Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross is a healing practitioner, spiritual teacher, and expert in the transformation of subconscious patterns. With a master’s degree in computer science, a PhD in Business Technology, and more than 17 years of experience in the field of energy healing, she bridges the worlds of science, holistic healing, and spirituality. Sandra is certified in Resonance Repatterning and trained in Southwood Healing, a deeply intuitive form of energy work, as well as other healing modalities from the English spiritual healing tradition. Her unique approach combines structured methodology with intuitive insights, supporting clients around the world in releasing emotional blocks, resolving acute and chronic issues, and reconnecting with their inner guidance. She works internationally with individuals from all walks of life who seek clarity, healing, and transformation on a deep level. Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross, Healing Practitioner What’s your purpose, mission, and driving force for all the work you do? My mission is to support people in understanding their own patterns, discovering what might need refinement or change. My clients often come to me because they are experiencing uncomfortable emotions, physical symptoms, or difficult life situations. Many of the problems we face in life, such as emotional pain, relationship struggles, and even health issues, are not merely circumstantial. They can be linked to one or more causes, often rooted in childhood. By looking behind the curtain, it is possible to see where they experienced hurt early in their childhood and developed unconscious patterns and physical symptoms that still govern their lives. The discord is experienced because the subconscious is not aligned with who they really are. My work is about identifying these patterns and, if physical symptoms are present, also working on them energetically, helping people release what no longer serves them so they can live more freely, in better health, and with greater happiness, in harmony with themselves. Why did you start your business? It was not planned. I grew up in what would be considered a “normal” family and was happy most of the time. I never thought my family life was particularly difficult or that my family had unusual issues. But in my adult life, when I encountered some of life’s situations, my experiences felt unpleasant, and my emotions difficult to understand. When I went back to the cause of my problems, I discovered unhealthy patterns in my family, passed down through generations. I started my own healing journey, finding those patterns and shifting them. I experienced my life improving substantially and profoundly. Each experience that teaches us more compassion for ourselves and others helps us to heal, forgive, and grow. In the beginning, this might not be easy, especially if I have clients with traumatic experiences. But once I understood how healing works, I wanted others to experience this as well. I thought, if people would just know how easy it is to shift, once they understand how patterns move through generations until someone puts consciousness into them, how much better their experience of life would be. My business just evolved naturally. With each component of my continuous education in spiritual, emotional, and energy healing, I began offering those services, and my experience and practice grew organically. What is your business name and how do you help your clients? My practice is called Sandra Gross Healing. I support people who are struggling with emotional overwhelm, physical symptoms, relationship dynamics that keep repeating, or a general sense of being stuck. I use Resonance Repatterning, Southwood Healing, and energetic testing methods to uncover the root causes of their issues, often going back to childhood or earlier. I also use distance healing methods based on quantum entanglement. Clients send me a dried blood drop via postal mail, and I can energetically test their health conditions using their sample. This method is called Biofeldtest in German (English: biofield test). With the Biofeldtest, I can assess what’s happening in their somatic body, identify latent health conditions, and detect inherited imprints energetically. I then transfer healing frequencies to the client through their sample, directing them to the areas that need to spiral up into a higher frequency. This method, called “LebensTransfer,” transfers life force energy to those parts that need energy and protection to regulate themselves. For those who prefer not to send in a sample, I can also work remotely with them purely energetically. Many of my clients have chronic physical issues. In this case, I combine methods: going back with Southwood Healing or Resonance Repatterning to resolve trauma and other incidents, and at the same time, working with the LebensTransfer to resolve physical symptoms. While I cannot promise healing, my work supports the client energetically and in a healing capacity. As I am not a doctor or psychologist, I do not work with clients experiencing severe psychological trauma. But most of us have many small traumas that still influence us today. There are numerous studies that suggest traumatized people develop a higher possibility of chronic diseases later in adult life. With my personal and distance approaches combined, I offer a well-working method that has already brought substantial change and relief to many. Clients often come to me when they want deep, sustainable transformation. Whether it is an emotional or physical problem, or both, many clients come for several weeks or months so that I can support them in solving their life challenges. It’s like finding and removing blockages (mental, emotional, energetic, or physical) so that they can step back into their power to change their lives. And their inner physician receives the space through the healing modality “LebensTransfer” to heal and self-regulate. What sets your approach apart from others in the industry? I combine analytical clarity with spiritual depth. I don’t ask my clients to believe anything; we test everything. My work is grounded in structure, precision, and deep respect for each individual’s process. I also don’t offer surface-level motivation or coping strategies. My sessions are about uncovering one or more causes of their challenges and resolving them at the root. That’s what creates lasting change. Could you share some success stories from your clients? Yes. One client had severe neck and shoulder pain. After two sessions, the pain was gone, not because we “treated” it, but because we uncovered and released emotional guilt related to her mother’s death. Another client came to me with chronic digestive issues, Morbus Crohn. We traced it back to emotional trauma. With regulation and healing, her digestion went back to normal, and her inflammation and food intolerances disappeared. A third client had very little contact with her daughter for years; through our work, the relationship reopened. Clients tell me how their self-love, self-respect, and happiness in life were greatly improved through the course of our sessions. What are some common misconceptions about the healing industry? Many people think energy healing is vague or unstructured and that it’s based only on intuition or belief. But when done properly, it is deeply precise and measurable. Another misconception is that healing has to be long, painful, or mysterious. In my experience, when the right pattern is identified, change can be immediate. You don’t need to relive everything; you just need to work with the right point in the system. Finally, some people think you have to be spiritual to benefit from this work. You don’t. You just have to be open and willing to look inside. How do you and your business address them? I work in a very structured and transparent way. Every session begins with a clear focus. I test and confirm each step with the client’s system. I also take time to explain what we’re doing and why, so clients can track their own transformation. And I always bring it back to practicality: how can this shift help you in your daily life? What positive actions are you going to take between now and our next session? Which difficult conversations do you need to face and have? How can our work together support your relationships, your health, and your purpose? Healing is not an abstract concept; it should make your life more real, not less. For readers inspired by this conversation and eager to start their journey, what first steps do you recommend? If you feel something resonated with you in this interview, I invite you to take a moment to reflect: What is the one issue that keeps showing up in your life, emotionally or physically, that you are constantly brooding about or struggling with? Which issue in your life keeps coming back again and again, with different players and different circumstances, even if you thought you had conquered it? When did your physical symptoms first appear? The life situation at that time usually indicates what feels stressful for the client and can point us toward the underlying cause that happened much earlier in life. That’s usually the doorway. On my website, you’ll find a short form with 7 simple questions designed to help you reflect on your current situation. You can briefly describe your emotional or physical challenge. I personally read every submission with care. If I feel we’re a good fit, I’ll invite you to a free 30-minute Clarity Call via Zoom. In this call, we’ll explore your situation in more depth before I suggest a possible next step. Sometimes, taking this one small step is all it takes to initiate real change. Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross is an internationally practicing healing practitioner based in Switzerland. She works with clients online in English and German. Learn more here . Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross

