I’ve been mulling over my experiences last week during UNGA and Climate Week and waiting a bit to see what stuck. My overall conclusion is that it has never been more important to define your purpose and stick to it. It is so easy to be buffeted by the latest trends or headlines or thought leaders and to lose sight of your own why as both a leader and an organization.
Believe me, I get it. It’s an anxious, strange time. I’m a future-focused thinker and usually feel like I have a pretty clear sense of where things are headed. That feels less true now. There is rapid-fire uncertainty and change. There is no choice but to dive into it with a beginner’s mindset and see what we can accomplish in our days with intentionality and presence. It’s the only way to build meaning over time.
The bottomline is to be clear about why you do what you do, what you want to do, and how you want to do it. Then, importantly, let everything else go. It might be an important topic or issue or idea, but it belongs to somebody else. Focus on what you can control, what you do best, and what fits with your values and your purpose.
My why is showing up for the people in my life, centering human flourishing, and leaving the world a little better than I found it for my kids. What does it mean to you?
Oh, and here are just a few highlights from the week:
🇯🇵 ‘Strategic Frontiers: Japan–U.S. Leadership in a Fragmenting World’ hosted by the International House of Japan, Japan Society, and American Friends of the International House of Japan brought together leaders in government, diplomacy, business, and technology to explore the evolving U.S.–Japan partnership and address some of the most pressing issues of our time. From the role of geoeconomics in an era of global fragmentation to the profound challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence, our conversations reflected both the urgency and the promise of collaborative leadership. Thanks to David Janes, Ph.D. and Joshua Walker, to Japan’s Foreign Minister, H.E. Mr. Takeshi Iwaya, and all the distinguished panelists and guests.
🌎 I moderated a session on ‘Valuing Nature: Unlocking the Market That Sustains Life’ at the 8th Annual Leaders on Purpose CEO Summit. This session got right to the heart of this year’s theme, Leadership for the Intelligent Future – Market Transitions through Innovation, Capital, and Nature. How can wealth be redefined to include ecosystems can expand fiscal space, strengthen resilience, and unlock new markets? Thanks to Christa Gyori, MBA and Dr. Tatiana (Kazakova) Tarnowski, Gene Leon and Nisaa Jetha for their insights, and to my students volunteers Shuting Liang, Jennifer Hofmann, Jimena Rojo, and Victoria Asland.
🤝 Atlantic Council and Mastercard Tech Hub Networking Reception. It was great to meet some of my Millennium Leadership Fellow cohort including our host Jian Bland and thanks to Jonah Fisher and Aalaa Abuzaakouk for organizing.
Edgewood Insights 