Sometimes you meet someone who you just know could pull almost anything off, and make it look effortless. The kind of person who looks at a problem, or a need, and figures out the right team of people to get the job done. The kind of person who gets up at 4:00 am and advises others not to waste your mornings because they’re usually the quietest and most productive part of the day.

I recently had the opportunity to interview just such a person. Michael Payano is Chairman and CEO at Al Thuraya Holdings. With over three decades of experience, starting in military and security and evolving into energy, consulting, and everything else worth engaging in, he oversees a global conglomerate consisting of seventeen subsidiary companies. With a solid foundation built during his thirty-one year experience in the US military, where he rose to the rank of full Colonel, he transitioned into the private sector, founding Al Thuraya Consultancy in 2009 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Under his leadership, Al Thuraya Consultancy swiftly became a leading provider of risk management and security services, paving the way for the expansion of Al Thuraya Holdings into the globally sought after provider it is today. These days, Mr. Payano describes Al Thuraya Holdings as the figurehead for seventeen different companies that he has driven from inception to impact.

After leaving the military, Michael returned to the United States and started a consulting company. He worked with law enforcement agencies, provided tactical and SWAT training, and trained military organizations throughout the Caribbean.

Although he enjoyed that work, he always wanted to return to the Middle East. An opportunity came along in the United Arab Emirates, and he took it. This decision changed the direction of his career.

The first company he started was Al Thuraya Consultancy, and it’s still operating today.  He never planned to build other companies and expanding businesses operating across different industries. It happened because their clients kept asking them to solve different problems.

One client needed security consulting. Another needed logistics. Another investigations. Others needed executive protection, travel risk management, intelligence support or strategic advice.

Michael Payano supplies solutions.

Sometimes that solution is security. Sometimes it’s understanding social risk, investigations, logistics, technology, executive protection, automation, travel risk management or strategic advisory services. The service changes because the problem changes.

Instead of trying to force everything into one company, Michael built specialist companies that could work together while remaining experts in their own field. He explained that that’s really how Al Thuraya Holdings evolved. It wasn’t built from a business plan. It evolved because their clients trusted them to solve problems, and each new challenge pushed them to build another capability.

Michael didn’t build Al Thuraya Holdings around industries. He built it around solving problems.

Throughout his military career and later in business, he kept seeing the same issue. Clients weren’t looking for another security company or another consultant. They were looking for someone who could understand the problem, bring together the right people and solve it.

The Human Factor

Everything comes back to people.

Whether it’s a government, a corporation, an investor or an individual, every decision is made by a human being. Every fraud case, every security incident, every compliance failure, every crisis and every successful negotiation starts with human behavior.

That is really what Al Thuraya Holdings is about. They help organizations understand complexity, reduce ambiguity where possible and make better decisions. Sometimes that means putting boots on the ground. Sometimes it means providing technology. Sometimes it means advising a CEO or a government minister.

Michael believes that success isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to deal with failing, getting up, and ambiguity. To adapt and keep moving forward.

Throughout his military career and later in business, he learned that no plan survives first contact exactly as you imagined it. The organizations and the leaders who succeed are the ones who adapt the fastest without losing sight of who they are and what they stand for.

Michael explained that Al Thuraya Holdings wasn’t built because he wanted to create a large company. It was built because clients trusted them with difficult problems, and every time they solved one, the clients came back with another. The business grew because they continued to solve problems, not because growth itself was the objective.

For younger leaders and entrepreneurs, Michael’s recommendation is to build your reputation before you build your company. Your reputation will open more doors than your marketing ever will. Verify before you trust, keep your word, treat people with respect and never stop learning. There will always be someone smarter than you or with more resources than you, but integrity and consistency are things you control every day.

Finally, never lose sight of why you started. Titles, revenue, and success come and go. What matters is whether you’ve made a positive difference in the lives of the people you’ve served, the people you’ve led and the communities you’ve worked in. At the end of the day, that’s the legacy Mr. Payano hopes to leave behind.

From security to logistics, helping people navigate a country they’re unfamiliar with, understanding local customs, avoiding unnecessary issues and making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes, to ease of movement, Al Thuraya Holdings has their clients covered.

When everything works well, nobody notices. That’s usually the sign they have done their job properly.

If you would like to learn more about Michael Payano and Al Thuraya Holdings, please visit www.michaelpayano.com and www.althurayaholdings.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

I sometimes say, “You either have money, or you have time. Not both.” It seems whenever I’ve had the most money coming in, I have very little time. But when I’m broke, I have all the time in the world. But what if there was a balance? What if you could have both, and be able to actually enjoy the money you are making and cross some of those bucket list items off of your list at the same time? Nicole Middendorf has the answer – it’s called a Live It List.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Ms. Middendorf. Nicole is described as a money maven, knowledge junkie, mentor, and a born coach. She is an entrepreneur who has run her own wealth management firm since 2003. She is the author of five books, mother of two phenomenal children, a world traveler, philanthropist, and an accomplished public speaker.

Nicole explained that she feels more like a therapist most days. She helps people find their happiness with their life.

She started the Live It List™ after her now ex-husband was arrested for domestic violence in 2010. Her children were very young and she needed something to lift her spirits and give her something positive to focus on. She began by writing twelve things that she wanted to do down, and committed herself to do one thing a month. She decided not to call it a “bucket list”, instead calling it a Live It List.

Fast forward to today and she has a Facebook community, she does a lot of public speaking, people join her on trips, she also has a journal as well as vision board making kits that people can purchase. Her Live It List Foundation helps teach victims of domestic violence to not just be survivors, but thinkers. Nicole truly helps people live life to the fullest. The Live It List is all of those bucket list items people put on a list but never find time to do because life gets in the way.