Written by Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross, Healing Practitioner Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross is a healing practitioner specialized in subconscious transformation and energy medicine. She holds a PhD in Business Technology and is a Certified Advanced Resonance Repatterning Practitioner. She offers 1:1 sessions, remote quantum-based healing, and regular healing seminars. In today’s fast-paced world, it's common for people to try to manage their emotional challenges using short-term strategies such as endlessly analyzing their problems, distracting themselves, and suppressing stress. Yet unresolved emotions rarely disappear on their own. Instead, they imprint themselves in the body and nervous system, creating recurring patterns that can negatively influence relationships, health, and decision-making. Through modern approaches such as Resonance Repatterning®, Southwood Healing, or Biofield therapy, it becomes possible to identify both conscious and unconscious emotions and transform them directly within a session. Each session represents a complete transformation of the issue present in that moment. This article explores: Why it can be healthy to feel and process uncomfortable emotions Why emotions are not meant to define us, but to invite us to learn and grow How to deal with challenging emotions as they arise How to work with emotions, not against them, on a deeper level Feeling and processing uncomfortable emotions Our soul can be understood as the seat of emotions and feelings. It is the reservoir of our life force energy. It connects our higher consciousness with the physical body. Each lower, uncomfortable emotion not only feels unpleasant but also acts as a filter that limits the expression of higher consciousness through the body. The soul functions as a translator between the higher and physical realms. Every unprocessed emotion, therefore, restricts the authentic expression of our true Self in the world. When we habitually push away uncomfortable emotions, our ability to express the will and intelligence of our higher consciousness diminishes, and we feel increasingly disconnected. Buried feelings can become obstacles later in life. For instance, if you feel anxious that you might not do something perfectly, your capacity to move forward and realize projects that truly matter to your decreases. If anger and frustration dominate your inner state, it becomes difficult to plan clearly, communicate effectively, and you can end up acting impulsively rather than rationally. Unresolved emotions not only disconnect you from higher awareness but also create disconnection in relationships and even physical imbalances. And this becomes a vicious circle, reinforcing negative thoughts and undesirable emotional states. Neuroscientific research shows that a large part of human behavior is driven by unconscious patterns formed early in life. They can originate in prenatal, perinatal, and early childhood experiences and shape how we interpret the present. A critical comment from a colleague may not only trigger today’s stress but also the unresolved memory of a parent’s disapproval. Unless these underlying imprints are transformed, the emotional charge keeps repeating and reinforces chronic stress, physical symptoms, or recurring relationship conflicts. Why emotions aren't meant to define us Emotions are temporary states, not permanent truths. They arise in response to an interpretation and subside once their message is understood. They occur in waves. When you are caught up in an emotional wave, it can feel as if you are your emotion. You identify with an emotion if you say “I am sad” instead of acknowledging that it just moves through you by saying “I am feeling sad.” The moment you define yourself by an emotion, the emotion can be reinforced, and thus the underlying pattern that produced it is reinforced along with it. When you recognize an emotion as a messenger for an unhealed past event, you can open a space for transformation. The body and nervous system can then release the biochemical pattern associated with the emotion, and the energy behind it becomes available for new, life-enhancing responses. The goal is not to eliminate emotions but to restore their intended function. Emotions provide information about whether our inner experience and our actions are aligned with our Higher Self. When integrated rather than suppressed, they become guides rather than obstacles. Dealing with emotions in the moment When emotions arise, the first instinct is often to suppress or rationalize them. Yet emotions are physiological and energetic responses that carry information about what is out of alignment. The key is not to react impulsively, but to observe and name the emotion without judgment. Ask yourself questions – Where do I feel the emotion in my body? Why did it come up now? What happened just before? When did I feel this kind of emotion the first time? Become curious, like a witness or as if you are witnessing yourself. By acknowledging the emotion as a messenger rather than an enemy, you prevent it from dominating your behavior. Taking a short pause, breathing consciously, noticing physical sensations, and allowing the emotion to be present while asking questions about it supports the brain’s regulatory systems responsible for emotional responses. This brief act of awareness interrupts old neural patterns and opens a space for choice. And ironically, this ends up giving you a feeling of having a sense of control, of your life and your experience. Simple practices like slow breathing, grounding through body awareness, or stepping outside for a few minutes can help the nervous system regain coherence. Instead of being pulled into the emotional current, you can restore a state of inner regulation using these simple techniques. The aim is not to control emotions but to stay connected with consciousness while they move through. In that state, emotions can complete their natural cycle and dissolve, rather than becoming stored reactions that resurface later. Working with emotions on a deeper level Surface awareness is the first step. Deeper transformation happens when you uncover the origins of recurring emotional patterns. Most intense emotional reactions are echoes of earlier experiences, such as unresolved moments of fear or feelings of guilt that became imprinted in the subconscious. Methods such as Resonance Repatterning®, Southwood Healing, and Biofield therapy address this deeper level by identifying the precise frequency of the unresolved experience and bringing it to a peaceful completion. Instead of analyzing the past, the process shifts the resonance with the memory. As the underlying emotional charge is neutralized, new neural and energetic connections form, allowing the person to respond to life with clarity rather than conditioning. Emotional patterns are stored in the subconscious mind. The subconscious has two primary functions – regulating the body’s organs and organ systems, and also protecting you. If you experienced threat, stress, or unmet needs in the past, your subconscious mind will have developed a strategy to protect you and meet your needs, even if it is in an unhealthy way. When you were vulnerable in the past, it is also possible that you took on emotions from other people without conscious awareness, which then became part of your internal response system. One client came to me with persistent inner tension and recurring conflicts at work, despite being highly competent and reflective. During our work, it became clear that her subconscious had developed a strong control strategy early in life to compensate for emotional unpredictability in her family environment. This pattern had once helped her feel safe and oriented, but over time, it led to chronic stress and difficulty trusting others. By identifying and working with this underlying protective mechanism, the unmet needs from the past could be met on a conscious level. Emotional energy from her father could be released, her tension in her shoulders and neck dissolved in the following weeks, and she felt happier and more confident. Not every pattern needs conscious recall. If it is beneficial for the client to access the exact past situations, they usually come to work with me 1:1 – either online or in person. Those sessions often feel like a quantum change. A pattern present for most of life suddenly dissolves by going back to the first situation that caused it. It is not necessary to go into each situation when it repeated itself. Some causes of challenges cannot be so easily retrieved, or it is not necessary. In these situations, distant healing regulations can also be applied to find and balance energetic and emotional imbalances. Summary This deeper work re-educates the nervous system and restores the natural communication between body, soul, and higher consciousness. The result is not emotional detachment, but authentic presence. In this state, emotions can flow freely without taking control. Over time, emotional healing cultivates stability, compassion, and inner strength. Life’s challenges remain, but they no longer trigger the same reactive loops. What once felt like resistance turns into feedback. You will notice the difference, as you begin to feel better. As we integrate the emotional layers of our past, we gain access to the deeper intelligence of the soul – the part of us that always knows what is aligned, meaningful, and true. Emotional healing is not a therapeutic method, but an evolution of consciousness and awareness. It brings us back to the natural state of connection between body, soul, and spirit – a state where emotions serve as allies, guiding us to live with authenticity, clarity, and peace. I invite you to contact me for further information on my work. It would be a pleasure to connect with you and guide you through this healing journey. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross, Healing Practitioner Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross is a healing practitioner and subconscious transformation expert with over 17 years of experience. She holds a master’s degree in computer science and a PhD in Business Technology. Alongside her academic and professional career, she founded Sandra Gross Healing in 2007. She works 1:1 in personal healing sessions and remotely using Biofield Therapy and LebensTransfer, two quantum-based healing modalities. Sandra supports clients in resolving mental, emotional, and physical issues to create lasting change. She also leads seminars, group sessions, and regularly gives talks.

