A 2025 study by professors and researchers from the University of Southern Denmark and Uppsala University, explored a question often overlooked: What happens when entrepreneurs step outside their circle of known contacts and engage with strangers? Through 31 in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs in Nairobi, the researchers found that strangers play a surprisingly central role in […]

The traditional workday is collapsing. As Caroline Castrillon wrote in Forbes, the 9 to 5 schedule once the industrial standard of productivity is being replaced by something far more fluid: microshifting. Employees are breaking their day into short, flexible bursts of work that adapt to their lives rather than bending their lives around fixed hours. […]

Insights and activities from October’s Joyful Connection Masterclass October’s Joyful Connection Masterclass reminded us that belonging is practiced. It shows up in reflection, in how we describe ourselves and others, and in the simple ways we turn awareness into action. This month’s panelists, JGo Gordon, Stephen Jaye, and Asha Sarode brought distinct perspectives but one […]

In business, relationships often open doors that expertise alone cannot. While conferences and mixers are valuable, sports provide an overlooked yet highly effective platform for networking. They create a relaxed atmosphere, encourage extended interaction, and foster trust through shared experience. Unlike formal events that can feel transactional, sports allow connections to develop naturally over time. […]

Insights and activities from September’s Joyful Connection Masterclass The Connection Masterclass community came together in September and reminded us that connection ignores perfection, and instead, it thrives in play, curiosity, and presence. It’s built in the small moments when we let go, listen closer, and choose to show up as we are. This month’s panellists, […]

Why emotions matter at the table When people think about negotiation, they often picture logic, strategy, and numbers. But studies show that what we feel and express is just as influential. According to research by Mara Olekalns and Daniel Druckman (2014), emotions act as signals that tell the other side how we see the deal, how much […]

A 2025 study by researchers from the universities of Parthenope, Teramo, Naples Parthenope, and EDHEC Business School looked at how companies grow and what makes that growth last. It followed the journey of an online pharmacy that grew to more than 1.4 million regular customers, added over 430,000 new buyers in just two years, built […]

Insights and Activities from August’s Joyful Connection Masterclass August’s Joyful Connection Masterclass reminded everyone of something simple but powerful: joy isn’t fluff, and connection doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the small practices we carry with us, the quick check-ins, the playful prompts, the reminders of what matters, that build the kind of trust and belonging […]

It’s a familiar scene. The unread emails, the endless notifications, the half-written report waiting on the screen. In the middle of it all, your thumb hovers over the phone. A quick scroll feels easier than sending that message you’ve been meaning to write. Easier than checking in with the colleague who just closed a big […]

Too often in business, relationships are treated as temporary assets. A name enters your system, moves through stages, and then disappears once a deal is done, or not. But behind every opportunity is a person who remembers how you made them feel, not just whether you sent a follow-up email on time. Professionals today are […]