It’s all about balance.

Nicole helps people find the time and the resources to enjoy today while planning for the future. Her philosophy is that one should seize every moment, to not take any of the time we are given for granted, to Live It now instead of waiting. The most common activity that Nicole finds that people put on their lists, but never do, is travel with extended family. She also finds that most people think of things they want to do, but never write them down and do them. This is the beauty of the Live It List. The whole point is to help people to not have regrets.

Nicole’s biggest challenge in life has been being a single mom and business owner. Her advice for living a life of balance: Get up early. Find the things that you love and do them. Schedule things out. Make sure your health is a priority.

Through Nicole’s writing, public speaking, coaching program and work, she wants to be the one who supports them on all levels. The Live It List changed her life and she believes it is a tool to change other people’s lives. Nicole is currently working on launching the Live It List podcast and her goal is to have people say Live It List versus bucket list.

If you would like to learn more about Nicole Middendorf and the Live It List, please visit theliveitlist.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

“AI will make your job as a writer obsolete.” “You know you can use AI to generate your books. You don’t even have to write them. You could have one hundred books out in a year.” I have been told all of these things many times when someone discovers that I write for a living. I have never found these ideas to be true; I’ve actually had the opposite experience. The more automated and generic things have become, the more my skills as a writer are in demand. In a world filled with AI-generated content, people are yearning for a more authentic experience, not only in the writing world but in many different types of industries.

I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Liz Capants, President & Founder, Global Executive Search, EBC Associates & Erudites Networking Group. I first interviewed Ms. Capants in 2023 and wanted to get an update regarding the new hot topic of AI and how it might be affecting her business.

Liz launched EBC Associates, LLC in 2008, a global specialized executive search, business consulting, and referral networking services firm. Since then, the business has grown to a global network of affiliate partnerships to drive growth, and Erudites Networking Group was formed as a subsidiary.

EBC Associates & Erudites Networking provide four areas of focus: human capital and executive search services, business referral networking, branding and marketing, and social impact, community give-back.

Liz explained that since 2023, AI has absolutely accelerated the pace of business, but interestingly, it hasn’t replaced the core of what her company does. EBC Associates has always been a “people first” organization, and AI has actually reinforced that positioning rather than disrupted it.

They leverage AI to streamline processes, business and candidate sourcing, initial screening insights, market research and mapping, but the real value still lies in human judgment, emotional intelligence, and relationship-building. Clients don’t want boiler plate commoditized information; they want trusted advisors who can bring sound advice, understand data and nuance, and deliver the right resources.

For the Erudites Networking Group, AI has made networking more intentional. People are more aware that transactions can be automated, but relationships cannot. As a result, Liz has seen a stronger demand for authentic, strategic high-value connections and curated communities. AI is disrupting tasks, but not the business approach and creativity.

What’s happening is a shift: repetitive, process-driven work is being automated, while strategic, creative, and interpersonal aspects of roles are becoming more important. The workplace is moving toward a model where humans and AI collaborate.

Employees who embrace AI as a tool are becoming significantly more productive and valuable. Those who resist it risk falling behind. So the disruption isn’t just technological—it’s behavioral.

In today’s world employers are prioritizing a blend of technical adaptability and human-centric skills. Liz shared the most in-demand capabilities that she is seeing. These include critical thinking and problem-solving, communication and storytelling, emotional intelligence and relationship management, adaptability and learning agility, and AI literacy—knowing how to use tools effectively, even if you’re not technical.

Liz believes that in many ways, the more technology advances, the more valuable “human” creativity skills become. Networking has shifted from being helpful to being essential. With AI making it easier to apply for jobs, generate resumes, and mass-produce outreach, she says there is more noise than ever. Relationships are what cut through that noise.

Opportunities are increasingly coming from trusted networks, referrals, and communities—not job boards – they are broken. People want to work with individuals they know, trust, or are connected to in a meaningful way. That’s exactly why she has continued to grow Erudites, because curated, intentional relationships create real opportunity in a world that’s becoming more automated.

AI is making certain approaches obsolete, not entire skill sets. For example, purely transactional writing, basic data entry, or routine administrative tasks are being automated. But Liz explains that doesn’t mean writing or operations roles are disappearing, it means they are evolving.

The human touch is more valuable than ever. AI can generate content, but it can’t replicate lived experience, perspective, or authentic voice, which are becoming premium skills. AI is amplifying roles that require strategy, creativity, and decision-making. Liz is already seeing growth in areas like AI integration and operations roles, prompt engineering and AI optimization, data interpretation and strategy, human-centered leadership roles, and talent strategy and workforce planning. Liz believes that AI will also create entirely new hybrid roles—people who can bridge the gap between technology and human outcomes.

 What is most important right now is mindset.

Liz believes that there is a lot of fear around AI, but the real opportunity lies in how we choose to engage with it. The individuals and companies that will thrive are the ones who combine technology with humanity—not choose one over the other.

At EBC Associates, they believe the future of work isn’t AI versus people—it’s AI powered by people.

At the end of the day, no matter how advanced technology becomes, trust, relationships, and human connection will always be the differentiators.

If you would like to learn more about Liz Capants, EBC Associates, and the Erudites Networking Group, please visit www.ebcassociates.net and www.eruditesgroup.com.

A person I admire very much once said, “I only want to surround myself with smart, happy people”. This is sometimes easier said than done. During my adult life, I can honestly say that I have met a few of the most miserable people on Earth. The type who, when I am smiling, asks very critically, “Why are you smiling?” The type who always finds fault, many times belittling others simply because they are jealous of that person. As I grew older, I learned to distance myself from the miserable ones as much as possible. But what makes so many people so miserable? Why can’t they find “joy”?

