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This Fall, I began a Master’s in Leadership and Organizational Change at the Weatherhead School of Management in Cleveland, Ohio. This is more than a new chapter in my career - it’s a personal journey that started two decades ago and finally found its time.

The Beginning of the Dream

It all began during my full-time MBA at ESADE in Barcelona, when I enrolled in Professor Ricard Serlavós’s LEAD class. That class introduced me to the pioneering work of Dr. Richard Boyatzis, Dr. David Cooperrider, Dr. Ronald Fry, Dr. Frank Barrett, Dr. Ellen Van Oosten, Dr. Corinne Coen, and many others who shaped Weatherhead’s distinctive approach to leadership and organizational change.

Their ideas on emotional intelligence, appreciative inquiry, and leadership transformation lit a spark that never left me.

I even applied to Weatherhead back in 2009. But life had other plans: three moves across continents, marriage, two children, and career opportunities I remain deeply grateful for. The dream had to wait.

Why Now

Over the past few months, I’ve paused work to reflect, learn, and prepare for what’s next. In this space, the long-postponed idea of Weatherhead returned with clarity and conviction. Now, as I embark on this program, I feel both honored and energized to deepen my practice at this unique institution.

Why Weatherhead?

There are many programs in positive organizational psychology, leadership, and organizational change around the world. But Weatherhead has always stood apart for me.

• Research-Based Foundations: Weatherhead has shaped much of the scholarship in positive organizational psychology, organizational change, and emotional intelligence. For someone who has worked at the intersection of business and human capital, grounding my practice in rigorous research matters deeply.
• Appreciative Inquiry: This is the birthplace of Appreciative Inquiry, a methodology that shifted how organizations worldwide approach change. In today’s polarized world, the ability to build on strengths and create shared meaning feels more urgent than ever.
• The Community: Weatherhead attracts a diverse, global, and values-driven community. It’s a space where leaders, practitioners, and scholars come together with curiosity, humility, and ambition to make a positive difference.
• Integration of Inner and Outer Work: Beyond frameworks, this program recognizes that true change requires both organizational design and inner development. That holistic view resonates strongly with how I want to contribute going forward.

Looking Ahead

For me, this is not just about earning another degree. It’s about preparing to help shape organizations that are more human, more innovative, and more effective in tackling today’s challenges. I’m grateful for the mentors, friends, and colleagues who encouraged me along this path. And I look forward to sharing what I learn with all of you - my network of peers, collaborators, and fellow travelers.

Here’s to the next chapter of a dream 20 years in the making. And a question for you: When have you returned to a dream you once postponed? What helped you finally make it real?