

Travel, at its core, is a human ritual. It is migration, reunion, escape, reinvention, obligation, hope. And any airline that forgets that truth — even unintentionally — begins to lose the one thing technology can’t replicate: emotional resonance.

This one was hard to write. Not because I’m mad. Because I still want the blanket.

For years, Target was the rare brand that made belonging feel casual. You’d walk in for toothpaste and walk out with a little affirmation tucked into your bag. Pride wasn’t seasonal — it was spatial. It lived in the aisles, woven into the colors, the tone, the quiet promise that this place sees you.

And then, 2023 happened. The backlash. The retreat. The silence.

When Target pulled its Pride collection, it didn’t just move product — it moved meaning. It told queer people what we’ve always half-suspected: our safety here was situational.

This isn’t about outrage. It’s about empathy debt — the emotional residue that builds when remorse never matures into reflection. You can’t pay it off with apologies. You pay it off with change.

For years, Nintendo has been the moral compass of interactive entertainment.

A company that taught the world that joy could be engineered, and that simplicity could feel transcendent.
They’ve spent decades proving that technology doesn’t have to exploit emotion to move people. It can honor it.

That’s why their recent stance on AI — a public commitment not to use it in game design — is so fascinating. Because in one sense, they’re right.

And in another, they’re missing their greatest opportunity yet.

Every significant career leap starts with a moment of doubt. Am I ready for this? Do I have what it takes? Yet, some of the most fulfilling opportunities often lie just beyond our comfort zones, waiting for us to take a calculated risk.

As I prepare to leave SymphonyAI and step into a new chapter, I’ve been reflecting on these quiet moments and the lessons they hold. This past week, I’ve been deeply moved by the kind words of colleagues and clients who’ve shared how my work impacted their own. These conversations reminded me of something we often forget: we are far more exceptional than we give ourselves credit for.

The best leaders aren’t the ones with the fanciest titles or the slickest presentations. They’re the ones who show up for their people—consistently, authentically, and with purpose. Next time you notice something isn’t quite right on your team, skip the analysis and just talk to the person. Be curious. Be honest. Be human. Great leadership isn’t about strategies or optics. It’s about showing up for the people who make it all happen.

AI has become a household name in the world of creativity. It’s helping artists design stunning visuals, musicians compose new melodies, and writers craft stories. But let’s be honest—many of us still feel a little uneasy about it. Can a machine really understand creativity? And even if it can help, what does that mean for the uniquely human magic we bring to the process?

Imagine planning a dream vacation where every recommendation feels custom-made for you, yet you never have to give up your personal data. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? It’s not—thanks to the rise of Customer-Centric AI, a new approach to artificial intelligence that promises to deliver exceptional, tailored experiences while respecting privacy.

AI is reshaping CSR initiatives in ways that benefit both business outcomes and society at large. This blog post explores why retailers must embrace AI-driven social responsibility and dives into five innovative AI applications that can drive impactful change.

This shift goes beyond a technological upgrade—it reflects a fundamental change in how businesses operate. AI-powered customer service solutions are no longer seen as experiments but as critical components of business strategy. As a result, investors are pouring significant funding into these tools, reinforcing the notion that this trend is here to stay rather than being a passing fad.

Recently, both friends and colleagues have asked me about using OpenAI's ChatGPT 4o, with DALL-E for image creation. How do you get images to come out with a consistent visual style or design language? To help, I put together a guide on how to generate consistent, high-quality visuals through refined prompts and AI-driven adjustments.

As the grocery industry faces increasing pressure to address sustainability concerns, Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers transformative potential. By leveraging AI to optimize operations, reduce spoilage, and make data-driven decisions, grocery retailers can substantially reduce food waste while improving profitability.

For grocery retailers to stay competitive, they need to redefine the roles of their buying teams. Buyers must evolve into strategic thinkers who use technology to inform complex decision-making. This requires overcoming resistance within the organization, a challenge that cannot be ignored.

Digital transformation is not just a technical overhaul; it is a fundamental shift in how organizations operate, innovate, and deliver value. While many view it as a technology-driven endeavor, the true force behind successful digital transformation is leadership. It’s leadership that sets the vision, drives cultural change, and ensures that an organization can adapt to the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

While traditional Point-of-Sale (POS) data has been useful for tracking transactions, customer data holds far greater potential for driving business growth and building long-term loyalty. The retail giants—Kroger, Amazon, and Walmart—have demonstrated the transformative power of leveraging customer data, not just to enhance the shopping experience but also to drive new revenue streams.

Advancing your career requires more than just hard work—it requires strategic moves. According to the Harvard Business Review article, "The Fastest Path to the CEO Job," taking on roles that offer high visibility, significant impact, and cross-functional experiences is crucial. These opportunities often involve leading major initiatives, managing diverse teams, or breaking into new markets, all of which test and showcase your leadership abilities.

The Supermarket News article dismissing grocery price controls lacks a valid path forward, relying on theoretical arguments without concrete industry data. While free markets have driven economic growth, they rarely reverse inflation in healthy markets. Hyland's reliance on general economic principles and historical examples, like the 1970s gas crisis, weakens his argument against price controls, leaving it speculative and unsupported by current evidence.

In today's fast-paced world, personal development is more important than ever. Whether you're looking to advance your career, build new skills, or enhance your personal brand, having a tailored, intelligent guide can make all the difference. Enter customized GPTs—advanced AI models designed to provide personalized, actionable insights that evolve with your unique needs. This blog post will walk you through the key steps to developing your own self-development GPT, ensuring it’s not only effective but also secure and adaptable.

In a recent article, Kinjil Mathur, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Squarespace, shared her unconventional journey to success, which began with cold-calling companies listed in the Yellow Pages to land unpaid internships (Royle). While her story is inspiring, it raises important concerns about the implications of promoting unpaid work and the hustle mentality. This blog post explores the potential negative aspects of Mathur's advice and offers solutions to mitigate these risks.

In response to the Harvard Business Review article, "Why Great Employees Leave Great Cultures," this post explores the crucial role of organizational and leadership credibility in employee retention. In today's competitive job market, retaining top talent goes beyond offering attractive perks or competitive salaries. The core of employee retention lies in organizational and leadership credibility. When words align with actions, it builds a foundation of trust and respect, essential for a thriving workplace culture.

Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, are not just revolutionizing individual workstreams by acting as mentors; they are also spearheading a digital transformation across entire organizations. These tools are reshaping how businesses operate, innovate, and compete in the market by providing personalized guidance, enhancing organizational capabilities, and fostering continuous learning.

When Stop & Shop’s leaders list these stores as “underperforming” - what does that mean? I think it is safe to say competitive pressures would contribute to a stores closure, and a merger of their two biggest grocery rivals would certainly not benefit them.

In today's competitive grocery retail landscape, hi-low retailers—known for their alternating high regular prices and frequent promotional discounts—are facing declining customer loyalty. Here’s a look at the factors behind this trend and strategies for revitalization.

I recently attended a leadership forum with Out in Tech (OIT). Career journeys are dynamic, and each is unique, so it is important to make space to learn from others. OIT and other organizations are great at facilitating events that share experiences, so you can leave with learnings that can be applied to your working style.