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Welcome to my Creative Blog
Here, I explore leadership, learning, culture, and creative intelligence as human capacities shaped through lived experience.
This blog brings together essays on pilgrimage as leadership, cross-cultural learning, ethical leadership, and creative thinking — written from an observational, systems-based perspective. Grounded in educational psychology and reflective practice, each piece offers space to think beyond performance models and toward more human-centred ways of leading, learning, and belonging.
Rather than offering answers, these essays trace patterns: how leaders are formed over time, how cultures meet, and how inner coherence supports ethical action in complex systems.
May each entry offer clarity, perspective, and insight for your own learning journey.
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Leading from the Inside Out: Reggio Emilia and the Practice of Inner & Cultural Leadership
Leading from the Inside Out: Reggio Emilia and the Practice of Inner & Cultural Leadership explores what happens when leadership is understood not as management or control, but as a living culture of presence, belonging, and creative intelligence. Drawing on my years studying the Reggio Emilia tradition in Florence, I reflect on how a philosophy of early-childhood education became a compass for adult leadership, cross-cultural psychology, and the way we cultivate learning com
Louise Sommer
Dec 2, 20254 min read
Reggio Emilia: A European Tradition of Creative Intelligence
I grew up with Florence and her history. From my earliest visits as a child, I remember sitting alone in front of Botticelli, or walking into Santa Maria del Fiore without queues or noise, when the locals still lived in the heart of the city. I still remember stepping into a Reggio Emilia classroom on my study trip to Florence. Sunlight poured through large windows, children’s drawings and sculptures covered the walls, and the room itself was bursting with curiosity and stori
Louise Sommer
Nov 3, 20254 min read
The Art of Teaching, Designing, and Thinking: A Cross-Disciplinary Lens on Creative Intelligence
In a world that increasingly demands innovation, adaptability, and clarity, we often forget that the most powerful solutions come from the ability to think across disciplines. Over the years, I’ve come to realise that my most meaningful work doesn’t live in a single domain. It lives in the spaces between where psychology meets art, where teaching becomes design, and where coaching becomes a shared language of empowered learning. This is what I call creative intelligence in mo
Louise Sommer
Aug 18, 20254 min read
Gertrude Stein: Lessons from Paris’ Most Fearless Muse & the Golden Age of Creative Living
Paris is a State of Mind. There are cities you visit, and there are cities you live in. And then there is Paris; a place you inhabit with your soul. To walk the cobbled streets of Montmartre or the Left Bank is to wander through time, brushing shoulders with the ghosts of artists and writers who defined entire epochs. One of the most iconic of them all, in my opinion, is Gertrude Stein. She wasn’t just a writer, a collector, or a cultural connector. She was a force.
Louise Sommer
May 5, 20253 min read
Jonna Jinton: The Power of Authentic Living and the Creative Dance
In an age of fast-paced digital consumption and curated perfection, there are rare artists who touch something deeper. Someone, who remind us of the raw, unfiltered beauty of life itself. Jonna Jinton is one such artist. A Swedish creative powerhouse, she has captured hearts across the globe through an unwavering commitment to authenticity, cultural honesty, and an artistic dance with her heritage that is as real as the northern winds that sweep through her village.
Louise Sommer
Apr 24, 20253 min read
Duck à l'orange & Big Dreams: How Rachel Khoo’s Little Paris Kitchen Changed My Creative Life
Once upon a time, in a tiny kitchen, in the heart of Paris, a woman named Rachel Khoo, opened a jar of mustard, stirred up a sauce, and with a flick of her red lips and a glint in her eye, inspired a creative revolution. Not just in her viewers’ kitchens, but in their hearts. I was one of them! And I have been a huge fan of Rachel Khoo ever since. So, I bought duck. I zested oranges. I baked cakes with names I couldn’t pronounce. And I cooked for the people I love.
Louise Sommer
Mar 27, 20252 min read
Beyond Entertainment: How Foreign Films and Stories Train Our Cultural Intelligence
Watching foreign films, TV shows, and reading books from other cultures is a way to train, expand and broaden our cultural intelligence. Some years ago, I found myself reflecting on the transformative power of foreign narratives. Having spent much of my life traveling, living, and studying in diverse countries, I’ve always been drawn to the rich tapestry of human culture. My career, particularly my work with immigrants, refugees, and expats, has deepened this connection.
Louise Sommer
Jan 30, 20255 min read
Living Creatively: Lessons from Julie & Julia on Inner Leadership and Authentic Living
The film Julie & Julia, directed by Nora Ephron, is more than a culinary tale. It is a wonderful portrait of creative courage, cultural discovery, and the quiet evolution of inner leadership. It reminds us that creativity isn’t only about what we make, but who we become in the process of making it. Across two timelines, we encounter the real stories of Julie Powell and Julia Child, two women who, in different cultures and eras, found their way to authenticity through curiosit
Louise Sommer
Nov 14, 20243 min read
Exploring the Living Narrative of Human Existence
We’ve been taught to think of culture as something externa; a set of shared behaviors, beliefs, or traditions that belong to a particular group. But culture is so much more than that. It’s not just something we observe or participate in; it’s something we carry deep within us. Culture is the living narrative of human existence itself, and this is what I refer to every time I use this term. Think of all the lives that have come before us. Every generation leaves its mark.
Louise Sommer
Oct 12, 20243 min read
Creative Storytelling that Weaves the Fabric of Connectivity & Life
Stories are the threads that weave the fabric of our identities. They shape our understanding of the world, our place within it, and ...
Louise Sommer
Sep 13, 20245 min read
From Paris to Tuscany: How Living Fully Fuels Creativity and Authenticity
Life is a journey filled with countless experiences, both joyful and challenging. When we engage deeply with these experiences, embracing them with an open heart and mind, our creativity is not only nurtured but also emancipated. This authentic connection to life allows us to discover our true voices, transforming our existence into a unique adventure far removed from societal norms and expectations. In this blog post, I will explore this fascinating interplay between creativ
Louise Sommer
Aug 8, 20245 min read
Frida Kahlo, Gabriel García Márquez & Creativity
Creativity transcends surface-level understanding and invites us to dive into a deep, personal exploration of who we are, how we relate...
Louise Sommer
Jul 18, 20244 min read
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