Have you ever had a leader who said all the right things—but you didn’t feel them? They meant well, but deep down, you wondered… Do you truly see me? Do you understand what fills my cup?

That gap—between words and presence—is what separates transactional leadership from authentic, felt leadership.

In Zen Buddhism, the Ensō (円相) is a hand-drawn circle—imperfect, fluid, and never complete. It symbolizes growth, presence, and continuous learning.

The deeper I explored Japanese philosophy, the more I saw a pattern: words tied to leadership, resilience, and transformation all shared one kanji—心 (Kokoro, heart-mind).

My Jiichan (grandfather) embodied this. While I grew up in Canada, he remained deeply rooted in Japan, shaping me in ways I only later understood.

As a high achiever, you may find success comes with an unyielding pursuit of excellence, yet you can still feel stagnant. If this resonates with you, you're not alone. I've navigated the complexities of high performance and the dance between ambition and procrastination. Through my journey, I discovered that understanding emotional intelligence and embracing mindfulness can help us unlock greater fulfillment and purpose. Join me as we explore how to transform feelings of being stuck into actionable growth, allowing you to thrive in both your career and life.