A few housekeeping items before I dive in today:
Enrollment for the Break Down the Box winter programs will be launching this week. This season, I’m excited and very proud to offer three different courses that continue our innovative work.
Information on the programs as well as early bird pricing will be going out in a day or two so be on the lookout!
Every December, I share my predictions for the following year (my 2024 predictions are here).
This year, I decided to give a video masterclass on my 2025 predictions for brand, business, media, and culture.
The masterclass was for the private Kizuna Studio community but I’m happy to share the video recording with anyone who may be interested. I anticipate a great deal of changes in 2025 and think it’d be helpful.
Just hit reply on this email or send me a message and I’ll get you access.
In the month since the election, I’ve been inundated with countless messages, calls, and emails from friends, former students, clients, colleagues, and peers.
I’ve given myself this time to process and more importantly, to hold space and conversations with all of them.
Here’s just a small sampling of what I’ve been dealing with post-election:
A 13-year old girl - a former student of mine - emailed me, terrified about what may happen to her and her older sisters. She has always dreamed of becoming a teacher and was worried about the future of their education.
Another former student, a 17-year-old, contacted me and reported that boys in her high school had chanted “Your body, my choice” to her and her friends.
For those of you who may not know, this direct phrase - which threatens sexual assault - went viral after it was posted by white nationalist Nick Fuentes post-election. He also had dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
A close friend called me in despair, wondering how she could reassure her two daughters who cried when they found out the election results.
A client and I worked together to help her navigate the process of cutting ties with her MAGA family. She spent Thanksgiving alone but at peace.
Numerous friends from the LGBTQ+ artistic community are wondering if they, their spouses, and children will be safe and are now making contingency plans and figuring out if they need to not only leave their state, but also the country.
Their community is deeply suffering with calls to The Trevor Project crisis line spiking 700% since the election.
Trans friends have pulled offline in fear of their safety amid the continuing wave of anti-trans harassment and legislation. Another former colleague in Alabama is frantically trying to raise funds to safeguard care (including passport and gender-affirming meds) for her trans son.
Another friend is ex-Navy and his wife is still serving in the army. They are in the midst of heavy conversations on what to do should the incoming administration not only cut back on veteran benefits but also deploy US military on American soil to carry out deportations.
Close friends - dear, dear friends (artists, musicians, executives, leaders) - all immigrants who have contributed immeasurable amounts of their talents and intelligence for the betterment of this nation are now frightened for their and their family’s futures.
A colleague who lives in Georgia recently got married and has decided to put off having children for at least the next four years (or as long as existing anti-abortion restrictions remain) because she does not want to take the risk with her life should complications arise. With current state laws, she would not have access to proper healthcare.
This is a mere fraction of the conversations I’ve been having over the past month and reflects the very real, profound fear affecting millions across this country.
I want to start by saying the following to everyone who is struggling right now:
I love you.
Every single one of you is so loved and needed and necessary for our world.
You deserve to feel safe.
Your life matters. Your voice matters. Who you are matters.
Right now, you may not feel that way.
You may be grappling with despair, rage, grief, and a terrible sense of helplessness as you witness your own humanity being questioned and disregarded as we face a deeply uncertain future.
I know how devastatingly painful it is to realize so many people - those you may have trusted, even loved - have put money, power, misogyny, racism, bigotry, and blatant lies and misinformation above your own right to exist as a human being and the harm being enacted against you.
But I want you to know you’re seen and heard and valued and loved.
No one can take away your truth. You are - always have been and always will be - worthy of human dignity.
There have been countless takes on this election: some solid, some mediocre, others cheap engagement bait.
I have written, deleted, and rewritten this essay numerous times over the past few weeks.
I was essentially trying to write a dissertation, pulling together a large amount of sources and data while weaving together dozens of topics that - quite frankly - deserve and need their own space for thorough exploration.
There are many, many ideas I’d like to discuss: the inherent political nature of art and its necessity; the state of education in this country and the rise of anti-intellectualism; the long arc of history; symbolism and intersectionality; the challenge of decentering; the actions we can each take; the dynamic between individual and collective; vertical versus lateral morality; and so much more.
