Coming Together While Staying Apart

I’ve noticed something in the last few days. Amidst all the doom and gloom, mishandling and politicization, cancellations and grocery store runs, social distancing and efforts to flatten the curve… there’s something else happening. Have you noticed? It feels a little bit like what happened after 911, or the marathon bombing, or countless other catastrophes here and elsewhere in the… More…

Are You a Possibilitarian?

The other day, an email showed up in my inbox with a quote that got my attention… “Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities – always see them, for they’re always there.”  ~Norman Vincent Peale It got me thinking. Being smack dab in the middle of launching… More…

Comfort Zones Be Damned

I’m someone who’s been known for taking a risk and reinventing herself… more than once, actually. And, well, I’m at it again! There comes a time when you say to yourself, “It’s been a good ride, and it’s time for something new!” (At least as a Gemini, that’s what you say.) After a long career in IT, I’m now in… More…

Got CQ?

Most people these days are familiar with Emotional Intelligence or EQ (the ability to recognize our own emotions and those of others to guide thinking and behavior) and Social Intelligence or SQ (the ability to form rewarding relationships and manage complex social change). But what about Cultural Intelligence? Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is defined as “The capability to function effectively across… More…

Shared Experiences: Olga Ievtushenko

Meet Olga Ievtushenko, an Innovation Manager at Eastman Chemical in Kingsport, Tennessee! Olga, originally from Ukraine, came to the U.S. in August of 2008 to earn her PhD in Textile Technology Management in Raleigh, North Carolina. When I asked her what her favorite things are about being in the U.S., she gave me a whole list of what she considers… More…

Happy Birthday! Boldog születésnapot! Bon anniversaire! जन्मदिन की शुभकामनाएं

Ever wonder how folks around the world celebrate birthdays?  As I approached my own recent birthday, I wondered. So, I did a little poking around, learned about some fun traditions, and thought of some ways for you to incorporate them at home and at work (see ideas below). These are only a few of the many types of celebrations. Some… More…

Shared Experiences: Subhashish Acharya

Subhashish Acharya (known as “Subs” to his friends) came to the U.S. from Kolkata, India eleven years ago. He lives in Lowell, Massachusetts, “right downtown, where the action is”. After working at Oracle for a decade, he recently joined PTC to manage the Strategic Alliances with HP globally for IoT. “The thing I’ve enjoyed most is the people in the… More…

Hungry for a Feedback Sandwich?

Receiving feedback (solicited or unsolicited) is an opportunity for us to get a bit of a glimpse of ourselves from the outside; to understand the impact we have on others. There’s been much written about the most effective ways to deliver feedback, and even on the best ways to receive feedback (Thanks for the Feedback, Heen/Stone). And while all that… More…

Shared Experiences: Ank Stuyfzand

My dear friend and colleague, Ank Stuyfzand, came to the US (Southern California to be exact) 14 years ago from The Netherlands, for work and the adventure of living abroad. Four years ago, she and her family moved from SoCal to Massachusetts, which she says was “like moving to another country all over again!” What Ank loves most about being… More…

Don’t go it alone!

A few weeks ago, I invited four colleagues and friends of mine to lunch. These four women, who were originally from Russia, India, Philippines, and UK, have been living and working in the US for many years. The reason for my invitation was two-fold… first, I’m all about community. I’m always looking for reasons and opportunities to bring people together… More…