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What's the Story with Dubai Chocolate? And What It Teaches Us About Marketing, Soft Power, and the Psychology of Hype
Some trends build slowly. Others gather pace quietly, then seem to be everywhere all at once. That’s what happened with Dubai chocolate....
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
May 155 min read
From Tokyo to Toronto: What Global Leaders Know That Locals Don’t
If you’ve never led outside your home country, you’re missing out on one of the most potent leadership accelerators available today:...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Mar 305 min read
Air Travel is Worse Than Ever—Here’s What Needs to Change
I remember when air travel used to feel special. Not just tolerable— special . I looked forward to flying. There was a sense of ritual to...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jan 86 min read
Best of 2024: Growth, Achievements, and Learnings
2024 has been a year of remarkable growth, thoughtful reflection, and lessons that will shape the years ahead. It’s been a journey of...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Dec 30, 20246 min read
Building a Portfolio Career: Design a Work Life on Your Terms
Recently, I’ve noticed a significant increase in people reaching out to work with me, eager to make a major shift in how they structure...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Nov 12, 20245 min read
Work, Art, and Amore: Leadership Lessons from the Streets of Rome
I recently spent four unforgettable days in Rome with my book club, where we soaked up art, history, and pasta in every possible form....
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Oct 27, 20245 min read
My 40th Birthday, Lisbon, The Food Temple and Rediscovering Purpose and Passion in Leadership
I just celebrated my 40th birthday with a group of close friends in Lisbon, and it was all the things I had hoped it would be (and...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Oct 7, 20245 min read
The End of the 9-5: Embracing a Flexible Work Future
The traditional 9-5, five-days-a-week corporate office environment is a relic of the past, and I, for one, am never going back. This...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
May 28, 20246 min read
Embracing the Learner Mindset: Lessons from my First time Skiing
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you're the novice among experts? That's exactly how I felt on my recent family ski...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Mar 30, 20245 min read
Roots and Routes: Musings on the Concept of 'Home'
I've been thinking a lot about the concept of 'home' and what it signifies, as of late. A Turkish language podcast called 'Bir Gidene...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Nov 19, 20237 min read
Navigating Summer Holidays with Kids: 10 Hacks to Manage Your Family Getaway like a Project
Embarking on a week-long vacation in southern Turkey was a much-needed escape for our family. As parents of young children, we recognized...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Aug 21, 20238 min read
The Go-Go-Go Mindset and Productivity Anxiety
I am writing these lines from a lovely spot in Copenhagen - 20G Cafe, where I paused to take a little break, enjoy a delicious breakfast,...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
May 22, 20236 min read
Business Across Cultures: Personal Space, Enchiladas and Golden Silence
I was reminded of an odd and funny experience from my college days, when I was standing in front of a what was meant to be a linear queue...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Feb 26, 202312 min read
Venus versus Mars, YOLO versus FOMO, European Pleasure Focus versus American Work Culture
My daughter had a school holiday last week so we decided to go visit our friends in Belgium and Luxembourg, experience new cities we had...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Feb 20, 202312 min read
Tips for Navigating Air Travel with Small Kids
We just got back from a three week holiday where the 4 of us (including a 5 year old and a 9 month old) took 4 flights, changed time...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jan 13, 202314 min read
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