Our Story: Emotional Intelligence Leadership

After earning a Master in International Business, I was fortunate to be part of a leadership development program at one of the world’s leading global banks. It’s there that I first learned about Daniel Goleman's emotional intelligence (EI) framework and its critical role in fostering compassionate leadership. I was surprised to discover that emotions can be a powerful asset in business. Like many professionals at the time, I had been conditioned to think that emotions should remain at home.

Through that experience, I realized that cultivating connection at work on a human-first level had always been integral to my communication style. In every role I held, from internal audit to product management, I developed empathy for the challenges different colleagues faced in their jobs.

Listening and communicating with empathy helped me evolve into a compassionate and inspiring leader. I’m proud that I assisted others in bridging differences during conflicts and building trusting relationships. Over time, it became evident that this was my meaningful work.

In 2014, I decided to pursue my passion for helping other professionals unlock their full leadership potential. I also discovered that a growing body of neuroscience research supports the idea that emotional intelligence can be developed through mindfulness practices.

Now, I coach others using the same fundamental EI skills that shaped my journey to becoming a compassionate business leader. Serving others with my experience and skills is a significant part of what motivates me each day.

Times have changed since I first entered the business world. Artificial intelligence is transforming nearly every aspect of our lives. Information flows freely at great scale and pace, with distractions lurking around every corner.

In today’s volatile world, emotional intelligence skills are crucial. Leaders equipped with EI skills create safe spaces that honor the human experience of emotion, allowing teams to express themselves, be heard, respected, and valued—all while ethically pushing the boundaries of innovation and maintaining performance excellence.

Outside of work, I continue to enhance my skills around self-care, which I view as an essential leadership skill. When leaders understand their own needs intimately, they can consciously safeguard their well-being to be at their best for their teams.

My mantra: Authentic self-care drives performance excellence.

What I once viewed as a luxury, I now prioritize through activities that nurture me physically, mentally, and emotionally.

What does self-care look like for me? Breathwork, yoga, meditation, HIIT training, cycling, home decorating, cooking, nature, travel, spirituality, writing and dancing are all part of my individual self-care portfolio. I also make time for friendship and connection to cultivate a sense of community around me.

This has been my path to BLISS™, the self-care framework that underpins my coaching practice. These tools supported me through the most challenging times in my life—personally, professionally, and during the overlap of both amid a deep family crisis that coincided with my own burnout.

If you're interested in any of these topics, I would love to connect with you.