When I was at McKinsey Japan, we had a global training for communication specialists. We all had to "perform" at the closing party. I sang 氷雨 with a twist. I alternated each Japanese line that I sang with an English translation! My favorite was ...
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Below, you’ll find my latest blog posts to help you do brilliant work without sacrificing your personal life – less effort, more impact!
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7 Leadership Lessons from Women Leading Healthcare in Japan
Even while moderating a recent panel discussion, I was furiously taking notes of all the professional insights and women’s leadership stories that speakers Catherine Ohura, Akiko Kikuchi, and Tomoko Minagawa shared. We kept Chatham House Rules, so here are...
Mottainai! Are You Making The Most Of AI?
One of the hardest things about leaving the corporate world was not having an IT department to call for help.But, my goodness, how far I’ve come. Last week, I even built an app!I didn't set out to build one. It emerged from a problem-solving conversation...
Why I Changed My Mind About Using A Script
For a long time, I’ve advised against using a script for presentations—whether you’re on stage or in a meeting room.Why?Because when we rely on a script (memorized or written), we tend to focus on that instead of on the audience.And when we focus on the...
Why Confidence Isn’t Built in Your Comfort Zone (or Your Terror Zone)
Last Saturday, the final session of the Women’s Presentation Essentials program was intense. My co-coach (Heather) and I intentionally pushed the participants.Each participant had just 10 minutes to create an entirely new presentation.They had to deliver...
Conversations Worth Revisiting This February
A fun February fact for you… Did you know that Feb 13 has become Galentine’s Day?It’s a playful spin on Valentine’s—celebrating friendships between women (gals)—started in 2010 by the TV show Parks and Recreation. And now there’s even Palentine’s (for...
Two Takes On ‘25 (The Power Of Perspective)
2025 was a really hard year. Almost every month, I was sick or injured—with the flu, covid, cough-variant asthma, adverse reactions to meds, dependency and horrible withdrawal symptoms, a sprained ankle and damaged knee—and by December, I was in a...
Less Effort, More Connection—My Theme For 2026
Happy New Year! How is 2026 going for you so far? Mine’s off to a very different start—I’m writing to you from New Zealand (my first January summer!). This is the final stop of my world tour with Keri. And I’m buzzing from so many meaningful experiences and...
Laugh Before Breakfast, Cry Before Supper
The other day, I was reminded of a Sasuga! Podcast episode that I recorded during hotel quarantine back in January 2022 after visiting my parents in the UK for Christmas! I shared some interesting English phrases. And they serve as a gentle reminder to choose our...
The Surprising Evolution of Less Effort, More Impact
Wow! It’s December already! This month is known as Shiwasu in Japanese (師走)—when even monks are said to be running because it’s sooooooo busy! That makes this the perfect time to reflect on one of my favorite topics—less effort and more impact:how to...
Manager or Leader—What’s the Difference?
Have you ever been called a “leader” or a “manager”—and wondered what that really means? Understanding the difference can completely shift how you work, how you relate to others, and how you grow. Some years ago, a Japanese man said to me: “You’re a great...
Prompts Aren’t Just For ChatGPT
Have you been using ChatGPT lately? There’s a lot of talk these days about finding the best prompts to get great answers.But did you know prompts can work wonders for humans too?A Sasuga! Tips For You reader wrote to me the other day:“I've been journaling...