I may well have found the person who can help them. I recently had the opportunity to interview success coach, author, and speaker Laura May Culver. Laura May is the creator of the Joy Journal©. As the owner and founder of Knowself Services, she is dedicated to offering personal exploration through speaking, coaching, and consulting. Laura May is enthusiastic and optimistic, motivating, inspiring, and empowers others to live their very best lives.

Laura May explained that she is a therapist of more than twenty-five years and says she has helped people live the way they want to with every session. She believes we are successful just as we are. She explained that a success coach helps people live authentically from what is truly a success according to them. A person experiences success in life by working toward a goal that is authentically their own. A worthy ideal (or in other words, a goal) can be anything that brings forth a person’s JOY. An example of this is a person that wants to be a wife and mother and feels authentically themselves doing it. Another example is a carpenter that builds tables and wakes up excited to build, create, and share their tables with the world, or with themselves. If a person considers their goal as an expression of self and experiences joy in doing, pondering and/or sharing, and they are working toward it, that is success.

She explained that a success coach encourages and gives clarity, holds space for, and holds one accountable to, what their client deems to be success – for them. A person can have one or multiple worthy ideals in their lifetime. Laura May specializes in partnering with ambitious individuals to optimize their strengths, unlock their potential, and accelerate their professional and personal growth.

The Joy Journal

Laura May believes that we all have the light of joy inside us, it is a light in our hearts, and the Joy Journal is a tool to bring forth the light of our JOY. She explained that from a very young age she was encouraged to keep a journal. She did – she wrote everything down, with mostly negative events documented. She rarely wrote about what she wanted or what was good or going right in her life. She didn’t realize that the written word is actually creating further of the same. It was not until after fourteen years of clinical experience and decades of keeping personal journals that she came across information that changed her life.

Focus on the good in life in order to create more good in your life

The business program in which she was studying at the time pointed out the importance of focusing on the good in life in order to create more good in her life. The coaches kept telling her to “write down what you want and focus on the good. There is power in focusing on the good, the joy of life”. They said: Do you have a goal? Write it down. What do you dream of having? Write it down. What do you really want?  Write it down. Do you have things in your life that you are grateful for?  Write it down. Do you dream of wonderful relationships, travel, and adventures? Write it down in all its detail. Well, she did! She did not allow any negativity in any of the numerous notebooks.

One day, in the fall of 2014, while reviewing the process with a coaching client, she heard herself say out  loud,  “Write it down in a book that holds only the good stuff—like a  journal for your joy—and let’s call it your Joy Journal”. That day, The Power of The Joy Journal© was born.

Laura May has also created something called The Red Telephone Booth Meditations https://theredtelephoneboothmeditations.bandcamp.com/ She has found that these meditations have been particularly helpful with teenage groups with which she has worked. She describes the teen years as such a powerful time in life, full of adventure, change and challenge.

Unfortunately, many youth do not have a fun time during high school or in their first years of post-secondary. If anything, their lives are stressful, and they are filled with deep emotional pain, insecurity and fear. In an attempt to feel better and handle their painful lives, youth will model adults. The idea that a ‘quick fix’ is a solution to life’s problems is prevalent in our culture. Laura May says we see this in the use of drugs, alcohol, excessive online scrolling, prescriptions, sex, self-harm and toxic relationships for pain relief. Popular glorified ‘solutions’ are destructive, and our children are the most vulnerable. She has many examples of sharing her meditations with youth groups and how they have helped them ‘wake up’ and to remember their power, their connectedness, and their truth. She has taught them that they can take certain actions to live amazing lives. She has seen amazing results with youth who have learned destructive coping habits but with her help and meditation practices, they found relief and feelings of peace.

Remember Who You Really Are

Laura May has many such meditations that can help one re-focus their attention away from the mainstream messages that keep us ‘half alive’ and living ‘half true’. She suggests finding your own way to take time out of your busy day and just ‘be’, to ask yourself, Who am I? What do I want? What am I willing to practice and cultivate to live my best life?

So, are so many of us fussy because we forgot who we really are?

Laura May is available for customized speaking engagements and is willing to travel. Companies, businesses and organizations benefit greatly from her talks and this is a great way for her to share her message with more people all at once. Book a call with Laura May and she will set it up.

If you would like to learn more about Laura May, please visit www.hotforsuccess.com. To learn more about Laura May’s more recent version of The Joy Journal Guided Joy, please visit https://a.co/d/09P44YeW.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

I recently had the opportunity to interview the founder of Soul State Wellness, Inc., Cindy Hyde. As she explains, her story isn’t a quiet one. Chronic fatigue. Chronic illness. Two cornea ulcers in six months. Temporary vision loss. Intermittent aphonia (her voice coming and going). Memory loss. Brain fog. By the time all these symptoms had presented multiple times it was too late.

She had a deep feeling that something wasn’t right. She was healthy by every other metric (diet, fitness, water, spirituality) so she got curious. As she describes it, obsessively curious. She came to understand that she had been operating in high stress states for far too long. She was a high performer and a people pleaser. She was unable to say no and had no personal boundaries. She was working 24/7. She had minimal connection to nature or the relationships that mattered to her deeply. She had cognitive dissonance. She was unable to catch her breath and settle. She was eating on the fly, running from meeting to meeting. But eventually, her body stopped whispering and started speaking louder. She took her health into her own hands and she explored everything: family physician, ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, psychologist, psychotherapist, speech language pathologist accompanied by breath work, chiropractor, pelvic floor physiotherapist, metabolic coach, burnout coach, fitness coach, lymphatic RMT, teladoc / Best Doctors Program, naturopath, IV immune therapy, Reiki, somatic practitioner including training, yoga, and qigong.