Written by Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross, Healing Practitioner Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross is a healing practitioner specialized in subconscious transformation and energy medicine. She holds a PhD in Business Technology and is a Certified Advanced Resonance Repatterning Practitioner. She offers 1:1 sessions, remote quantum-based healing, and regular healing seminars. In Western medicine, many approaches to health focus primarily on symptoms and diagnoses. But as an information-based perspective, Biofield testing asks a different question: how well a system is currently able to regulate itself under strain. My last article spoke about emotional healing and how unprocessed emotions can cause physical symptoms. In my work, I also combine emotional and spiritual healing methods with biofield testing and remote regulation where useful.   Biofield Testing and Regulation is a method used to identify stressors on different levels of the system and to support regulation remotely. It is especially useful when people experience multiple or changing physical symptoms. Often, it's the case that a single cause cannot be identified, and that different symptoms appear to overlap or change over time. The list of contributing factors and ailments that can be positively improved by working with this method is extensive and can include:   Biological stressors: microbes such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and related patterns the system is reacting to Functional organ and organ system imbalances: regulatory strain within specific organs or physiological systems that can affect overall stability Toxic and environmental stressors: metals, chemical pollutants, and other substances that burden the system Internal conflicts and stress patterns: fears, stress responses, and unresolved inner conflicts Energetic regulation level: imbalance patterns in the overall field that can affect stability and resilience Sometimes people come to me who already have a medical diagnosis, yet they still have not found an approach that truly helps them. Others have consulted various doctors and practitioners and yet they still do not clearly understand the underlying causes of their complaints. Some come to me because they sense that their system is out of balance and trust biofield testing to identify the underlying contributing factors and support regulation at the level of information.   I am neither a medical doctor nor a psychotherapist. My work is situated within complementary, non-clinical approaches to health and regulation. I work with energy-based methods, focusing on information-based approaches and biofield regulation at a distance. The method used to access and understand a client’s health-related information is called the biofield test. It originates from biophysical experiential medicine and is taught in Germany within the framework of the Society for Biophysical Medicine (Gesellschaft für Biophysikalische Medizin, GBM), where I participate in ongoing professional training. The biofield test allows the practitioner to identify which stress factors are currently affecting the client’s system and to test which forms of regulation would be most appropriate and beneficial at a given moment. Through remote regulatory work, the system can reorganize itself and regain stability. Many clients report an improved sense of balance and overall quality of life following biofield testing and individualized regulation.   This article explains what the biofield test is, how it works, and what kind of benefits clients may experience from working with it.   Important note: The biofield test is a complementary and holistic health approach. It does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment. The concepts described are based on biophysical experiential medicine and are not part of conventional, evidence-based science. What is the biofield test? The biofield test is not a conventional medical test. It does not measure blood values, and it does not establish medical diagnoses. Instead, it asks a different question, " How well is a person’s system currently able to regulate itself, and what is blocking this regulation?" In this approach, the human body is understood not only as a biochemical system, but also as an information system. Physical, emotional, or energetic stressors leave information within this system, often long before clear medical findings appear.   The biofield test makes these stressors visible, not all at once, but in an order that corresponds to the person’s current condition. This prioritization is essential because regulation can only be effective when the system is not overwhelmed.   How the biofield test works Working with information from a distance This work is based on the understanding that information is not bound to physical space. The biofield test works with an informational field, understood in this context as a field in which information is available independent of distance.   A dried blood sample on filter paper is understood to serve as an informational reference to the person from whom it originates. This information is considered functionally connected to the person. For this reason, it is possible to access information about the state of the system via the sample, even when the person is not physically present.   The blood sample itself is not analyzed. No substances are measured and no values are determined. It serves solely as a reference through which information can be accessed from the field. Working with the sample allows for a calm and objective testing process. It is independent of daily condition, expectation, or conscious participation. What is tested is what currently places the greatest burden on the system and what it needs in order to become more stable again.   Regulation administered remotely Working at a distance does not mean that something is transmitted from one place to another in a physical sense. The blood sample and the client are understood as belonging to the same field. When regulatory frequencies are applied to the sample, they are considered to take effect in the client’s system at the same time. The distance between practitioner and client, therefore, plays no role.   All testing and remote regulation take place only with the explicit consent of the client. Without the client’s permission, no information is accessed and no regulatory work is performed.   The approach does not claim scientific proof. It follows a functional, practice-based logic as it is applied within experiential biophysical medicine. The process does not rely on intention, expectation, or conscious participation.   The benefits of the biofield test Understanding health as a system Many clients report that for the first time, they feel truly understood not only at the level of individual symptoms, but within a broader context. They begin to see their symptoms as part of an overall pattern.   From my perspective, this form of work occupies a space between established medical diagnostics and purely psychological approaches or purely energy-based approaches. It does not compete with medical treatment, nor does it aim to replace it. Instead, it addresses a level that is often left unexamined: the informational organization of the system, allowing stressors on physical, emotional, mental, and energetic levels to be identified and prioritized.   A client came with recurring skin rashes and a general sense of discomfort. He was unable to explain why these reactions kept occurring. Through biofield testing, the results quickly found a sensitivity to histamine, especially in times of stress at work, and that remote regulation of the digestive system would be useful for him. The testing also suggested that this pattern might be present in his family. At a later point, the client confirmed that similar reactions had occurred among close relatives. From symptom to priority In my work, the biofield test often begins with a specific symptom. This may be something acute, something recurring, or a condition that has not changed despite various approaches. The test does not search for a single cause. Instead, it identifies which stress factors are currently involved and which of them have priority. The goal is not to address everything at once, but to establish a meaningful and supportive sequence.   Relief without reprocessing Sometimes the biofield test shows that strong emotional patterns are involved. The most common ones are fear, shock, and trauma. These states can place a lasting strain on the system and interfere with its ability to regulate itself. This does not mean that past events need to be remembered or consciously processed. When I am using this method, it is not necessary to know exactly what happened. What matters is that the system is still carrying the effects. Regulation can take place without the content becoming conscious. For example, the effects of a shock can be reduced even if the person does not remember when or how it occurred. Remote regulation The biofield test does not only reveal what is causing strain, but also which forms of regulation can currently support the system. These regulations are initiated via the blood sample. Targeted regulatory information is introduced into the field in order to support the system’s capacity for self-regulation.   Clients frequently notice improvements in their quality of life after the remote regulations. For instance: A woman with recurring skin irritations for a long time observes that the intervals between flare-ups become longer, less intense, and that the skin recovers more quickly. Someone who had struggled with poor sleep for months began to sleep through the night again. Clients with early signs of infections notice that they settle more quickly than before or that they don’t break out. Many clients come to find out about their allergies and food intolerances and find relief in their diminished reactions to the allergens.   Summary The biofield test does not consider people to be defined by merely their symptoms. It reveals which stressors currently have priority, and then it supports the system’s capacity for self-regulation. Working with information and from a distance does not replace medical diagnostics. It complements conventional medicine, providing regulation and stabilization through a more comprehensive approach.   As regulatory strain is reduced step by step, the body regains its ability to respond. It is precisely there that improvement, change, and recovery can emerge. For those interested in information-based and complementary approaches to regulation, the biofield test may offer an additional perspective. I am happy to provide further information upon request. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross, Healing Practitioner Dr. Sandra Veronika Gross is a healing practitioner and subconscious transformation expert with over 17 years of experience. She holds a master’s degree in computer science and a PhD in Business Technology. Alongside her academic and professional career, she founded Sandra Gross Healing in 2007. She works 1:1 in personal healing sessions and remotely using Biofield Therapy and LebensTransfer, two quantum-based healing modalities. Sandra supports clients in resolving mental, emotional, and physical issues to create lasting change. She also leads seminars, group sessions, and regularly gives talks.

