She empowers people to navigate complexity with clarity, courage, and compassion, while championing authentic, empathetic leadership across law, policy, and personal growth.

1. Can you tell us a bit about what you do today, what drives you in your work, and the impact you hope to create through it?

I currently lead a legal and public affairs department while also heading Mindspire, a leadership and wellbeing company dedicated to mindful leadership, resilience, and healthy performance.

At first glance, these two worlds may seem quite different, but to me they are deeply connected. Whether I am shaping policy, leading teams, speaking on stage, or facilitating workshops, my work is always centered on helping people navigate complexity with clarity, courage, and compassion.

What drives me most is creating opportunities and increasing visibility for people who do not always see themselves represented in leadership; especially women, working parents, and those who did not start with ideal conditions. I want people to know that success does not require becoming someone else. It begins with becoming more of who you already are.

2.  You often speak about courage. Looking back, was there a moment when being authentic felt riskier than playing it safe and why was it worth it?

I think authenticity is always a little risky because it means giving people the opportunity to judge you. For a long time, I felt I had to prove myself through expertise, performance, and resilience; especially as a woman leading in politics, law, and mobility, fields that are still largely male-dominated.

The biggest shift came when I stopped hiding the parts of my life that I thought might make me seem less professional. I started talking openly about being a mother, about the challenges of balancing leadership and family, and about my passion for mindfulness and mental health. Some people told me those topics didn't belong in executive leadership.

But I realized something important: people don't follow leaders because they're perfect. They follow leaders because they're real.

Being authentic allowed me to connect with people on a much deeper level. It also gave others permission to be themselves, to ask for support, and to lead with empathy instead of pretending to have all the answers.

For me, courage isn't about being fearless. It's about choosing authenticity even when it feels uncomfortable; because that's where trust, innovation, and real change begin.

3. You advocate for a new kind of leadership: clear, empathetic, and courageous. What leadership lesson did life teach you that no business book ever could?

The most important leadership lesson I have learned is that people don't need leaders who have all the answers. They need leaders who create an environment where others feel safe enough to contribute theirs.

No business book taught me that. Life did. Leading diverse teams, balancing  leadership with motherhood, and navigating challenging situations showed me that strength is not about always being the strongest person in the room. It's about listening before speaking, staying calm when things become uncertain, and making decisions without losing your humanity.

I also learned that empathy and high performance are not opposites. In fact, they reinforce each other. People do their best work when they feel trusted, respected, and seen.

Today, I believe leadership is not about having power over people. It's about

creating the conditions that allow people to grow, take ownership, and achieve more than they thought possible. For me, that is what courageous leadership  looks like.

4. In a world that often celebrates constant achievement, how do you recognize when it's time to slow down and take care of yourself?

For a long time, I believed that slowing down meant falling behind. I measured success by how much I could handle, how many responsibilities I could carry, and how available I was for everyone else.

Over time, life taught me something different.

Today, I pay attention to the small signals before they become big ones. When I notice that I am constantly rushing, losing my curiosity, or no longer fully present in conversations, I know it's time to pause. Those moments remind me that performance without recovery isn't sustainable.

For me, taking care of myself isn't about stepping away from responsibility. It's about protecting the energy, clarity, and perspective I need to lead well       for my team, my family, and myself.

Ironically, some of my best decisions have come after slowing down. A few quiet minutes of reflection often create more clarity than hours of rushing from one meeting to the next.

I've learned that rest isn't the opposite of ambition. It's what makes sustainable ambition possible.

5. You have made motherhood and leadership visible in a very authentic way. What has being a mother taught you about leadership that you didnıt understand before?

Becoming a mother completely changed the way I think about leadership.

Before, I often believed that a good leader had to be the one with the answers. Motherhood taught me that leadership is much more about creating the conditions for others to grow.

Children don't learn because you tell them what to do. They learn because they feel safe enough to explore, make mistakes, and try again. I realized the same is true for teams.

Motherhood also taught me humility. You quickly learn that you can't control everything, and that perfection is neither realistic nor necessary. What matters is being present, adapting when things change, and showing up consistently; even on difficult days.

Most importantly, becoming a mother reshaped my definition of success. Today, I don't measure success only by results or titles, but by the positive impact I have on other people and the kind of example I set for my two daughters.

I hope they grow up believing that leadership and compassion belong together and that they never have to choose between ambition and authenticity.

6. Many women feel pressure to appear as though they have everything under control. What would you like more women to feel comfortable being honest about?

I would love to see more women feel comfortable saying, "I can't do everything alone."

For a long time, many of us have felt that we needed to prove ourselves by being strong all the time; at work, at home, and for everyone around us. We celebrate resilience, but we rarely talk about the cost of constantly carrying everything ourselves.

I've learned that asking for help isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of self -awareness and courage.

I also wish more women felt comfortable admitting that they don't have everything figured out. None of us do. Leadership isn't about appearing perfect; it's about being authentic enough to build trust.

The more honest we are about our challenges, the more permission we give others to be honest too. That's how we create workplaces where people don't have to wear a mask to succeed.

I believe the strongest leaders are not the ones who pretend to have it all together. They are the ones who have the courage to be human.

7. What does #lovewhatyoudo mean to you today?

Today, #lovewhatyoudo doesn't mean loving every single day or every single task.

To me, it means believing in why you do what you do.

I genuinely enjoy leading teams, shaping policy, and building Mindspire, but there are also difficult conversations, setbacks, and long days. Loving your work doesn't mean those moments disappear.

It means knowing that your work reflects your values and contributes to something bigger than yourself.

For me, that "something bigger" is helping people navigate complexity with more clarity, courage, and compassion; whether I'm leading a department, advocating for change, or supporting leaders through Mindspire.

When purpose is clear, even the challenging days become meaningful. That's what #lovewhatyoudo means to me today.

8. As someone constantly moving between leadership, public speaking, and family life, what makes a bag truly work for your everyday life?

For me, a bag has to do much more than look good—it has to keep up with my life.

On any given day, I'm moving between leadership meetings, public speaking, workshops, and family life. My bag needs to carry the essentials, keep me organized, and transition effortlessly between different roles without feeling bulky or impractical.

I also believe that functionality and elegance shouldn't be opposites. The best design is the kind you don't have to think about because it simply works.

In many ways, it's similar to leadership. When something is thoughtfully designed, it creates clarity, reduces stress, and allows you to focus on what really matters.

That's exactly what I look for in a bag: simplicity, quality, versatility, and reliability.