Ms. Hyde explained that every one of these modalities served a beautiful purpose and supported her in some way. She describes it as putting the puzzle of herself together. Picking up one modality at a time to see if it fits and completes the puzzle she was trying to build – a puzzle of understanding herself. But the real game changer happened when the nervous system was studied and understood, and she received help from a somatic practitioner. That is when she saw the symptoms dramatically improve.

It helped her so much that she became a certified somatic coach. She now seeks to help others with her business, Soul State Wellness, Inc. She specializes in nervous system literacy and supporting people to reconnect with themselves.

Somatic Experiencing is a therapeutic method developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine, aimed at addressing the effects of trauma, grief and stress on the body. It emphasizes the importance of bodily sensations and experiences rather than solely focusing on the cognitive aspects. The goal is to help individuals to complete an incomplete threat response by releasing stored energy from traumatic experiences, and/or chronic stress (including burnout) allowing for healing and a return to a state of balance within the nervous system. It is a form of coaching that is created in a safe supportive environment where Cindy’s clients feel deeply seen and supported.

She explained that nervous system regulation is about supporting individuals to become connected to their bodies to feel safe and connected to the world and themselves, in the here and now. It is about understanding sensations in the body and being able to move between the three states of our system (Ventral, Sympathetic & Dorsal). She says that how we do this varies by client, however what is similar is in the approach is that we use various tools to support them to be in the here and now while slowing everything down. She likes to say it is about creating enough capacity to manage our day-to-day activities.

At the center of everything Cindy is working on now is burnout. She believes that learning about the Nervous System is a key skill in Fatigue Risk Management – something she now wants to devote her life to. The prevention. During her speaking engagements Cindy likes to highlight that your biggest risk has a heartbeat.

Not just recovering from it but preventing it in the first place. She believes that we have normalized exhaustion to a degree that genuinely concerns her, and she believes that when women understand what is actually happening in their bodies and their nervous systems, everything changes. That is the mission underneath all of her current work.
Right now that is taking a few different shapes. She is building out training material around Fatigue Risk Management (burnout recovery and prevention) that weaves together nervous system literacy and somatic practice in a way that is both deeply educational and deeply felt. It is not just information; it is an experience that helps people understand themselves in a whole new way.

She is also planning a wellness retreat for October 2026 that she is genuinely excited about. It will be a space for women to step away, slow down, and do this work in a real and embodied way. She says that there is something that happens when you give yourself dedicated time and space that just cannot be replicated anywhere else. That is what she wants to create.

She said that she is most excited to talk about her keynote work. Whether that looks like a lunch and learn, a half day workshop, or being brought in as a guest speaker, this is where she gets to take everything she teaches and bring it into a room full of people who are ready to hear it. She explains that there is an energy to that kind of gathering that she absolutely loves. When a group of people experiences nervous system literacy together, something shifts collectively, and that is really powerful.

From there, for the people who want to go deeper, she offers one-on-one coaching. This is where the real personal transformation happens. She says we slow down, we get specific, and we do the work in a way that is completely tailored to that individual and exactly where she is in her life.

And then there is something Cindy truly loves talking about because it surprises people every single time. She offers holistic facials specifically designed for vagus nerve activation and relaxation. It is luxurious and it is deeply therapeutic at the same time. The nervous system is being tended to while you are being cared for from the outside in. Cindy explains that it is such a beautiful entry point for women who are maybe not quite ready for the deeper work yet, but know they need something.

Ms. Hyde wants to highlight that according to recent data from the Global Wellness Institute, only 9.8% of employed workers are actually benefiting from the wellbeing programs currently available to them. That is 349 million people out of 3.56 billion. Read that again. We have built an entire wellness industry and we are reaching less than ten percent of the workforce. That tells her that we have a real problem, and she does not think we are talking about it honestly enough.

Burnout is not a personal failure. It is not a willpower issue. It is what happens when human beings are asked to operate beyond their capacity for too long, without the knowledge, the tools, or the support to understand what is actually happening inside their own bodies and nervous systems. The hustle culture that shaped the last decade is beginning to crack, and people are feeling it deeply. But the systems around them, the workplace cultures, the wellness programs, the leadership models, have not caught up yet.

This is where nervous system literacy becomes not just relevant but essential. When people understand the three states their nervous system moves through, when they can recognize what state they are in and why, they stop blaming themselves for struggling. That is not a small thing. That is everything.

She states that this is not about pointing fingers. This is not about blaming individuals for not doing enough or blaming companies for not caring enough. This is about recognizing that we have a shared responsibility to do better. Individuals looking inward, building self-awareness, learning to communicate their needs and hold their boundaries. And organizations genuinely reimagining what employee wellbeing looks like, not as a checkbox but as a true cultural commitment.

The ROI is there. Absenteeism, short term disability numbers, employee engagement, leadership capacity, better decision making. All of it is connected to how safe and regulated people feel in their nervous systems. When we invest in that, everything shifts.
Cindy believes we can do better on both sides, and she genuinely believes we will.