And I will…but not (I realized humbly) all in one essay.
So I removed over 15,000 words and whittled this down to the most important points I’d like to make today.
What I’m Doing
What I’m Paying Attention To
A message to Gen Z
That old idiom “we can lead a horse to water but can’t make them drink” stands true for a reason.
Change occurs when someone is ready and willing to realize it. No one else can do it for them.
Therefore, it is always a far better use of our time and energy to focus instead on what moves the needle and makes an impact.
In language, one word transforms everything.
Fighting against is very different from fighting for.
The first is a survival state in which we’re constantly reacting.
The second is where we find the agency to carve our own path forward.
That is the space I choose to occupy.
What I’m Doing
First and foremost, I want to be very clear about who I am and what I stand for.
I am a progressive who has been critical of the outdated approach of the Democratic party and has voted against Trump three times.
Obviously, a great deal of my work (including Break Down the Box) is about challenging established narratives, including systemic inequities that prevent equal opportunity, education, and innovation.
For those who may not know the difference, liberals want change within the system. Progressives believe the system itself needs to change.
The reason I feel it’s important to state this is because as a leader it is imperative for my community to trust who I am. I have a responsibility to be honest about what I believe in because this directly affects others’ safety.
The women, immigrants, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, veterans, survivors, and the vulnerable amongst my community deserve to know whether or not I voted for a person liable for rape, a convicted felon endorsed by the KKK and whose policies harm them and those they love.
I did not.
I’ve never been able to live my life in a way counter to what I believe in. Admittedly, that stubbornness has sometimes worked against me.
But one of the guiding principles in how I choose to live is to be the person I wished I’d had when I was younger. I must be able to look at myself in the mirror and know I did everything I could in alignment with my values.
You have my commitment that I will always remain a staunch advocate for your human rights and will do everything I can to speak up, support, and protect you.
Actions I have taken and will take:
I have permanently left X. I cannot ethically and in good conscience contribute to or participate on a site drowning in hate speech, misogyny, and bigotry, a platform where neo-Nazi accounts flourish.
Instead, I have been active on BlueSky which has now become my primary platform. There are many reasons for this beyond personal, which I won’t get into now, but did share in my 2025 predictions masterclass.
I’ve quickly found myself at home there so if you feel aligned with me, feel free to join me.
I will, however, state a very strong boundary here. I will not put up with any shit there from ANYONE.
BlueSky has phenomenal blocking and moderation tools and I (along with everyone else) employ them heavily.
The platform is not X so please do not think the same behaviors translate. It is something new and everyone collectively participates to keep it as safe, real, and authentic as possible.
Kizuna will continue to remain focused on advisory, advocacy, and education, human-centered innovation, leadership development, the expression of voice and story, as well as creative / artistic initiatives that nurture progress both on an individual and organizational level.
Furthermore, I’m involved in a number of grassroots initiatives as well as local organizations. By the time dangerous issues reach the federal level, it’s often very difficult to turn the tide because it has built enough momentum to crescendo from the ground up.
I’ve long been an advocate for encouraging focus on the ten-block radius around you: do you know what’s happening in your neighborhood? At the local school, church, businesses around the corner? Do you know who is representing you on the neighborhood board, the city council, the state legislature?
History is created by the mundane, the day to day actions of everyday people. Any nationwide initiative first began with the tiniest of steps that often goes unnoticed and ignored on the local and state levels. If we are to have maximum impact, that is where we must begin.
I will also be more focused on creating greater opportunities for women and BIPOC whether through my mentorship programs, or collaborating and working with other women leaders and BIPOC-owned businesses.
Inclusive leadership grounded in humanistic philosophy is critical to our future and is where I can help drive the greatest change.
What I’m Paying Attention To
The future always remains uncertain.
But understanding our past can help us discern patterns of what that future might be, especially when those patterns are repeating.
As most of you know, I was a history major at Columbia University and therefore view what happens in the world through that lens.
There are three factors I will be keeping a close eye on once the new administration comes in. The realization of one or all of these would indicate the speed and strength of authoritarianism shifting into place.
