zscala is one month old!
Reflecting on these past weeks, Miami once again made my heart beat faster and my spirits rise higher. This city that has been my home for the last 12 years never ceases to inspire me and open new horizons.
April and the Miami Tech Weeks have been fabulous. Great events, prominent speakers, new connections, deep topics and conversations. As a grand finale, the energy from all start-ups who pitched at eMerge Americas brought some welcome enthusiasm for a future full of possibilities.
Making a grand entrance was the topic of mental wellness. No new news, yet a definite stake in the ground this year with Endeavor Miami leading the show.
First with Lazo and The Local Leader Collective, Endeavor Miami co-hosted a brunch at the centered on MentalHealth and Wellness. Claudia Duran, Regional Managing Director, shared a very compelling personal story of burnout, before leaving the audience in the magical care of @soundsbylaule for a peaceful session of mediation and sound bowl healing.
At eMerge Americas, we discovered Opción YO, wellness platform that provides personalized support to achieve emotional balance and mental wellbeing. Their booth, powered by Endeavor Miami, offered an interactive experience focused on mental wellness for founders.
Their President Abi Mandelbaum and Claudia Duran shared an insightful conversation at the launchpad stage, about the challenges of growing a successful business and maintaining personal balance and health.
Mental wellness is definitely dans l’air du temps.
Yet, many still call “weakness” the idea to allow oneself the grace to feel down and the space to resource. In entrepreneurship where profit is king, pressure and stress are the everyday reality of Founders. Ploughing through is the wrong response. Down the line often lies the brick wall of burnout, even depression. And while resourcing is a great first step, it is really only tackling the symptoms. Supporting Founders to take care of their wellbeing is not only at the heart of sustainable, high performing ventures, it is the right thing to do.
I am beyond excited to join CHX Performance in Oxford, UK, this May, and be part of their first cohort of coaches to be accredited to deliver their unique program. Designed by CEO Damien Stork, Neuroscience Professor Chris Beedie and Program Director Jonathan Hook, the program is about equipping Leaders to develop deep self-awareness and self-trust, – and manage their “capacity to deliver operational excellence, drive growth amid constant change and all the while maintain the focus, energy and empathy required to lead and manage their people in a humanised way – leading by how they feel and make their people feel.” I can’t wait to add this string to my bow in the work I do with Founders today. More to come!
A resourcing experience
“Create what you see. Create what you feel. Create what you have never seen Just create.”
From the Lawyer turned Lego artist, Nathan Sawaya. Talk about an unusual career pivot! Last week I discovered the incredible art work this artist creates out of Lego bricks. If you haven’t yet been the Art of the Brick immersive exhibition – showing in a number of cities, including Miami, run!
Because you will be in awe with the reproduction of famous pieces such as Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, and Michelangelo’s David, but also his own creations: a most impressive supersized T-Rex or his famous yellow man tearing his chest open, releasing a myriad of yellow bricks.
Also because trust me – you will feel like spilling out on your floor all the legos you can grab from your kids and start building. And did you know? It is proven that stacking Lego bricks has therapeutic benefits: it relieves stress and improves emotional well-being. Win win.