Written by Abisola Fagbiye, Customer Experience Strategist Abisola Fagbiye is a Customer Experience Strategist and Microsoft 365 Productivity Consultant with a Professional Diploma in CX from The CX Academy, Ireland. A WiCX member, she transforms how businesses connect with customers, turning interactions into drivers of loyalty and growth. Enterprise competitors often have large support teams and big budgets, making the competition challenging. But with just three dedicated people and a clear focus on where it counts, you can succeed. The key is to identify the most important battles and leverage unique advantages that big companies can't copy. The enterprise competitor has dozens of support agents, a dedicated CX team, and massive technology budgets. You have a handful of people handling everything, software held together with workarounds, and customers expecting the same experience they get from major brands. But don't worry. This isn't an impossible situation. It's a strategic challenge with clear solutions. Customers don't adjust their expectations based on company size. Instead, they compare each experience to the very best they've ever had, regardless of who provided it. Research shows that small businesses derive most of their revenue from repeat customers, and customer experience plays a crucial role in whether those customers return. The key is to determine where to allocate limited resources for the greatest impact because, in some ways, no matter how minuscule, customers still give small businesses some grace. Prioritisation is everything Limited resources call for wise choices. Focusing on the moments that matter most, because those shape how customers see and stay with you, can make small business owners feel confident in their strategic decisions. Think about solving problems, the purchase process, and ongoing communication. Invest your efforts there first before expanding into other areas. Carefully map out how customers discover you, evaluate your services, make a purchase, and return. Find the places where a poor experience might cause customers to leave and prioritise fixing them. Once you've done that, you can work on making other moments more delightful. Keep in mind that strategic choices are essential, as it's not possible to provide 24/7 phone support, complete chat options, and same-day email responses all at once with limited staff. Be clear about which channels you'll serve excellently and communicate openly about what your customers can expect. Self-service is your highest-leverage investment Well-designed self-service not only reduces support ticket volume but also empowers and confides small teams. According to Zendesk research, when customers have the right tools, they can easily resolve routine issues on their own. Each time a customer successfully uses self-service, it reassures your team that they can provide adequate support. The secret is making sure self-service feels supportive rather than dismissive. Offering quick and easy access to human support whenever required is crucial. Focus on building your self-service resources around your most common questions. Identify which queries consume the most support time and develop clear, helpful resources to address each effectively. Technology democratization levels the playing field Customer relationship management systems are available at every price point, making it easier for small business owners to adopt practical solutions. Basic CRM features are affordable, often costing less than many other business expenses, and AI-powered chatbots are now within reach for small businesses. While more advanced systems may need a bigger investment, simple conversational AI can efficiently handle routine questions at a friendly price. Cloud-based support platforms also offer flexible pricing options that grow with your business. The learning and development market has expanded to serve organisations of all sizes, providing valuable resources. Discover effective AI implementation strategies that support resource-constrained teams and help you make the most of these innovative tools. Maximise efficiency ruthlessly In a small team, each person takes on more interactions than human agents in larger companies, making practical training even more valuable. By creating helpful templates and transparent processes for everyday situations, you can ensure consistency, save time, and minimise mistakes. Don't hesitate to automate administrative tasks, as every minute saved on data entry means more time to delight your customers. Additionally, build systems that transfer context smoothly. When customers reach out more than once, the next agent should already know what transpired in previous conversations, making the experience more seamless and friendly. Leverage inherent advantages Small businesses have unique strengths that big companies often can't match. Their flexibility allows them to respond quickly in ways that larger corporations can't. Personal relationships are more meaningful, and customers who interact with the same few people over time build genuine connections and loyalty. Small teams can adapt faster. When a problem arises, they can fix it promptly. Authenticity flows easily from small teams, so customers can easily sense when someone truly cares about them. Build sustainable capacity over time Keep an eye on how service quality influences revenue and notice how improvements can increase both customer loyalty and referrals. When you're planning your pricing, be sure to include the actual costs of delivering excellent service. If providing top-tier service feels challenging due to budget limits, it might be worth re-evaluating your pricing rather than your resources. Choose team members who bring positive energy and invest in training to help them grow their skills. Remember, small teams need to be cautious with costly hiring mistakes. Keep your processes, templates, and key knowledge well documented to make growth smoother. You're not obligated to do everything alone. Partnering with specialised providers can help manage extra workload, after-hours needs, or specific tasks more cost-effectively than hiring full-time staff. Many technology vendors offer managed services that complement their software. Finally, understanding how to showcase the return on investment in customer experience (CX) can help you confidently justify ongoing and expanded initiatives as your business grows. Leading a lean team that needs to deliver enterprise-quality CX? The Art of Customer Experience shows precisely how to compete against giants with a fraction of their resources. This keynote reveals which investments matter most, which shortcuts work, and how to leverage the inherent advantages small teams possess that enterprises can't replicate. Built specifically for SMB and resource-constrained teams. Book for your conference or leadership event , or email abisola@abisolafagbiye.com . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Abisola Fagbiye Abisola Fagbiye, Customer Experience Strategist Abisola Fagbiye is a Customer Experience Strategist and Microsoft 365 Productivity Consultant who helps organisations rethink engagement, build CX-driven cultures, and drive retention and growth. With global experience spanning SMBs to enterprises, she delivers workshops and training that blend strategy, energy, and actionable insight. She is a mentor and rising voice in CX leadership. Further reading: Which Customer Service Channels Should You Actually Support? How to Prove Customer Experience Actually Makes Money How to Train Customer Service Teams That Actually Perform AI in Customer Service: How to Automate Without Losing the Human Touch

Written by Claire Buttrum, Somatic Trauma-Informed Coach Claire Buttrum is one of the first Somatic Trauma-Informed Coaches in the world, combining somatic coaching techniques with parts work and nervous system regulation. She is the founder of Somatic Harmony Healing, supporting women globally to get better at feeling and trusting the wisdom of their bodies. In the high-pressure world of modern achievement and constant productivity, we often talk about “burnout” as if it’s just exhaustion. It’s become a bit of a buzzword, similar to how people have started saying they have OCD when they’re a bit picky about something. But in reality, true burnout goes way deeper. And it isn’t about exhaustion or tiredness. It is a profound nervous system response known as “freeze.” You might find yourself staring at a screen for hours, feeling foggy, disconnected, or physically heavy. It can feel as if your whole body has simply unplugged, or that you’re in a kind of standby mode. In polyvagal theory, this is known as the dorsal vagal state, or the “freeze” response. It is an ancient survival mechanism designed to protect you by shutting down energy when a situation feels overwhelming. While it’s helpful in a true crisis, staying “frozen” in daily life leaves us feeling numb and stagnant. The good news? You can gently “thaw” this response. Here is a step-by-step guide to reconnecting with your system and restoring your sense of aliveness. 1. Compassionate recognition The first step isn’t a physical action, but a mental shift. When you are in a freeze state, your inner critic often attacks: “Why am I being so lazy?” or “Just get it together.” Stop the judgment. Recognise that your nervous system is trying to protect you. Acknowledge it by saying, out loud or internally, “My body feels stuck right now because it’s trying to keep me safe. I am okay.” This brings cognitive distance from the part of us that is stuck in freeze, lowers the perceived threat, and begins the shift out of defence mode. 2. Orientation: Finding your “now” When frozen, the mind often drifts into a void or fixates on a distant worry. Your Default Mode Network is in overdrive, with the Task Prioritisation Network stuck on “go.” This leads to a profound difficulty in doing anything other than doom scrolling, binge-watching your favourite series, or ruminating. Orientation pulls you back into the safety of the present environment using your senses. The 5-4-3-2-1 technique: Slowly scan the room. Name five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. External focus: Pick one object in the room, a plant, a book, a lamp, or something you find especially comforting or pleasing to look at, and trace its edges with your eyes. This simple act of visual tracking signals to the brain that the immediate environment is stable. 3. Grounding through “weighting” The freeze response often feels like “floating” or being untethered from your body. You need to remind your body that gravity is holding you. Feel the chair: Press your back firmly into your seat. Notice the texture of the fabric. The feet press: Place both feet flat on the floor. Slowly push your heels into the ground, feeling the tension in your calves, and then release. This “micro-contraction” tells the nervous system you have the power to move if you need to. 4. Subtle movement: The gentle thaw The mistake many make is trying to “blast” through a freeze state with intense exercise or caffeine. This can actually trigger more anxiety and make your body feel even more unsafe. Caffeine, in particular, is just going to raise your heart rate, signalling to the body that it needs to remain on high alert. Instead, use micro-movements to invite energy back in slowly. Finger taps: Gently tap each finger against your thumb. Shoulder rolls: Lift your shoulders to your ears on an inhale, and let them drop heavily on an exhale. The “Voo” breath: Take a deep breath in, and on the exhale, make a low-frequency “Vooooo” sound. The vibration stimulates the vagus nerve and helps transition the body from shutdown back into a social, engaged state. 5. Social connection The dorsal vagal state is a state of isolation. To fully return to aliveness, we often need a co-regulator. This is someone you enjoy being around, a good friend, someone who makes you laugh, or a beloved pet. Reach out: If you can, text a friend or talk to a colleague about something mundane. Pet connection: If you’re at home, spend a moment petting and playing with your dog or cat. The rhythmic movement and tactile feedback are incredibly grounding. A note for the high achiever: Resilience isn’t about never freezing or pushing through discomfort just to reach the other side. You are only ever going to teach your body that it’s never going to feel safe, and you will likely end up in complete collapse. Instead, think of resilience as being about how quickly and gently you can melt the ice. This brings flexibility to the nervous system. By practising these approaches, you train your nervous system to view the world as a place of possibility and connection rather than a place of threat. Deep dive: The science of the “Voo” breath While it might feel unusual at first, the “Voo” sound is a powerful tool backed by the mechanics of the nervous system. This technique, popularised by Dr. Peter Levine , works through two primary channels: Vagal stimulation: The vagus nerve passes through the throat and near the vocal cords. The low-pitched vibration of a “Voo” sound acts like a gentle internal massage for this nerve, sending a direct “all clear” signal to the brain’s emotional processing centres. Visceral resonance: The low frequency is designed to be felt in the chest and abdomen. These are the areas where we typically shut down or feel hollow during a freeze response. By vibrating these areas, you are physically reawakening the organs, the viscera, and reminding the body that it is a solid, living entity. How to do it: Inhale deeply, then exhale with a sustained, low-frequency “Voooooo.” Aim for a tone that feels like a foghorn or a low cello note. Focus on the sensation of the vibration in your ribcage. Freeze, shutdown, and burnout are hard to live with, but you don’t have to move through them and reconnect with yourself alone. Honouring your body and unique experience by noticing where you’re struggling and trying these simple steps is a powerful way to get better at feeling. If you’re ready to start a journey of deep self-honouring, book a free consultation with me today . Let’s work together to help you reconnect with your best self. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Claire Buttrum Claire Buttrum, Somatic Trauma-Informed Coach Claire Buttrum is a Somatic Trauma-Informed Coach and the founder of Somatic Harmony Healing, a service focused on nourishing the body and mind. Claire is one of the first level 7 qualified somatic trauma-informed coaches in the world. Her approach is centred on nervous system regulation and deep self-connection, tailored to the individual needs of her clients who are primarily women. She integrates various modalities, including parts work, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and emotional freedom technique. She holds specialised certifications in ADHD and menopause coaching. Claire's practice aims to help women become their own advocates and cheerleaders to achieve profound healing and growth.

