December’s Joyful Connection Masterclass created space to pause at the end of the year and reconnect with what matters most. Rather than rushing toward goals or resolutions, the session invited participants to notice moments of joy, share meaningful stories, and reflect on the motivations shaping the year ahead. The masterclass balanced connection with self and […]

You know the moment. Two people meet, perhaps in a lift or at a conference coffee line. There’s a pause, then someone says, “Strange weather we’re having.” Both smile, the silence breaks, and a tiny bridge of connection is built. Or sometimes, not. It seems so ordinary, yet this simple habit has been studied for […]

Every January, New Year’s resolutions are treated as a familiar ritual, often framed as aspirational promises that fade quickly. Yet recent data suggests a more nuanced reality. A 2024 YouGov poll shows that 66% of Americans who made resolutions for the year say they were still sticking to them by early March. 18% reported fully […]

The holiday season is often framed as a moment of warmth and reconnection, yet it has a profound influence on how we relate to others in ways that are both emotional and strategic.  Old environments pull us into long-standing patterns, professional routines pause just enough to prompt reflection, and educators and colleagues experience a natural […]

Insights and activities from November’s Joyful Connection Masterclass November’s Joyful Connection Masterclass picked up where conferences often end. After the handshakes, the shared moments, the influx of new contacts, many people face the same question: What now? This session shifted the focus from collecting names to cultivating relationships. Co-hosts Yiannis Gavrielides, Rachel Rozen, and Liz […]

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, […]