Spending time in a foreign country again, later in life - a little older, and hopefully a little wiser - I learned something different.

The first time I went abroad - I was younger and I was on a journey of finding ‘me’. I moved to find a life, to discover who I was and to find a new home (in England). I was all about consuming everything - soaking it all up, wide-eyed and eager. No filter 😊

Over the past decade, the conversation about “the future of work” has become deafening. Every week, another tool promises to revolutionise learning, engagement, or performance. And still, we are flatlining on employee happiness. If not going backwards.

During my recent 10 weeks in Colorado, meeting with more than 40 founders, CEOs, investors, and workforce leaders - a revealing narrative emerged as to why.

I was privileged last week to be invited as a guest speaker to an event hosted in Denver, Colorado - by the Denver Economic Development Office + The World Trade Center.

The topic was “Leading through Uncertainty” and I chose to use the contents of my recent book “Emotional Leadership - How to Lead in the Age of Ai” as the backbone for my presentation.

When companies are places you love to be, there is something magic going on - people are highly creative, they work hard, they play hard, and they learn fast. And they produce more.

I always knew I wanted to be a CEO. But never a Founder. I've lasted 10 years, and only now - finally - do I understand the difference

Disengagement - put simply - is the equivalent of having payroll passengers. You’re basically paying people, to show up and sleep-walk through the day.

For me, I’ve always found reducing anxiety is about choices. The way forward, is to decide, and take action. So I was considering some of my choices right now. And if they are the right ones, and if they are sustainable?