Next Generation Leadership

Photo by Mart Production Recently, I made a decision that many leaders eventually face: I declined an opportunity that initially looked prestigious and affirming. It was the kind of exclusive invitation designed to make anyone feel chosen. But here’s the deeper truth: Being invited in is not the same as belonging.

There comes a point in every leader’s journey when generosity becomes exhausting. When the energy you’ve poured into others begins to feel unreciprocated. When you realize that your default mode—helping, hosting, extending yourself—is being mistaken for infinite availability.

We live in a world that rewards “yes.” Say yes to opportunity. Yes to collaboration. Yes to growth. Yes to everything that might possibly move you forward. But here’s the quiet truth that seasoned leaders, creators, and achievers eventually learn: saying yes to everything is the fastest way to dilute your impact.

Pictured at the UN Roundtable on Digital Sovereignty areDeEtta Jones, CEO CultureRoad and YPO Social Impact Network ExCo, and Simi Nwogugu, CEO of Junior Achievement Africa, sharing 10 Million African Girls, a collaborative campaign between YPO Social Impact Network and JA Africa, and with CultureRoad as the enabling technology platform. Over the past several months, I’ve been working alongside...

Imagine you are in a canoe, enjoying a scenic yet strenuous ride through a well-known river. The sun glimmers on the surface, the air hums with quiet life, and for a while, you’re perfectly aligned with the rhythm of the water. Then—almost imperceptibly at first—you feel a current shift. The water pulls and pushes with new force. You grip the paddle tighter, row harder, determined to regain...

Do you know anyone who gardens? Are you a gardener?

If you’re a leader today, you know that budgeting no longer feels like a once-a-year exercise—it’s a living process unfolding against a backdrop of uncertainty. Economic shifts, fluctuating costs, and changing workforce expectations have made “steady state” the exception, not the rule.

We’ve all heard it: “Be more human-centered.” It’s become a rallying cry in leadership circles, organizational culture initiatives, and management trainings everywhere. And for good reason.

“Conflict” has become a kind of catch-all phrase for anything that feels uncomfortable—disagreement, tension, confrontation, even mild feedback. But what if conflict isn’t something to avoid? What if, handled well, it’s actually the pathway to greater clarity, stronger relationships, and deeper alignment—both with ourselves and others?

Uncertainty is no longer the exception—it’s the constant. Leaders today are navigating shifting economies, fast-moving technologies, and cultural change that rarely pauses long enough to catch a breath. Waiting for perfect clarity is no longer an option. Leading through the unknown requires steady presence, grounded practices, and a willingness to act even when the road ahead is only partially...