Romantic relationships often develop at work, not because people are seeking them out, but because work brings individuals into close and repeated contact over time.  Surveys show that more than 60% of adults have been involved in a relationship that started at work, and a significant share of these relationships later became long-term partnerships. Familiarity, […]

A 2025 study by researchers Ventura, Starke, Righetti, and Kbis investigates a change that reveals something deeper about modern life.  Across countries and age groups, many people now experience forms of loneliness that are subtle but persistent. It appears in the spaces between obligations, during transitions, or in moments when emotional needs arise but support […]

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 […]