What Carnival Taught Me About Identity and Belonging My Dad used to love Carnival. It’s a time of revelry, of costumes and chaos, celebrated across Europe and South America. But beneath the confetti, dance and music, Carnival is an ancient tradition that speaks to the human need to escape, even briefly, from the rules that […]
Authenticity in leadership is highly valued these days. It often comes up in the context of women leading. But how desirable is it really?
Kamala and the tricky trap of authenticity Read More »
Last week, I have not been so well – sick in bed – and the reason is… no, it’s not my 4-year old (step)granddaughter in the picture above. But she taught me a life lesson I won’t forget. I had cleared my calendar for the week that she was here, to be sure that I
She took it out of me, but here’s what I learned Read More »
Recently, I came across a post, expressing the widely felt frustration that the needle isn’t moving for women with leadership ambitions. But blaming men doesn’t solve it. What makes a woman successful is being herself. ‘Ladies, “they” don’t want us behind the wheel. So, we better drive it like we stole it,’ the author wrote. But
Drive it like you stole it. Really? Read More »
‘What shall we do? ‘I don’t mind. Whatever you like.’ When I was younger, my conversations would often follow this pattern, me being the one not minding. One day, a friend gave me the well-meant advice to get some assertiveness training, because I seemed so insecure. But I didn’t feel like that at all. Nowadays, I sometimes
Ever been told to be more assertive? Don’t listen. Read this: Read More »
When I put a few pages about Barbie in my latest book – We-mind vs Me-mind, published in July – I wanted to illustrate how what we’ve learned to value in ourselves and others is making a lot of people deeply unhappy and perpetuates the very situation we want to change. Unfortunately, the latest Barbie
Stereotypical Barbie is dead, long live the stereotype! Read More »
The poll to choose a title for my book on the We-mind and the Me-mind is closed. Several people asked an important question: If this book is meant for women, why wasn’t that part of the titles to choose from? Before I answer that, I’d like to say a deep-felt thank you to all who
Is the We-mind and the Me-mind a book for women? Read More »
How can we, women, make policy makers, who are mainly men, listen to us?’ I ask. ‘All women only criticise their husbands,’ Dr Mostafa el-Feki says. He looks very annoyed. ‘They should stop doing that.’ I’m taken aback by his answer, but understand why he is upset. The director of the prestigious Library of Alexandria
Why women nag and men show them their place Read More »
After playing up for a while, my, no, our washing machine broke down. ‘I’ll take care of this,’ Hugh, my very supportive husband said. Within a few days a repairman showed up on our doorstep at 8 a.m.. Together they went to work. Half an hour later I was called to the scene. The moment
Of bias and washing machines Read More »
My Dad has been resisting moving into a care home for years. He couldn’t let go of the world he created, even if it was less and less comfortable to be in. Last summer he couldn’t look after himself anymore. We, his daughters, took the tough decision to overrule his judgment. My youngest sister moved
My Dad’s old suitcase. Let go of it? Read More »
‘The thing about leadership is that you have to be prepared to fail and start again,’ says Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She is the living example of perseverance. She was jailed three times, had to flee the country and campaign more than once before becoming the first elected female head of state in Africa. For 12
‘Nobody could have done it but a woman’ — Lessons about leadership from a president Read More »
Springtime. Stormy skies and sunshine. Sweet scenting flowers everywhere. Life is bursting from the earth. It makes me feel so alive, but exactly in this season we lost a dear member of my husband’s family. My husband and I had the privilege to be present at his deathbed. We were holding his hand while his
What gives life meaning? Find your Ultimate Why Read More »