Skill shortage is a challenge faced by many corporate giants. These gaps bottleneck productivity, stunt innovation, and decelerate growth. Dealing with these problems is still a necessity for the sake of long-term prosperity. Understanding Skill Gaps The search for necessary skills among employees focuses on those needed to improve job performance, rather than the skills already present. That is because technology and even business requirements continue to change. As a result, teams are not prepared enough for new challenges, which compromises their effectiveness. Reasons Behind Persistent Skill Gaps There are a few reasons skill gaps persist. Continuously developing industry standards move the target for needed competencies. Even a talent upgrade does not close every experience gap; new hires need time to acclimate. Conventional training techniques may struggle to evolve with the demands of the workplace. That is where developing the right knowledge and capabilities is crucial, which a reliable LMS for corporate training  can facilitate.  Impact on Organizational Success Skill gaps affect different functions of an organization. Productivity drops when team members face challenges they are not prepared to handle. Making mistakes will be a costlier affair, resulting in delays. If employees feel unsupported or overwhelmed by unattainable expectations, morale suffers. Challenges With Traditional Training General learning methods depend on static materials or physical sessions. These approaches might not be suitable for busy professionals or allow for varying paces of learning. Their impact is further diluted due to scheduling conflicts and geographic barriers. Employees can also lose track of information that is not being reinforced. The Surge of Online Learning Solutions Technology has completely transformed how businesses develop talent. Today, people have easy access to scalable, interactive online education tools for professional development opportunities. These tools provide flexible and personalized experiences to resolve many of the limitations of traditional instruction. What is an LMS (Learning Management System)? You can find and access course content through a learning management system, or LMS, which is an online platform. It allows organizations to create, deploy, and track training programs easily. Employees can access learning resources at any time, which encourages them to make continuous improvements. How an LMS Addresses Skill Gaps Using an LMS allows companies to identify specific skills that require attention. Built-in assessment tools evaluate employees' proficiency and highlight areas needing reinforcement. Customized courses then target these gaps directly, which ensures that each learner receives relevant content. Progress tracking helps managers monitor improvements and adjust employee training  as needed. Personalization and Flexibility Each user can have their own learning path, and this is possible through LMS. Employees can go at their own pace through the material and revisit certain concepts if needed. This flexibility enforces new learning and confidence in practicing new skills. The removal of geographies linked to flexible learning, or remote access, enables distributed teams to learn together. Engagement and Retention Quizzes, videos, and discussion boards are some of the interactive elements that keep users engaged. Each of these items caters to different learners and thus makes the training more effective. Continuous evaluation and feedback processes promote knowledge retention, which enables workers to translate their learning into their job roles seamlessly. Cost-Effectiveness and Scalability You can even reduce costs related to travel, printing, and physical classrooms through digital training platforms. LMS is flexible enough to support a growing workforce without imposing extensive additional costs. It provides every worker with the same high standard of instruction and covers the whole firm in one go. Continuous Improvement and Analytics If you have a robust LMS, it will undoubtedly also include some form of analytics that could easily provide insights into how effective the training was. It enables leaders to analyze information on completion rates, quiz scores, and participation values. This insight helps them to refine future courses, which ensures that investments in learning yield the desired outcomes. Conclusion For large companies, skill shortages remain an everyday challenge. Traditional approaches cannot address such gaps effectively. A learning management system offers a flexible, dynamic, and cost-effective approach to overcoming knowledge gaps. These systems help your team grow by providing tailored, ongoing learning opportunities, regular evaluations, and useful information to prepare for the future.

Written by Andy Travis, Therapist Andy Travis is a therapist specialising in addiction recovery, mental & mood health, sex/love/relationships, and men's well-being. He uses techniques like live guided meditation, simple hypnosis, and somatic enquiry, personally tailored to give his clients access to their inner resources. This article builds on my last piece, Beyond Data Chips. Consciousness. The Next Frontier of Intelligence . It suggests that consciousness is more than just a product of brain activity. That each individual is animated by an infinitely tiny point of peaceful, self-aware light, situated in the control centre of the brain, above and behind the eyes. Contemplating the non physical nature of the inner self is key to conceiving of a Divine Intelligence beyond matter. I grew up an atheist. I thought God was a concept humankind had made up in order to feel safe. In my childhood, the closest thing I had to a religious experience was when my family went to see Monty Python’s The Life of Brian (1979), a comedy satirising religious dogmatism. When I was 18, I read Raja Yoga New Beginnings (1989) by Ken O’Donnell. It spelt out ideas about God that I had never heard before, and that made complete sense to me. Read on if you would like both a logical and contemplative inquiry, offering radically different perspectives on some of atheism’s key points. 1. Life: Evolution, creation, or a third option? Ever since Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species (1859), scientific thought has favoured the theory of evolution over creationism. If God created the world, who created God? This is one of the foundations of Richard Dawkins’ best seller, The God Delusion (2006). The reasoning is solid. But what if there is a third hypothesis that is both rational and incorporates the Divine? What if the universe has always existed? In this theory, the cosmos was never created, and time is not linear, but cyclic. A simple way of looking at the Law of Entropy is that in a closed system, everything moves from new to old, from order to chaos, and the only way to halt or reverse entropy is if there is an input of energy from outside the system. The material universe, encompassing space and time, is a closed system. It progressively ages and becomes chaotic. God is outside of space and time, and when the universe has reached maximum entropy, it is His or Her role to put in energy and return souls and matter to their original, ordered state. 2. If God exists, why is there suffering? Many belief systems say that God is merciful and omnipresent, everywhere. If that were the case, it is not logical for there to be all the suffering we see in the world today. Seeing sorrow everywhere, you might say, “Surely a loving God would not allow this, there must be no God.” Let us instead consider the idea that God is not everywhere, does not cause sorrow, and does not have the role of managing it. We could see the suffering in the world as a sign of collective entropy. Every individual starts their journey in the material dimension with a full “soul battery,” which gradually runs down. As our energy dissipates, our thoughts, words, and actions become disordered, and we cause suffering for ourselves and others. God, instead of being the all-pervading, cane-wielding Principal of Earth School, is the spiritual power source from beyond who recharges our souls. 3. Where is the evidence for a supreme being? Consider love, the wind, or gravity. These are invisible, but can be understood by their effects. I personally think the best evidence is deep, balanced, long-term transformation in people’s characters and lives. I am grateful for my own gradual progress here, and I see it in the communities I connect with. In addiction recovery circles, people who had overwhelming, destructive obsessions and compulsions are now free one day at a time and bringing benefit to the world, and in meditation centres, people are generously empowering themselves and others through their self-development and service. I recognise that the above is subjective, and what you would call anecdotal rather than quantifiable evidence. Yet this is the paradox. I do not believe we can meaningfully contemplate a Divine Intelligence with our analytical selves alone. Let us experiment with taking the parameters of evidence beyond what your five senses and science’s instruments can detect. What if replicable inner experience was a good start? You will have the opportunity in the last section of this article to try a guided meditation, with the aim of tuning in to a higher frequency of divine intelligence. 4. Is God a delusion born of evolutionary need? Richard Dawkins, in The God Delusion, makes a fair point, faith can comfort. In evolutionary terms, a calm and comforted brain may survive better than a fearful one. Belief can soothe the fight or flight response, thus strengthening cooperation and the safety of the tribe. Yet to reduce faith to its survival benefit is to overlook the possibility that calm may be a soul’s original state, a state that enables the soul to regain coherence with its power source, God. In my opinion, Dawkins is right to debunk religious delusion. But is all faith blind? For the last 37 years, my goal has been to live a life of faith based on understanding and experience, not on simply accepting what a holy person or scripture says. The clearest teachings and meditation practices I have found are here, The Brahma Kumaris . Regardless of whether you align with one spiritual path or many, whether through prayer, meditation, or a combination of both, divine evolution can begin with moments of stillness and inner connection. 5. God as a vengeful old man in the sky? Watching The Life of Brian when I was about nine, we laughed till we cried at a crowd’s collective delusion that Brian was the Messiah. Today, I recognise that faith itself is not childish, but our beliefs about God can be. The bearded patriarch hurling thunderbolts was never meant literally, it was mythology’s metaphor for power and justice, unhelpful if it fostered obedience based on fear. An alternative is to understand God as a genderless, bodiless, egoless soul of pure kindness, the highest point of consciousness, a being of light, truth, and loving intelligence. Imagine the Supreme not as a vindictive ruler, but as a star-like, silent radiance, unchanged by time and not bound to matter. Using these ideas, my heart and intellect relate to God out of self-respect rather than religious devotion. Your inner laboratory: Making the abstract intimate Feel free to test everything you have just read, right now, in the laboratory of meditation. Find a quiet place away from distractions. Sit comfortably. Take a few long, slow, deep breaths. Allow the body to relax more and more with each breath. Allow your heart to feel safe in this moment. Imagine the essence of your consciousness to be an infinitely tiny point of self-aware light, sitting above and behind your eyes. Slowly read the following once or twice, allowing each line to sink in. Beautiful One Foreign yet so familiar. Innocent – alien to matter – You never eat, drink, or sleep. Most importantly, you never forget yourself. Once in forever, You enter this world to make everything new. Contact You’re telling me that I, too, have a home beyond Earth; That my body is just a spacesuit; And that, like you, I’m a tiny star. You’re taking me back, into Your rose-gold-red lap of light. Weightless. Oceanic. Belonging. The Apex of a vast, self-aware constellation, The Brightest Star, Surrounded by an egg-shaped force field of love. An Entity silently humming with wisdom and warmth. You reach out to me with a telepathic ray of purest feelings, Softly overwhelming, Infinitely beautiful. Magnetically drawn towards You, Old impressions of time and space dissolve, As I move through your aura. Two stars quietly touching. I merge into Your acceptance, Your unquestioning kindness, Your tenderness. Celestial Mother, and child. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website  for more info. Read more from Andy Travis Andy Travis, Therapist In 1988, when Andy was 17, his mother began training to be a lifeline telephone counsellor. She would often talk to him about it. He was fascinated. The following year, Andy had a series of out-of-body experiences. They confirmed what he'd been reading about the parallels between mysticism and quantum physics. He embarked on a lifelong journey of meditation. In his early 30s, a mood disorder and sex/love addiction led him to 12-step peer-support groups, where he continues to volunteer today. He established Meeting Point Counselling in 2016.