If you would like to learn more about Cindy Hyde and Soul State Wellness, please visit www.soulstatewellness.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

One thing I remember about my parents was their ability to be present. My father traveled a lot for work, and had a pretty dangerous career during my early childhood. I can remember him coming home to us in a certain snow-covered area of the United States, having been in some exotic location overseas. It didn’t matter that he had been gone, but it mattered that when he came home, he was present. We moved quite frequently and had the chance to live in a foreign country, as well as travel quite extensively at a young age and in to adulthood. I believe that these experiences shaped me and gave me a unique perspective as an adult now with my own children. Today, the knowledge that I can share with my children comes from my unique experiences growing up.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Roger Duthie, Founder & CEO, BearFish Sports Marketing and the Former Head of Global Sponsorships, Emirates Airline. Mr. Duthie is not only a very successful businessman, but he also appears to have mastered the skill of work-life balance and being present with his own children. He is a globally recognized leader in sports sponsorship and brand strategy, with over thirty years of experience delivering high-impact marketing platforms across global sports and entertainment. During his nineteen-year career with Emirates Airline, Roger was instrumental in transforming the brand into a global powerhouse through strategic sponsorships and integrated marketing campaigns. He now has his own consultancy, BearFish Sports Marketing as well as his own sports apparel brand, BearFish Sports Apparel. His signature line of lightweight, breathable caps has gained popularity among athletes and lifestyle enthusiasts looking for stylish performance wear under the sun.

Roger is originally from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but he now lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I spoke with him about how he ended up in Dubai, and he explained that he and his new wife moved to Dubai from the Bahamas. He explained that while living in Freeport was an amazing experience, he wanted to start his professional career rather than just playing tennis, soccer, and rugby on a tropical island while being broke. He saw a television show segment on Dubai and it intrigued him. He decided, after five fun years in the Bahamas, to take a job with a PR company in Dubai. He worked for a few months with the PR company and his boss asked him if he wanted to join Emirates Airline, where, by that time, he was the head of the communications department. They were starting a new department in sponsorships. Roger applied, got the job, and had a wonderful nineteen year career with them helping them build the brand globally using sports as a marketing and communications tool. It worked – as the Head of Global Sponsorships, Roger oversaw a portfolio valued at over $300 million, leading the development, negotiation, and execution of major partnerships across football, tennis, golf, motorsport, rugby, and cricket. His work included long-term collaborations with the ATP, FIFA, ICC, Formula 1, and premier football clubs such as Arsenal, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and Benfica. These partnerships not only boosted global brand exposure for Emirates but also helped drive record levels of consumer engagement, media value, and ROI.

Roger’s stewardship of the sponsorship portfolio led to Emirates being ranked the 4th most valuable airline brand globally from 2017–2019, and among the Top 200 global brands by Brand Finance. Under his guidance, Emirates generated over $4 billion in international media exposure from golf and tennis partnerships alone. He also directed the Dubai Football Challenge, organizing a 42,000-seat event featuring elite international clubs. His hands-on approach to partnership activations ensured Emirates was always a standout brand presence across events, digital media, and consumer touchpoints.

Roger started BearFish Sports Marketing because of what he experienced on the brand side at Emirates. Time and again, they would be sold to by senior agency leaders, only for them to disappear once the deal was signed. The work would be handed down, the accountability would fade, and the original thinking they bought into often got diluted. As a brand spending serious money, Roger wanted to work with smaller, agile teams, good people who genuinely understood what they were trying to achieve and stayed involved throughout. Instead, the market felt crowded with too many “sharks” chasing Emirates’ budget, and that never sat right with him. Eventually, he decided to step away and build the kind of consultancy he would have wanted to hire.

That experience shapes everything they do at BearFish Sports Marketing. Roger explained that most consultants come from agency or rights-holder backgrounds; he spent nineteen years on the buying side as Global Head of Sponsorship at Emirates, managing over $300M per annum across thirty plus sports and making the final yes-or-no decisions with senior leaders. Roger knows what brands look for because he was the one approving the invoices.

Combined with a global network built over two decades and a boutique, founder-led model, BearFish offers something different: clients work directly with Roger from strategy through negotiation and activation planning. The person who closes the deal is the person who delivers it ensuring accountability, continuity, and partnerships built on trust rather than transactions.

When people ask him about Dubai, he tells them without hesitation that it’s the greatest place in the world to live, and he genuinely could never imagine leaving. What makes Dubai special is not just the skyline or the ambition, but the culture and the people. It is an incredibly welcoming and diverse city where people from all over the world live side by side with respect and openness. He explains that the government’s focus is clearly on the welfare, safety, and quality of life of its citizens and residents, and that shows through world class infrastructure, outstanding healthcare and education, and a city with little to no crime. It is a place where families feel safe, professionals can thrive, and opportunity feels limitless. He went on to say that the lifestyle is equally unmatched. You can play almost any sport imaginable and enjoy food from virtually every culture in the world. He still plays in a men’s baseball league there, and there are also communities for ice hockey, Aussie Rules football, Irish hurling, rugby, cricket, and many more. Add in wonderful beaches, an incredible sports and events scene, and year round energy, and Dubai becomes very hard to beat. It combines global diversity with a real sense of community and ambition with humanity. For Roger, it is home, and he truly believes there is no better place in the world to live.

“Always lead by example. It’s not that complicated or hard. Always be there for the team. Let the team have a life. Family is always more important than work, so enjoy.”

Mr. Duthie travelled a lot while at Emirates and he still does. He had two children in Dubai, Isabella and Oliver. He always tells younger friends who are having kids that to be present is the most important thing in the world to maintain a lifelong relationship with your kids. So when he wasn’t travelling, he made sure he went to every swim meet, every play, and every school assembly. He coached his son’s baseball teams and drove his daughter to ballet and piano. He explained that parents become taxi drivers when kids are young and doing activities, but that’s the time you get to groove with Prince in the car with Isabella or talk in depth about the Toronto Maple Leafs with Ollie. Roger explained that if his job ever got in the way of his relationship with his children, he wouldn’t have done it. Eventually he was able to hire younger, single males and females who took on more of the business travel so he could stay grounded.

