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Leadership and cultural memory shape the environments where human potential unfolds.
Field Notes on Leadership, Culture & Learning
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The Leader as a Bridge Between Cultures: When leadership becomes a meeting of inner courage and outer connection
When I teach cultural sensitivity or leadership communication, I often see this quiet fear surface. A hesitation, as if opening up to another worldview means giving away our identity, our power, our right to belong. In both Denmark and Australia, I’ve seen this happen again and again. People want to do the right thing, but somewhere deep down they think: If I make space for your difference, will there still be space for me? The paradox is this: we don’t lose ourselves by meet

Louise Sommer
4 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
4 min read


Beyond Efficiency: Why We Must Not Outsource Our Thinking to AI
We are living in a time where 'efficiency' has become a modern virtue. Faster is better. Easier is smarter. Why think deeply when an AI can deliver an instant answer, a polished paragraph, or a ready-made idea? It feels harmless, even intelligent. A clever shortcut. But beneath this growing dependency lies a far more serious issue: If we stop thinking for ourselves, we stop leading ourselves. This is no longer a conversation about technology. It is a conversation about human

Louise Sommer
4 min read


AI as a Teaching Partner: How Creative Intelligence Can Lead the Way in Higher Education
AI is no longer a question of if in higher education, but how. The real challenge is using it to enhance human Creative Intelligence rather than replacing our voice with its echo. This blog explores how scholars can lead with AI as a teaching partner: shaping learning through creativity, ethics, and presence. The real power of AI is not in replacing the educator, but in amplifying the educator’s leadership.

Louise Sommer
3 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
3 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
2 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
5 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
5 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
4 min read


Remedios Varo: The Myth of the Muses and the Magical Vision of a Catalan artist
Remedios Varo was a Catalonian-born surrealist painter who found refuge, and creative liberation, in Mexico after fleeing Europe during WWII. Varo was a visionary artist with a background in science, mysticism, alchemy, and metaphysics, and she created otherworldly paintings that feel like dream maps. Varo wasn’t just painting from imagination: she was painting from a mythic state of consciousness. She lived in tune with the muse.

Louise Sommer
3 min read


Uncovering the Extradinary Legacy of Madame de Pompadour & her Role as an Art Patron
Madame de Pompadour (1721-1764) stands as one of the most overlooked women in French history. Despite her significant influence, she is often remembered only as 'a mistress.' Madame de Pompadour, born Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, rose to power during the reign of King Louis XV. Far from being just a royal consort, she effectively served as the unofficial Prime Minister and unofficial Minister of Foreign Affairs of France. Her political acumen and strategic brilliance were indis

Louise Sommer
5 min read
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