Baking something special — and not just in the kitchen!

Over the Atlantic, heading back home to NYC after a few grounding days in the English countryside with our global Partner group.

We brought together colleagues from across the EU, US, and Australia for a two day working session. These events are always a bit of a balancing act, trying to create space for meaningful planning and progress while encouraging people to show up as themselves, not just as their corporate selves.

There can be a bit of uncertainty going into these kinds of gatherings. In some corporate settings, events like this can feel overly scripted or performative. I wanted to make sure this did not feel that way. I went in feeling the responsibility of getting the tone right, making the time count, and creating an environment where people felt comfortable being themselves. The way an event begins really matters, and I spent a sleepless night beforehand thinking through how to set the scene in a way that felt open, honest, and energizing.

In the end, I scripted the intro. It is something for me to work on, but I know I need a few minutes to adjust when I am standing in front of a room of 20 people staring back at me. I definitely get a bit wobbly. I am especially grateful to those around me who helped guide the journey to get the agenda, tone, and balance right. Their advice and perspective made a real difference.

I feel incredibly privileged in this role. Through my work, I get to learn from so many CEOs whose insights have shaped how I think about these gatherings. Their input helped me focus this event on just a few core topics and outcomes, keeping things concise, actionable, and clear. That simplicity helps us hold each other accountable and follow up quickly with real action.

It is a big investment to bring people together from all over the world, but when the team genuinely likes one another and is committed to doing great things together, it is worth every penny.

And for all the Great British Bake Off fans, we were at a location where one of the seasons was filmed, and yes, we had our own bake off. I learned I am a completely useless baker, but great at eating on the job. It was a good laugh and a reminder that these moments of fun and connection matter just as much as the work.

Proud to be part of this group.