“I am the happiest person I know.  Sadly I’ve seen too many people pass away over the years far too young, so I continue to embrace life.”

Mr. Duthie is a great example of a family man who balances his very successful career with a wide range of activities, to include travel, sports, and being present with his friends and family. He described his childhood as growing up in a blended sports-minded family. He explained that the main reason he started to travel was because one of his stepbrothers passed away at a very young age but his exuberance for life, adventure, and travel provided the impetus to move away from Toronto and see the world. The greatest advice he can offer is to pursue travel and education. These things have shaped his career and the person he is today.

If you would like to learn more about Roger Duthie, BearFish Sports Marketing, and BearFish Sports Apparel, please visit bearfishsportsmarketing.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

Sometimes you meet someone who has defied all of the odds, confronted bias and hatred, and made it through to become incredibly strong and successful. Dr. Susan Levit is just such a person. I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Levit about her amazing life and her new book, Susanna: Journey to my Dream.

Dr. Susan Levit’s inspiring journey began in a small Soviet town and has spanned four continents. She explained that she believes she was genetically preconditioned to become a doctor. During her childhood she was surrounded by her parents and her siblings, who were all doctors. She described being around the dinner table listening to them tell stories and jokes about their lives as doctors and realizing that to her, nothing was as exciting as medicine. It was as natural as eating and sleeping.

Dr. Levit began medical school in the former Soviet Union. The horrific realities of communism and anti-Semitism prompted an exodus to Israel, where she completed her education. This was challenging, as she did not speak Hebrew, but had to learn. She served in the Israeli army as a doctor, and when her husband was asked to work in Africa as a civil engineer, she moved to Africa where she continued to work as a medical doctor. She specializes in internal medicine and there she treated the local people as well as the expatriate community.

When asked what her biggest obstacle in life has been, she didn’t hesitate to answer: Anti-Semitism.

Dr. Susan Levit lived in a world that held her nationality against her. Every obstacle was constructed to make life more difficult. While in Israel, she had to learn Hebrew and English. Whether it was holding medical school lectures and exams solely in Hebrew, which was not her first language, or shaming her for leaving the communist Soviet Union to make a better life, Dr. Susan Levit dealt with it.

Dr. Levit learned Hebrew and English. She finished medical school despite all odds. Susanna found herself fighting in the Yom Kippur War. She lived through a coup d’état in turbulent Africa. Then, she finally arrived at Lady Liberty’s shores.

What stopped her from just giving up? She explained that she never even had the thought of giving up. She didn’t have any choice, she needed to succeed.

And succeed she did. Dr. Susan Levit was awarded with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. She considers this the pinnacle of her success and recognition for her contribution to American society. A girl from a small Soviet town had become the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, an award given to those who became inspired by the American dream, and fully realized it.

This incredibly elegant woman credits her father and husband as her biggest inspiration in life. They held her high and believed in her, and they knew she had the ability to succeed. When asked what the hardest thing she has ever had to do in her life, her answer was to raise children to be successful and good members of society. Dr. Levit considers both of her children her crowning jewel and greatest accomplishment, with both being highly successful. Her response to my question, regarding if she still believes in the American Dream echoes the message her son, Dr. Eyal Levit, also shared with me:

Yes, she does still believe in the American Dream. She advises to believe in your dream, persevere and achieve.

Dr. Susan Levit’s book, Susanna: Journey to my Dream, is a fascinating story of perseverance that follows her family’s astonishing rise, spanning three generations, four continents, and three wars. It is available in English on Amazon.com and in Russian on Lulu.com, Dr. Susan Levit Stremlenie kmechte.

Dr. Susan Levit’s goal is to influence by personal example; specifically to influence a new generation by personal example. She believes that if you want something strongly enough, and you work to achieve it, it will not only be a dream, but a reality.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

“I think all the guys are staring at you because they think you’re anorexic,” Teri stated with a sneer. We were at a training with various male police officers in rural Maryland, and I was a seemingly buxom, young, blond twenty-something. I was pretty sure they weren’t staring at me judging my possible eating habits. Always having been self-conscious about how thin I was, her words cut me, but I didn’t let her know. She was my supervisor at the time, and one of many in a very long line of poor leadership examples. She wasn’t just imperfect, she was horrendous.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Sam Willing, strategic partner, transformational executive coach, and speaker with over twenty-five years of corporate experience in Organizational Development, People Strategy, and Culture Transformation about leadership, healing and the kind of impact we leave behind. While Sam focuses on equipping business leaders with the tools, confidence, and strategic insight to unlock their full potential, elevate leadership effectiveness, and drive meaningful impact—all while strengthening business performance, her comments about imperfection and compassion really resonated with me.

Sam brings over twenty-five years of corporate HR experience, much of it in biotech and high-growth companies. But it’s her deep compassion, lived wisdom, and disarming honesty that stand out most. She doesn’t just coach leaders, she holds space for their transformation.

Sam shared that the coaching side of HR had always been her calling. From college days where friends called her “the counselor,” to her early career roles, she found herself naturally guiding others through challenge and change. When an organization asked her to continue coaching after she left a full-time HR role, it sparked something: maybe this was her next chapter. She started her own coaching business quietly, building a reputation through word-of-mouth, growing a loyal client base while juggling full-time executive roles. Eventually, she made the leap, bringing her heart, strategy, and powerful presence into full-time coaching.

Many of Sam’s clients are in the thick of leadership—C-suite and senior leaders navigating pressure, pivots, and people dynamics. Especially in biotech and tech startups, where the stakes are high and the pace is relentless, her work helps them find solid ground. Her coaching dives into nervous system regulation, identity, and values. “When leaders define success based on things they can lose, titles, outcomes, recognition, they end up chasing peace instead of embodying it,” she shared. “But when they anchor in who they are and the impact they want to have, everything shifts. The pressure doesn’t go away, but their relationship to it does.”

