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. […]

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. […]

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 […]