From a childhood immigrant story to leading a respected Canadian law firm, Gary Mazin’s career is a study in steady growth, discipline, and turning ideas into action. A career shaped by early challenges Gary Mazin’s story begins far from the courtroom. He left the Soviet Union at just four years old and arrived in Canada with his family. Like many immigrant families, they started with little. What they did have was persistence. “I grew up understanding that nothing is guaranteed,” Mazin says. “You work for what you want, and you don’t waste opportunities.” That mindset stayed with him. It shaped how he approached school, work, and eventually his career in law. From an early age, Mazin was drawn to problem-solving and structured thinking, skills that would later define his professional life. Education as a foundation, not a finish line Mazin took a broad and deliberate path through higher education. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, followed by a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, one of Canada’s most respected legal institutions. He later completed an MBA at the Schulich School of Business at York University. Each step added a layer to his thinking about his future. “Law teaches you how to analyze,” he explains. “Business teaches you how decisions actually play out in the real world. I didn’t want to be strong in just one area.” Rather than treating education as a checklist, Mazin used it to build a practical skill set. Legal training gave him structure. Business training gave him a strategy. Together, they prepared him to build something of his own. Entering personal injury law After completing his education, Mazin chose to focus on personal injury law. It was not a random decision. Personal injury cases sit at the intersection of law, health, and everyday life. Clients are often dealing with stress, confusion, and loss. “This area of law is very human,” Mazin says. “People come to you at difficult moments. They need clarity and honesty.” Over time, he developed a reputation for being methodical and client-focused. His approach emphasized preparation, communication, and realistic expectations. Those principles eventually led him to establish his own firm. Building Mazin & Associates As the owner of Mazin & Associates, Mazin moved from practicing law to leading a business. Starting a firm meant turning ideas into systems. Hiring staff. Setting standards. Defining culture. “A firm is more than a name,” he says. “It’s how people work together and how clients are treated when no one is watching.” His business background helped him think long-term. Instead of rapid expansion, he focused on consistency and process. The goal was sustainability, not spectacle. That steady approach has allowed the firm to grow while maintaining a clear identity in the personal injury space. Big ideas, applied in small ways Mazin does not describe himself as a disruptor. His impact comes from execution, not hype. Small decisions add up. Clear communication with clients. Structured case management. Thoughtful delegation. “Big ideas don’t have to be loud,” he says. “They just have to work.” Even outside the office, his interests reflect this mindset. He enjoys chess, a game built on patience and planning. He swims to reset. He travels when he can. Family time is non-negotiable. These habits, he says, help keep perspective. Giving back through action Philanthropy plays a quiet but meaningful role in Mazin’s life. He has supported local healthcare initiatives, including sponsoring a room at University Health Network Hospital. The decision was personal. “Healthcare touches everyone at some point,” he says. “If you’re able to support it, you should.” The gesture aligns with his professional focus. Many of his clients interact with the healthcare system after serious injuries. Supporting that ecosystem felt like a natural extension of his work. Defining success over time Today, Gary Mazin measures success differently than he did early in his career. It is no longer about titles or credentials. It is about stability, trust, and impact. “Success is building something that lasts,” he says. “And doing it in a way you can stand behind.” His journey reflects that idea. From a child arriving in Canada with limited resources to leading a respected law firm, the path was not dramatic. It was deliberate. In an industry often driven by urgency, Gary Mazin’s career stands out for its steady pace and for proving that thoughtful ideas, applied consistently, can build a meaningful professional life.

Some people build careers through big risks. Others build them through consistency and clear thinking. Shane Kinahan , an Investment Manager and Principal at Lake Avenue Capital, is one of the rare professionals who does both, blending Wall Street discipline with the adaptability of an entrepreneur. “I learned early that the best results come when discipline meets adaptability,” he says. His career proves that simple idea can carry someone a very long way. Early career: How Shane Kinahan started in finance Shane’s journey began with a fascination for numbers, systems, and the way capital fuels progress. After earning his undergraduate degree, he moved straight into the fast-paced world of New York finance. His first major step: joining Goldman Sachs. What started as an entry-level role quickly turned into a steady climb through the ranks. He became known for precision under pressure and for turning complex models into clear, workable strategies. “You learn very quickly that markets don’t care about intentions,” he says. “They reward preparation and punish complacency.” Shane calls his years at Goldman “a masterclass in institutional excellence.” He developed skills in structured finance, client management, and risk analysis, but he also learned something deeper: the value of integrity and communication. “Technical skill will open doors,” he explains. “But clarity and honesty are what keep the doors open.” Career shift: Why he transitioned to Lake Avenue Capital After more than a decade in large-scale corporate finance, Shane wanted a space where ideas could move faster, and where he could stay closer to outcomes. Joining Lake Avenue Capital in Stamford, Connecticut gave him that mix of structure and flexibility. At the boutique investment firm, he found room to build new strategies from the ground up. He focuses on alternative investments and class action claims, areas known for complexity but full of opportunity. “Alternative investments attract me because they’re imperfect,” he says. “There’s inefficiency, and with inefficiency comes opportunity.” Instead of directing from a distance, Shane is hands-on. He works closely on due diligence, data analysis, modeling, execution, and performance review. It’s an approach that gives clients not just results but real clarity. “At a large firm, you learn to manage scale,” he explains. “At a smaller one, you learn to manage outcomes.” Investment philosophy: What guides his decisions Shane’s investment philosophy comes down to three words: clarity, patience, purpose. Clarity: “If you can’t explain an investment in one paragraph, you probably don’t understand it.” He teaches young analysts to break down every idea until it becomes simple. Patience: “Speed feels like progress. But in investing, moving too fast usually means missing something important.” He focuses on fundamentals, not market noise. Purpose: He believes finance should create stability for people and communities, not just returns. “Good investing doesn’t just move money. It moves outcomes.” Leadership style: Calm, steady, and human-centered In a field known for high pressure, Shane is the steady one in the room. His colleagues say he brings clarity when things get chaotic. “Leadership isn’t about knowing everything,” he says. “It’s about listening and helping people see the bigger picture.” He also devotes time to mentoring the next generation. He believes good judgment, emotional intelligence, and ethical decision-making matter just as much as math or software. “Technology can process data,” he says. “But judgment, that’s still human.” Life outside finance: Where Shane finds balance Shane stays active through golf and ice hockey, two sports that mirror his approach to investing. “In golf, you can have all the right tools but still misread the wind,” he jokes. “It’s the same in markets. Preparation helps, but awareness keeps you improving.” He also supports youth programs and financial education initiatives in Connecticut, seeing mentorship as part of his responsibility. “I was fortunate to learn from great mentors,” he says. “It’s my responsibility to pay that forward.” Adapting to a changing financial world With new technology reshaping the industry, Shane stays grounded in fundamentals. He sees automation as a tool, not a replacement for human insight. “Automation improves efficiency,” he says, “but it doesn’t replace understanding. You still need someone who can see beyond the screen.” To him, the future is a blend of data and intuition. “Numbers give you information. Context gives you wisdom.” Core values that shape his career Four values guide Shane’s work: Discipline: Every decision must have a purpose. Transparency: Trust is built through clarity. Integrity: The right choice must be the only choice. Service: Finance should improve lives, not just spreadsheets. These principles have shaped his reputation as a reliable, thoughtful leader. Looking ahead: What drives him now As he continues growing Lake Avenue Capital’s presence in alternative investments, Shane remains focused on long-term value instead of fast wins. “Markets evolve, tools change,” he says. “But trust, patience, and clarity will always be timeless.” For him, success isn’t about noise or headlines, it’s about building something resilient and meaningful, piece by piece.