Sam believes the secret to sustainable leadership isn’t more strategy, it’s more awareness. “You can teach someone how to have a hard conversation, improve their communication etc., but if they’re dysregulated, all those tools go out the window. Regulation is what allows us to access wisdom under pressure.” Her clients learn practical tools like breathwork, movement, journaling, and meditation to return to center, especially in moments of fear or overwhelm. “Fear comes in waves,” she says. “Your job is to learn to ride the wave, not get taken under by it.”

She’s now turning those years of insights into her first book, Regulate to Rise: The Hidden Key to Powerful Leadership and Personal Peace, launching Fall 2025. The book weaves neuroscience, story, and leadership strategy with Sam’s signature warmth and honesty. It’s a wake-up call and an invitation to stop performing leadership and start embodying it.

Sam also hosts the podcast Imperfection Wins, born from her own journey with perfectionism and the healing that followed. Filled with authentic stories and honest reflection, it’s been a space of grace for her and her listeners. She’s closing the podcast this September to make room for new ventures, but its legacy remains.

Another expression of Sam’s heart is The Compassionate Collective, a social impact marketplace she co-founded that features handmade “imperfect hearts” as tangible reminders of the beauty in imperfection. “We’ve sold them for six and a half years,” she said. “People carry them, gift them, and pass them along in moments of loss, hope, and celebration. It’s a piece of compassion you can hold in your hand.”

Sam’s work is more than coaching. It’s an invitation to live with intention, lead with integrity, and remember that the most powerful leaders are the ones who know how to come home to themselves.

To learn more about Sam Willing, The Compassionate Collective, or her upcoming book, visit samwilling.com and compassionatecollective.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

“You’re not four years old! You’re too small!”

The mean little girl narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing me in all her four-year-old wisdom. Then she shoved me down the slide, cackling madly, because I was in her way and taking too long.

“You’re too skinny. You need to eat,” the cruel girl looked me up and down with disgust. I was twelve. That exact phrase echoed through junior high, and then on into high school.

“You’re so pale. Don’t you like the beach?” asked an old, leather-faced man in the elevator, leering. I was thirty-five.

I was always the smallest, the skinniest, the palest. Perpetually the underdog, I found myself deeply connected to Eyal Levit’s new book, The King’s Race, which I was honored to preview—alongside the opportunity to interview him.

Dr. Levit is a board-certified dermatologist at Levit Dermatology in the Manhattan Beach area of Brooklyn, New York. He was born in Ukraine in 1971 during the Cold War, when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. He explained that as Jews, they were “equal” only in slogans and propaganda. In reality, their passports marked them as part of a “fifth column”—subject to quotas, barred from many jobs, and often deliberately failed in school regardless of academic excellence. Even becoming valedictorian was nearly impossible, as the unspoken rule was to suppress Jewish achievement. Since exams were oral, grading could always be skewed by subjective interpretation.

In January 1972, his parents immigrated to Israel. The process was humiliating. Most heirlooms passed down through generations had to be left behind. Emigrants were allowed only $100 in hard currency. After a long and degrading train journey through Vienna and a short stay there, the family finally arrived in Israel.

Integration wasn’t easy. There was a new language, new climate, and his parents—both professionals—had to retake their licensing exams in Hebrew. Eventually, they settled in Haifa. But by 1973, war had broken out, and both of Eyal’s parents were drafted to serve. He vividly remembers hiding in bomb shelters, sirens blaring as Egyptian planes flew overhead, bombing his city.

At the age of seven, his family was sent on a humanitarian mission to Nigeria—his father as a civil engineer to build roads and bridges, his mother as a doctor to serve malaria-stricken communities. Because Nigeria was part of AIPAC and couldn’t officially request help from Israel, the Israeli construction company adopted the American-sounding name RCC (Reynolds Construction Corporation).

At first, Eyal was enrolled in a school run by nuns. He was the only white child in the class and was called a derogatory name: “Umbakara” (banana-peeled skin). His mother pulled him out after witnessing, by chance, the daily fistfights he had been enduring—fights he had hidden from her to spare her worry. She homeschooled him until the company opened its own school.

By thirteen, Eyal’s family had returned to Israel. He enrolled in one of the country’s top private schools, but soon his parents had to leave again in search of work. Eyal stayed with his grandparents. After three years, he joined his parents in the United States, where they were still navigating life with green cards. Just three months after arriving, a martial arts instructor who believed in him took him under his wing. Eyal went on to win a silver medal in the Junior Olympics—missing gold only because he lost focus in shock at his own unexpected success.

Dr. Eyal Levit is now a successful dermatologist. He explained that it was his mother—also a physician—who encouraged him to consider dermatology. He took her advice seriously, and the more he learned, the more he realized she was right. The skin, he says, is the body’s largest organ and its first line of defense—like an envelope maintaining a constant, interactive pathway between our internal organs and the outside world.

Eyal believes that education should never stop. He teaches and learns daily, and to him, a day without learning something new is a day wasted. Currently, he is working to reverse biological aging—a key to preventing many cancers and chronic diseases. He holds two patents: one for diabetes therapy and another for air purification. He has presented at dermatological and cosmetic conferences both in the United States and around the world, and has authored numerous articles and book chapters in medical textbooks. He also co-edited a textbook on medical and cosmetic dermatologic surgery.

No matter what happens, he says, always remember to have a BALL: Believe, Achieve, Love, and Live.