Checks and Balances
Americans have a very naive trust in their governmental institutions, a faith reflective of a deeply rooted exceptionalism they believe makes it impossible for this nation’s grand experiment to fail.
This will be put to the test.
Will the Republican-controlled Congress and the Supreme Court challenge the Trump administration as needed? Will they do what is right and necessary to protect their constituents? Or will they simply fall in line every step of the way?
Our country clings to an ideal that everyone should play by the rules…rules that are meant to equally protect and support all.
But for many of us, we do not hold the same faith because we’ve seen these systems apply differently depending on who you are. Time and time again, we have witnessed our institutions fail us.
What happens to the rules when those in power not only refuse to abide by them, but outright reject and trample over them? Who will suffer as a result? How will the nation react?
Media and the Press
The absolute cornerstone of a healthy democracy is a free and independent press.
Trump has made it clear he will go after anyone who opposes him. We’ve already seen alarming shifts whether it be at the LA Times, The Washington Post, and with actions taken against former experts who worked in the first Trump administration.
With the TikTok ban recently being upheld, Musk and Zuckerberg control the other major social platforms.
This has created an environment ripe with possibility for censorship and the proliferation of propaganda.
Most of you are active on social media. I urge all of you to be conscious and educated on what’s happening in this realm because you will be affected.
I’ve been actively supporting independent journalists who are doing everything they can to continue their critical and necessary work.
As a marketer and writer, I know firsthand just how powerfully dangerous language and messaging can be.
A Crisis
Historically speaking, there is always a catalyst, a moment that tips the course of events down a certain path.
In hindsight, we see the sequence, one moment leading to the next like a row of dominos toppling over.
I would argue that the recent assassination of United Healthcare’s CEO is another tipping point sending us further down this timeline.
There are many such moments in history and I’ll be keeping a particular eye out for some kind of national state of emergency.
In history, these types of crises have frequently been used as a justification to consolidate and centralize power.
At this particular moment in time, we’re experiencing socio-cultural regression alongside rapid technological acceleration which is causing stress on economic and global political structures.
It is, of course, impossible to speculate what could happen. But I think it would be wise to be aware of it, especially during the first year of Trump’s administration.
A message to Gen Z
Lastly, I’d like to address those of you in your twenties, especially women and BIPOC.
Most of you were born in the late 90s and early 2000s which means your entire life has been a never-ending progression of one shitshow after another.
Over the past 25 years, you have experienced some of the most tumultuous shifts in all of US history: 9/11, a war based on a lie, devastating climate emergencies, the 2008 financial crisis, social and racial injustice, massive wealth inequality, the surging of far right groups, the first Trump administration, a global pandemic, the rolling back of human rights… in addition to continuing global genocides and atrocities amidst the destabilizing environment of late stage capitalism and the rise of technofeudalism.
And of course, all of this has played out across the cacophony of social media and an Internet that has radically changed every aspect of culture and human connection from dating / relationships to education and media.
Essentially, you’ve witnessed and experienced some of the most challenging moments of modern humanity during the course of your short life.
The older generations have failed you in countless ways and you have unfortunately - by the sheer random chance of being born at a particular moment in time - had to bear the brunt of it.
We’re passing on to you a fucked up world and every single one of us (I’m eyeing you older folks who may be getting triggered & personally defensive over this) needs to own up and accept responsibility for it.
Given everything you have experienced in your developmental and young adult years, I deeply understand why you may want to sink into cynicism, nihilism, and apathy and retreat from everyone and everything.
But I encourage you not to.
Because while we all acknowledge the insane amount of collective trauma you’ve had to deal with during a period when you most needed to feel protected and safe, you also have something the rest of us do not.
Your generation has (and continues) to demonstrate the most extraordinary understanding of humanity’s universal interconnectedness.
It is an awareness of yourselves and the world in a way no prior generation has been able to so uniformly grasp at your age.
Whether it's for Gaza, Ukraine, the Congo, Sudan, Afghan women, the environment, trans rights, misogyny, bigotry, and the most marginalized among us, you possess and exemplify a sensitivity that remains your greatest strength.