Written by Sarah Roberts, Global Strategy and Communications Leader Sarah is one of two managing partners at Vane Percy & Roberts with 25 years of experience in global strategy and communications. Known for her clear thinking, sharp wit, and approachable style, she blends expertise in media, public affairs, and strategy to deliver smart, effective solutions that make a real difference. There are parts of ourselves we are comfortable sharing. We speak easily about experiences that have shaped us in visible, socially acceptable ways. Travel, career moves, moments of growth or opportunity. These stories signal curiosity, resilience, evolution. They fit neatly into professional narratives about development and ambition. But there is another category of experience most of us learn to keep quiet. When experiences are painful, destabilising, or deeply personal, many of us instinctively bury them. Not because they haven’t shaped us, often they have shaped us profoundly, but because we fear what they might signal. Weakness. Fragility. A lack of resilience. Too much emotion. Not enough control. So we separate them out. We survive them privately, then return to public life as if unchanged. In boardrooms, on professional platforms, in leadership spaces, these parts of us remain carefully hidden. We show up composed, capable, contained. And in many cases, that restraint has served us well. But it comes at a cost. The quiet labour of carrying unspoken experience Over the past couple of years, I’ve lived through experiences that were not just difficult, but deeply disruptive. Experiences that altered how I think, decide, and relate. Not temporarily. Permanently. Painful experiences have a way of refining perception. They change what we notice. What we tolerate. What feels meaningful. What no longer does. They sharpen our awareness of others. Why people are guarded, reserved, slow to trust, or careful with their words. And yet, professionally, we are often encouraged to treat these experiences as irrelevant. As things to “move past,” rather than things that continue to inform how we think, judge, and relate. The implicit message is clear: Use the polished parts of yourself. Leave the rest outside the room. But leadership is rarely that clean. Using experience without exposing it There is an important distinction here. Using what we’ve lived through is not the same as disclosing it. This is not an argument for oversharing, confession, or turning personal pain into professional currency. For some people, telling their story publicly is part of their path but for most of us, that isn’t the work. The work is quieter. What if the experiences we’ve buried could be used, internally, deliberately, ethically, to guide how we lead, listen, and decide? What if they help us become more precise about what matters now? What gives us energy and what drains it. What environments we thrive in and which ones we no longer wish to endure. What if, as part of healing, we allow these experiences to inform how we design our lives and our work, rather than pretending they never happened? Strength, reframed We often equate professionalism with emotional neutrality. But many of the strongest leaders I’ve worked with are not the most impenetrable. They are the most perceptive. They read rooms well. They sense hesitation, resistance, or fear before it becomes visible. They respond with care rather than force. Very often, that perceptiveness comes from having been through something themselves. Not because pain automatically produces wisdom, it doesn’t, but because it can deepen empathy when it is reflected on, rather than suppressed. When we allow ourselves to acknowledge what we’ve lived through, even privately, our judgements change. We recognise that guardedness is not always disengagement. That reserve is not always resistance. That vulnerability doesn’t always look like openness. Sometimes it looks like control. The leadership cost of pretending otherwise When we deny the influence of our harder experiences, we risk leading from a place that is technically competent but emotionally disconnected. We misread behaviour. We push for certainty where someone needs safety.We interpret caution as lack of capability, rather than as self-protection learned over time. And perhaps more quietly, we make choices, roles we accept, expectations we internalise, definitions of success we pursue, that no longer align with who we are becoming. Using experience doesn’t mean centring it. It means allowing it to inform judgement. To sharpen perception. To deepen discernment. A different kind of presence Lately, I’ve been asking myself a different question. Not How do I move past what I’ve been through? But How do I let it change how I show up, with intention? Can I use it to be more discerning about what matters?More compassionate about how others show up?More thoughtful about where I place my energy? Can I recognise vulnerability not only in openness, but in restraint? What becomes clear is that this isn’t just personal. It’s leadership-defining. How we relate to our own lived experience, especially the parts we’ve learned to silence, shapes how present we really are in moments that require more than competence. Ignoring that influence doesn’t make us objective. It simply makes us less aware of what’s already at work. Closing reflection We all carry experiences we don’t speak about. The question isn’t whether they belong in the boardroom as stories. It’s whether we allow them to shape our leadership at all. When we bury parts of ourselves completely, we don’t become stronger, we become narrower. And when we deny the influence of what we’ve lived through, we don’t lead from neutrality. We lead from disconnection. Not everything needs to be shared. But some things deserve to be used. Follow me on LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Sarah Roberts Sarah Roberts, Global Strategy and Communications Leader Sarah is one of two managing partners at Vane Percy & Roberts, with 25+ years in global comms, strategy, public affairs, and stakeholder relations. Known for her clear thinking, sharp wit, and approachable style, she delivers tailored solutions that drive impactful change. Her mission is to lead with authenticity, foster collaboration, and ensure every team member feels heard and valued. Recognised for her bold, inventive approach, Sarah is a gifted networker and convenor of creative talent, always ready to make strategic choices that drive success.

