Hi there! It's Stephanie :)

your weekly breath of fresh air

Welcome to this month's journey of growth and connection! 🌱 

Our focus is on community, and each week, I’ll be sharing valuable insights through
the ONA method to help cultivate the io leader within you.

Bible verse of the week…

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart: I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

My intimate journal…

Growing up in Buenos Aires, my grandparents taught me so much of what I know today. My harabojee (grandad) introduced me to Eastern medicine—I remember acupuncture, herbal remedies, and moxibustion being a big part of my childhood. I was completely fascinated by that world. Looking back, I realize that these practices were his way of showing love, as well. Even now, when I visit him, he always asks if my body is well. As I write this, I’m remembering that he also sparked my first interest in Chinese characters, Korean art, and calligraphy.

My halmonee (grandmom) also had a huge influence on my approach to wellness. She always taught me ancient rituals, like washing my face with rice water and the importance of good skin care. She shared the benefits of different Korean herbs and foods, and whenever my period was approaching, she’d make me mugwort tea to ensure a smooth cycle. Even today, she checks in on me and cooks for me, passing down Korean traditions and rituals that have been in our family for generations.

Honoring my ancestors and their wisdom is deeply important to me. They knew so much about living in harmony with nature and maintaining balance in life, and I feel a strong connection to their knowledge. I’ve always been fascinated by the wisdom of different cultures, and growing up in such a mix has been fun to blend into my life. My morning routine includes oil-pulling and a shot of turmeric, ginger, and ground black pepper. This week, I started drinking a smoothie with mugwort, matcha, and ashwagandha for energy and a clear mind, and I’m also trying out tai-chi. It’s clear to me that our communities and ancestors shape our well-being. I’m grateful that my wellness practices are a blend of different cultures from the past, present, and future. Just today, my grandmother reminded me that tomorrow is Malbok (말복), the last hot day of the year, when we eat samgyetang (herbal chicken soup) to balance our body’s elements. I’ve always been fascinated by Eastern and Western philosophy and the wisdom passed down through generations.

This week, we will delve into the second step of the ONA method: Nourish Mind & Body

I’ve been thinking this week…

How communities affect mind and body. Lately, there have been a lot of articles referring to the benefits of being socially connected. Some of these benefits include promoting mental health, encouraging healthy lifestyle choices, boosting the immune system, reducing stress, and—what I want to focus on—building emotional intelligence.

Nowadays, being a good leader is not like in the past where the strongest of the tribe was the leader. Now, it's a holistic approach, developing empathy. Creating a safe place, and the empathy starts when vulnerability is possible. In other words, when there is trust. For an organization or relationship to thrive, we must start to understand different emotions and perspectives. This understanding creates room for conflict resolution. Learning to handle disagreements constructively enhances emotional and mental resilience.

A supportive community provides encouragement and motivation to pursue personal and professional goals. And most importantly, it celebrates milestones! Often, we don’t share much because we don’t want to be targets, but in a good community, we are happy at heart. In this way, I want to redefine leadership. As io leaders, we need to build this safe place. And, of course, embrace a healthy lifestyle.

To summarize, I want to end with this quote by Brian Tracy: “Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily, even if you had no title or position.”

ONA Book Club…
THE EMPATHY DIARIES: a memoir by Sherry Turkle.

“These days, our technology treats us as though we were objects and we get in the habit of objectifying one another as bits of data, profiles viewed. But only shared vulnerability and human empathy allow us to truly understand one another. I discovered a connection between my early family life and my professional interest that brought my purpose into focus. Not treating people as objects and trying to forestall technology’s assault on empathy were personal for me.”

Get your copy here!

I would love to read your pov and hear how these ideas resonate with you.

Let's learn and grow together!

Stay tuned every week for insights that empower you to become an io leader.

Looking forward to our journey together!

Best,

Stephanie.