The Conscious Newsletter

There are two words I whisper to myself whenever the rage of workplace injustice rises up: Another Elephant. One of the hardest parts of emotional intelligence isn't staying calm in a meeting. It isn't giving feedback without anger. It's learning how to live with injustice. Because in the corporate world, it's everywhere. Colleagues who slight you and get away with it. Promotions handed out to favorites, not the most deserving. Leaders who look the other way instead of holdin

"If you're always the solution, they'll never solve anything." My mentor once told me this, and it stopped me in my tracks. I mean, I'd heard it before but I needed someone to say it in a way my brain would finally let in: solving everything isn't leadership. Most of us unconsciously believe that a good leader is like a good parent, constantly fixing things, constantly smoothing things over. But a good parent isn't constantly doing those things, and neither should a good lead

One of the hardest lessons I learned early in my career was this: Sometimes you have to be the emotionally mature one in the room, even when your boss isn't. I found myself, as a young (female) professional, mediating conflicts between colleagues, absorbing moods, and trying not to resent leaders who couldn't regulate themselves. And the truth is, it was exhausting. Because you expect leadership to come with self-regulation. You expect them to know how to manage conflict, to

2010: We met. Exactly 15 years ago. 2014: I graduate from university. 2015: He graduates with a double major. We get married. I also start interning at Bio Foods. 2017: Master's in Psychology finished. I move to Sri Lanka full-time to work at the company. 2018: I become Chief Marketing Officer. We (mostly my decision during a life crisis) adopt two dogs. 2021: Covid hits. We move back to Canada. 2022: I step into the CEO role. I move back to Sri Lanka. He moves to Germany wit

A few years ago, I watched a movie where a rich, single businesswoman takes herself out to dinner at a fancy restaurant. Everyone gave her sideways glances. The waiter kept asking if someone was joining her. She was visibly uncomfortable. And the person I was watching it with said: "How can you portray someone as a confident leader if the second they have to eat alone at a nice restaurant, they're an anxious, hurried mess?" That really got me thinking. I had never taken mysel

This photo was taken six years ago in the deep mountains of Sri Lanka. The only people around for miles was me and my husband. I'm perched on top of a waterfall. You can't tell how high it is from this picture, but trust me, it was a tall waterfall. I was too afraid to move at first but eventually that just turned into stillness. Just looking at the picture, I remember the cold, wet stone beneath me, and I remember looking up and seeing the sky peeking through a barrage of le

Here’s the deal: You can’t change  a workplace psychopath. But you can protect yourself  from becoming their next victim. Here’s how: ✅ Keep Your Distance  – Don’t engage with them beyond what’s necessary. The less personal information they have on you, the better. ✅ Document Everything  – Save emails, record interactions (if legally allowed), and keep track of any shady behavior. You might need receipts. ✅ Never Show Weakness  – Psychopaths prey on vulnerabilities. Stay prof

We’ve all had at least one colleague who made us question our sanity. The one who’s cheerful at times, maybe a little too smooth when they want something, and then grumpy and standoffish when things aren’t going their way. Whose mood you can’t predict, and you find yourself walking on eggshells around them. They might do you a favor here and there, but them being nice to you is just transactional - they’ll cash in that favor later. They might take credit for your good ideas a