You are able to see what so many older generations cannot because you grew up with not only the greatest access to global knowledge, information, and culture thus far but also within a system that constantly failed you; therefore, you’re neither entrenched within systemic narratives nor blinded by unawareness.
Ignore those who try to minimize or belittle you because of your age, your compassion, the boundaries you set, or the empowered stance you embrace.
Your voices, your ideas, your passion will be the most critical factors in what is to come.
I will not sugarcoat it. We are facing a dark, unstable, and very difficult time ahead.
This is not something that some have naively and carelessly assumed can be addressed with 2026 elections or in four years.
We are at a turning point in history which means the ramifications will be felt for years to come.
But I have absolute faith we will eventually come out on the other side of it…and the world will need you to shape and lead the next era to emerge.
Take all the time you need to rest, process, and move through your emotions.
Then it’s time to prepare.
Use this period to learn everything you can.
Read voraciously and diversely. Throw yourself into the humanities. Gain a deep grasp of civics, the government, our history, and our world. Be endlessly curious.
If possible, I urge you to travel and immerse yourself for longer periods of time in other countries and cultures. Often, the ones most limited in their viewpoints are the ones who haven’t experienced much outside of the US.
Practice using your voice - not only for yourself, but in service to and protection of others.
Dive into conversations, community, and solidarity. Engage with those who help you expand and deepen your lateral thinking and ability to connect disparate dots.
Study and take note of the mistakes we (previous generations) have made and how you can avoid repeating them.
Work on your own individual healing and take accountability for yourself. Accept and navigate fear and untangle internalized, conditioned narratives and assumptions.
Your personal healing will become the healing of the collective as a whole.
Share your talents, stories, creativity, ideas, and energy with the world because your contribution at the table is not just invaluable…it is needed.
Love fiercely, bravely, determinedly. Laugh with your entire belly and find every bit of happiness you can every day. Discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary changes everything.
Dream so damn big it scares the shit out of you. Exercise your muscles of imagination and vision which are the forces necessary to create innovative change. You are always, always limitless.
Don’t betray yourself. Fuck seeking external validation from those who will never give it in order to preserve their own power and control.
You are not a pick me. You don’t owe shit to those who do not see you to begin with. Don’t let them shame or control you. Loudly celebrate yourself and more importantly, take up space.
Never make yourself small to fit within an archaic box dictated by dinosaurs.
Be so huge, so true in your expression, so grounded in your essence, and burning so bright with purpose that you annihilate that box on every level and make others uncomfortable with their simplistic narrowmindedness.
Ask the hard questions and challenge yourselves, friends, peers, family, and community to re-examine what progress means and to consider what an equitable, just, and humane world would look like.
Most of all, difficult as it may be, I hope with every ounce of my soul and being that you will choose to still trust people and their capacity for good…that you’ll believe there are still those who will do what is right.
Because I promise you they exist.
Not everyone is a transactional, opportunistic, greedy asshole who selfishly seeks their own self-serving agenda, power, and profit above everyone else.
Not everyone will use their position and influence to punch down, ridicule, harass, threaten, assault, take advantage of, and exploit those beneath their perceived hierarchical ladder.
Not everyone will project their own fears and insecurities and bigotry on to you.
Not everyone will be silent and complicit because they wish to remain safe and acceptable in the crowd.
Not everyone will run because they’re cowards who have the stunted emotional development of a flea.
Not everyone will make you choose the bear.
There are those who will speak up and stand by you and do everything they can to support and protect you and the most vulnerable among us.
I count myself one of them. And I know there are so many others as well.
Strength is frequently understood as the perseverance or brute force with which we move through challenges and obstacles.
I believe this is a highly limited and primitive definition.
Strength lies not in the horrors or tragedies we survive or overcome.
Strength lies in the choice to still believe in beauty, joy, hope, and love in spite of those horrors.
Not allowing them to break our humanity is the ultimate act of resistance and is how we triumph.
勇気 (yuuki). Courage, my friends.
You are not alone. We will get through this together.
All my love,
G