Written by Michelle Stroud, Holistic Reproductive Practitioner & Doula Trainer Michelle Stroud is a holistic reproductive practitioner, doula educator, and reflexology and Reiki trainer with over 20 years of experience supporting women through fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She specializes in trauma-informed, client-centred care and holistic education. Many people feel called to birth work because they sense it is meaningful, relational, and deeply human. Yet for many doulas and aspiring birth workers, conventional training leaves something important unspoken. It teaches how to support labour, but not how to meet the full emotional, physiological, and spiritual complexity of a person’s reproductive journey. This is where holistic healing and doula work begin to converge. What is a holistic reproductive practitioner? A Holistic Reproductive Practitioner (HRP) is a professional who supports individuals and families across the full reproductive continuum, from fertility to pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and loss, using an integrated body, mind, and spirit approach. In addition to evidence-based reproductive education and advocacy, Holistic Reproductive Practitioners are trained as full spectrum doulas with additional certifications in holistic healing modalities that support the body’s innate ability to heal itself. Practices such as reflexology and Reiki are used to help regulate the nervous system, support hormonal balance, relieve pain, and promote deep physiological relaxation. These modalities work alongside emotional and energetic support tools that see trauma, fear, grief, and chronic stress not as isolated experiences, but as layers held within the body. Rather than addressing symptoms in isolation, holistic reproductive care recognizes that physical imbalances often have emotional and energetic dimensions . A Holistic Reproductive Practitioner is equipped to meet all of these layers, supporting not only the body, but also the emotional and spiritual experience of reproductive transitions. Why conventional doula training wasn’t enough for me My own journey into this work didn’t begin with the intention of creating something new. It began with a growing realization that conventional doula training didn’t reflect the reality of how I was practicing, or how my clients actually needed support. Standard doula education focuses primarily on pregnancy and labour. Yet the people I supported rarely entered care at labour alone. Many were navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, medical trauma, chronic stress, or fear long before birth began. Others needed emotional integration and nervous system support long after the baby arrived. I also noticed that doulas were often required to take multiple trainings from different providers, one for birth or another for loss, just to adequately support a single person’s reproductive journey. It became clear to me that this fragmentation didn’t serve practitioners or clients well. Training should not only equip doulas with skills for supporting clients, but also support the doula’s evolution and personal healing, emotional maturity, and capacity to hold space. Reproductive work is relational. It requires self-awareness, regulation, and the ability to meet complexity without overwhelm. That development deserves to be part of the training itself. Birth work is not a moment, it’s a continuum One of the reasons my doula practice became so full was because many of my clients first sought support for fertility. They didn’t initially identify as people who “needed a birth doula.” But through fertility support, trust developed. When pregnancy came, they wanted continuity. When birth confirmed that trust, they stayed for postpartum care. This continuity benefits families and it also makes sound business sense. Supporting clients earlier in their reproductive journey allows deeper relationships to form, creates more meaningful work, and leads to more consistent, sustainable practices. Holistic reproductive care doesn’t just improve outcomes, it reflects how people actually move through these experiences in real life. The spiritual dimension of reproductive work Reproductive experiences are not only physical events. They are identity-shaping, emotionally charged, and often spiritually significant  whether or not a client uses spiritual language to describe them. Physical conditions such as PCOS, unexplained infertility, or chronic pelvic pain often carry emotional and energetic layers alongside physiological ones. A Holistic Reproductive Practitioner understands that supporting cycle regulation, hormonal balance, and pain relief can coexist with addressing fear, grief, blocked feminine energy, or even inherited traumas. This doesn’t replace medical care. It complements it by filling gaps, creating space for regulation, meaning-making, and healing through a holistic lens. Why I brought it all together The Holistic Reproductive Practitioner role emerged because this work was already happening, it simply lacked a unified framework. By integrating reproductive education, holistic modalities, emotional support, and practitioner self-development into one cohesive path, the Holistic Reproductive Practitioner model reflects the way reproductive care naturally unfolds. This approach supports clients more fully and allows practitioners to work with confidence, depth, and integrity without needing to patch together disconnected training courses over years. A different way forward Holistic reproductive care isn’t about rejecting medicine or romanticizing birth. It’s about restoring balance between information and intuition, intervention and trust, body and spirit. When holistic healing meets doula work, support becomes steadier, more relational, and more humane. And in a system under increasing strain, that kind of care has never been more needed. For those who feel called to support families during life’s major transitions, balancing evidence based care, advocacy support and holistic healing you can learn more about By   the Moon Holistic Reproductive Practitioner training  and how it may fit into your personal self development and future career path. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more info! Read more from Michelle Stroud Michelle Stroud, Holistic Reproductive Practitioner & Doula Trainer Michelle Stroud is a holistic reproductive practitioner, doula educator, and healing arts trainer with over 20 years of experience supporting families through fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She is the founder of By the Moon, a training school offering holistic doula, reflexology, and Reiki education. Michelle’s work focuses on informed consent, emotional regulation, and bridging evidence-based care with holistic and spiritual support.

Written by Denzil Tafadzwa Tanyanyiwa, Global Strategist | Founder | CEO Denzil T. Tanyanyiwa is the Founder of Linkmount Global Network and Executive Director at Solicitude for Orphans Children Support Group. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer of AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation. A visionary leader committed to sustainable development, innovation, and building impactful networks. With a strong focus on diplomacy (including commercial diplomacy across Africa), and fostering Global partnerships and Investor Relations. Denzil champions initiatives that empower communities and drive meaningful social and economic impact. Africa’s green industrialization is not being shaped solely at global summits, but in practical conversations where policy, industry, finance, and communities meet. Anchored in Zimbabwe, this article explores how locally driven collaboration, trust, and execution are laying the foundation for sustainable energy, job creation, and national green industrial projects aligned with Vision 2030. Why the table matters Africa’s green industrialization feels like it is starting in places you would not expect. Not at the big global summits with cameras flashing and long speeches. More often, it begins in quiet rooms, offices, boardrooms, or community halls far from capital cities. Places where people actually sit down and talk things through. I have come to believe that where those conversations happen matters just as much as who is in the room. We cannot rely on speeches alone to drive a green transition. Words matter, but they are not enough. What really moves things forward is trust. The ability to connect governments with industry, finance, and communities in a way that feels practical and grounded. The people who lead this work are not always the loudest or the most visible. They are usually the ones who can bridge gaps, bring very different interests together, and keep everyone focused on shared problems instead of competing positions. Anchoring green industrialization in Zimbabwe That way of thinking is part of why AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation chose to anchor its green industrialization efforts in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe sits at a unique point of opportunity. It has abundant natural resources, an industrial base that once played a strong role in the economy and could be revitalized, and a deep pool of technical skills built over decades. At the same time, it faces a real and urgent need for energy solutions that support sustainable economic growth rather than short-term fixes. What makes Zimbabwe particularly compelling is the chance to build green industrialization from the ground up. Instead of forcing new ideas into systems that are already exhausted, there is room here to design things more deliberately. To think about energy, industry, jobs, and communities as part of one connected picture rather than separate pieces. I may be oversimplifying, but transformation rarely starts with grand declarations. It starts with honest conversations. Policymakers, engineers, financiers, entrepreneurs, and local communities are asking a simple question together. What can we build that will actually last? That question sits at the heart of green industrialization. Clean energy projects that do not create jobs tend to lose support. Industrial strategies that ignore communities often stall. Climate commitments that never turn into factories, infrastructure, and livelihoods remain theoretical. Real progress requires all of those elements to move together. Throughout history, meaningful change has often begun at a table where partnerships were formed, risks were shared, and new economic models took shape. Africa needs more of those tables today. Not tables reserved only for presidents and chief executives, but spaces that include technicians, regulators, entrepreneurs, financiers, and community leaders. People who understand both the technical realities and the human ones. Zimbabwe offers a grounded place to do this work seriously, not as a testing ground for ideas developed elsewhere, but as a co-creator of Africa’s green industrial future. Every generation faces a choice. Wait to be included in global transitions or take ownership of building them. Green industrialization in Africa will succeed where it is rooted locally, where people listen carefully, and where action follows conversation. Progress is not only about who speaks. It is about who listens, who connects, and who delivers outcomes that people can see and feel. From conversation to national projects This same thinking shapes the Zimbabwe 2030 Green Industrialization initiative. It is not an event, and it is not a slogan. It is a strategic consortium built around collaboration, credibility, and execution. The aim is to mobilise investment, support technology transfer, and ensure that value is added locally so growth shows up in factories, farms, and communities rather than remaining trapped in reports. At its core, Zimbabwe 2030 Green Industrialization is about moving from plans to action. It is about putting forward clear and credible pathways that governments, development partners, and investors can engage with seriously. These are not abstract ideas. They are national projects designed to create jobs, build skills, and strengthen Zimbabwe’s position in the green economy. Three flagship national green industrial projects aligned with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 anchor this approach. The first is a 37MW biodiesel hybrid microgrid designed as a pilot commercial and industrial cluster. Its purpose is to provide reliable, clean power for production, reduce energy risk for businesses, and build local fuel supply chains that support ongoing employment. The second is the AGINC nopal to hydrogen hub. This is an agro-industrial model that links regenerative agriculture to green hydrogen and clean fuels. It is designed to support farmers, strengthen rural value chains, and open practical industrial uses for hydrogen based on local inputs. The third is the AI and Carbon Data Centre developed in partnership with the University of Zimbabwe and global cloud infrastructure. This centre focuses on green data, carbon reporting, research, and skills development. It connects digital capability with climate accountability and industrial decision making, so Zimbabwe owns not only its energy systems but also the data and knowledge around them. These projects are national in scope, but they all return to the same simple idea. Progress happens when the right people sit at the same table. Policymakers, engineers, financiers, technologists, and communities are working through real trade-offs together. This is an open invitation to partners who want to be part of Zimbabwe’s green industrial transformation in a serious and long-term way. Those who understand that trust is built through delivery and that lasting impact comes from shared ownership rather than quick visibility. Discover more: AfriCanBioenergyCorporation | Instagram | LinkedIn | Website Read more from Denzil Tafadzwa Tanyanyiwa Denzil Tafadzwa Tanyanyiwa, Global Strategist | Founder | CEO Denzil T. Tanyanyiwa is a Global Strategist, High Representative for Strategic Partnerships & African Advancement, and CEO of AfriCan Bioenergy Corporation. He is also the Executive Director at the Solicitude for Orphan Children Support Group. Through his work, Denzil champions inclusive development, entrepreneurship, and diplomatic collaboration across Africa and the global South.