Eyal recently wrote a children’s book titled The King’s Race, inspired by his education, his medical practice, his personal journey, and the stories shared with him by his patients. The King’s Race is a heartwarming and inspirational story about a noble animal who overcomes adversity and the circumstances of his birth to persevere and shine.

Eyal believes that life constantly tests us—and each time we fall short, we’re faced with a choice: give up, or rise up. Through his global experiences as an immigrant, he has seen firsthand how athletics can unite people and help them rise above petty prejudice. Children, with their open minds, are especially receptive—sports can help them build friendships that transcend race, religion, and nationality.

In the story of Spots the horse, Eyal highlights the importance of open-mindedness, kindness, respect, hard work, and the timeless wisdom of ancient books like the Bible. The book also confronts society’s shallow obsession with outward appearance—an obsession that does not define who we truly are, yet is often used to judge us unfairly.

As a doctor whose mission is to heal, Eyal feels compelled to write when he believes his words can help society. While much of today’s health conversation centers on gut health, mindfulness, and meditation, he believes we must not overlook books. Books are ancient pillars of human knowledge. They help us unlock our potential. Throughout the history of civilization, after the gift of speech, it was writing and reading that became our second most vital tool for survival—preserving the DNA of our shared human story.

The message Eyal hopes readers take from The King’s Race is that kindness pays off. True strength is an internal quality—something each of us can choose to cultivate. He encourages readers to choose their friends wisely, because our environment plays a powerful role in shaping both our character and our future.

When life feels difficult, when hope seems distant, and you’re left wondering why certain things are happening to you—pause, refocus, and take charge of what you can do. Learn from your circumstances, rise up, and change your situation. Eyal believes that heroes are not born—they are forged by the challenges they overcome. He thus advises us to embrace the challenges as an opportunity for growth. Each of us has the potential to be a hero. There’s no limit to how many heroes the world can hold.

He reminds us to celebrate one another’s strengths rather than diminish others to elevate ourselves. We must learn to recognize the beauty in everyone and everything—and to honor it, not extinguish it.

The King’s Race embodies all these values, told through a timeless story that reads like an ancient fable.

The King’s Race is being published by Brave Kids Books and is expected to be available in November 2025.

To learn more about Dr. Eyal Levit, visit www.levitdermatology.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

“You’re just like your hair, flimsy and floppy. You’re such a pushover,” the cruel words came out of the mouth of one of the most popular girls in school. Most popular girl almost always coincided with mean girl. I felt the sting of her words, but didn’t say anything back. I was used to being put down by kids at school, and at this point in life I was attending the original Mean Girl High. All through my school years I didn’t feel like I really knew myself and I often looked at others and wanted to be them. I was not very self-aware, or perhaps I was too self-aware. I was sort of like a shell of a person, personality not yet formed. As I reached college, this changed dramatically as I discovered my true self and gained confidence. This becoming coincided with my physical blossoming as a late bloomer.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Astrologer and Certified Life Coach, Adriana “Adri” Barnhardt. Her description of how she felt growing up and into adulthood resonated with me as someone who had been consumed for most of my childhood and teenage years with how I was being perceived and talked about. Adri explained that her biggest fear has always been being seen, perceived, and then talked about. It’s interesting because she pursued such a visible career in musical theater before becoming an astrologer and life coach. She loved theater because she could hide behind a role—makeup, costume, lines. If people judged the performance, it wasn’t her, it was the character.

She later realized that what she was really fighting deep down was self-hatred. Years of therapy helped her realize that she doesn’t care as much anymore about what others think of her, because she knows what she thinks of herself. Adri used to feel so lost—no idea who she was or what she wanted, besides wanting to hide. But now she understands her true calling and that clarity has surpassed the fear. She no longer hides behind a character and she feels free to be her most genuine, authentic self. And if someone has a problem with that? That’s a them issue.

Her biggest challenge in life has been becoming her own best friend and unconditionally loving herself. Once she got out of her own way and started her business, lovinglyadri, unlocking what she calls the ILYSM “intuitively love yourself” mentality, everything in her life shifted. She discovered her passions, her real goals, and began working toward the happiest version of her life. Most importantly, she killed her “sh*t-talking inner voice”. Lovinglyadri is a coaching and astrology practice that helps people return to themselves with clarity, compassion, and radical honesty.

Adri is unique in the life coaching world because she combines being a life coach with astrology. She says that her clients have the answers, she just helps them hear the answers louder. Lovinglyadri exists to guide people through the process of self-awareness, unconditional self-love, and intentional living by integrating astrology, coaching, and intuitive wisdom. Adri has now officially launched ILYSM: the lovingly Adri signature method. ILYSM is a mindset shift – from tolerating yourself to intuitively loving yourself. There are four steps and personalized post-session materials, including a customized astrology study guide and anti-spiraling packets. She begins with the client’s birth chart, what she calls your personal happiness manual, and bridges the gap between your cosmic blueprint and your real, lived experience. This is not your typical “mindset reset”; this is deep, intentional integration. After a chart reading, characteristics that a client thought they didn’t like about themselves turn into a characteristic that can be used as their superpower.

Adri explains that this means less spiraling, more grounding. Less obsessing, more action. Less “I should know better by now,” and more “I get it now – and I’ve got me”. If you’ve ever wished your inner voice sounded like someone who actually loves you, Adri’s service is for you.

Adri is always accepting new clients and she wants people to understand astrology as a tool for self-awareness, not some fortune-telling gimmick. She also offers astrology-only readings for people who don’t want the full coaching experience. In addition, she does friend hangs and astrology dinner parties. Her dream is to travel around the world helping humans gain self-awareness, leading to unconditional self-love.

If you would like to learn more about Adri and ILYSM, please visit lovinglyadri.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.