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I woke up feeling a little wistful—it was time to leave the camp that had become our cozy home for the past two days. But before we said our final goodbyes, we had room for just a bit more adventure in the Smokies. Figure 1: Saying goodbyes, Under Canvas, Smokies NP I suggested Grotto Falls, and the ever-helpful concierge gave it a nod of approval. That morning, I swapped out the bottomless coffee for something with a little more homegrown flair: Wagh Bakri chai, Mitu’s trusty travel staple....

I had a head full of dreams and sleep still clinging to my eyes when Nidhi nudged me It’s already 5:45! I leapt out of bed, chasing visions of bears and strong morning coffee as we hit the road for our early hike in the Smokies. By 6:30 AM, we rolled past the Cades Cove Visitor Center, only to see a line of cars already queuing up. The loop here is a well known 11-mile one way scenic drive through wide Tennessee meadows, dotted with historic cabins and country churches more than a century old....

Nashville seemed like the perfect mid-year escape when our neighbor Mitu floated the idea. Our travels along the East Coast have been, well… let’s just say, a bit lacking, and the thought of glamping in the Smokies had just the right amount of rustic charm and modern comfort to win us over. In my usual fast-fingered fashion, I booked flights on United before noticing that Delta was offering nearly $900 in savings (that’s no pocket change!...

Happy 25th birthday, my love. It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to see you reach this moment — this beautiful, rich stage of life. Figure 1: Always stylish, Coit Tower, San Francisco I remember holding you in my arms, this tiny bundle of wonder, and even then, I knew there was something extraordinary about you. And now, here you are, independent, strong, thoughtful, radiant, and entirely yourself....

In 2020, the world changed overnight. Conference rooms became kitchen counters, watercooler chats turned into chat boxes, and our wardrobes quietly redefined “business casual.” Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Webex went from “nice‑to‑have” to cultural artifact in weeks. Yet the old rules of social chemistry didn’t copy‑paste cleanly. In a 1‑to‑1 video call there’s nowhere to hide, no pastry table to rescue you, and definitely no way to pretend you “just happened to bump into” your boss....

(Read Part 1: Deep Alignment) In part two of the Leading Change series with Craig Ross from Verus Global, we explore how to lead with greater self-awareness and intentional focus. We learn how the mind reacts to pressure, how emotions shape our reality, and how to shift energy from blame to action using the Event Energy Map—a practical tool to help build ourselves and others a shared reality. Stay Focused in High-Stakes Conversations The mind can focus on only one thing at a time....

Last week I had an opportunity to participate in a powerful leadership workshop led by Craig Ross from Verus Global. It was energizing, insightful, and packed with practical tools to help grow as a collaborative leader. We focused on two core imperatives that must work together: Business: 3-6 months outcomes, like launching our new enterprise cloud platform and modernizing our existing product portfolio. Human: How we work together to get there, through collaboration, accountability, and leadership that’s both empowered and empowering....

Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one’s self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily; and why older persons, especially if vain or important, cannot learn at all. – Utsav Mamoria As children, we learn constantly without questioning the process. Learning is simply our default state - we have no choice but to absorb new information and skills as we navigate the world....

Figure 1: We ❤️ Baby Coos! We woke up still full from the late-night Thai feast, so we skipped breakfast and headed straight to the University of Glasgow. Gothic, grand, and imposing, the university is meticulously maintained. We entered via the engineering division, where I delighted in nerdy admiration of every department sign. Figure 2: Glasgow University The campus features two picturesque quadrangles connected by archways — a dream setting for amateur photographers (i....

Figure 1: The Wildcat vegan cafe, Fort William Some vegan places pretend to be non-vegetarian — Wildcat in Fort William was one of those intriguing types. The hip vibe pulled us in: minimalist design, moody lighting, and a menu that read like a wellness influencer’s dream. We went for Scrambled Korean Tofu with Mint Sauce and Hummus Chickpea Toasted Bread, paired with smooth lattes. Figure 2: Scrambled Korean Tofu with toast, The Wildcat, Fort William...