Malou Jacques

Serendipity is often mistaken for luck. But in innovation, it's a hidden engine of discovery. From penicillin to Post-it notes to inkjet printers, breakthroughs are rarely the result of meticulous planning, but of open minds, observant eyes — and the ability to see value in the unexpected.

COVID-19 wasn’t just a health crisis. It was a profound disruption of how we live, work, and define meaning. Five years on, the emotional and psychological aftershocks are still reshaping our values, careers, and leadership models.

After reaching a major milestone, even top performers can feel adrift. This post explores the science and leadership insights behind turning that moment into a launchpad — and why the second act is often the most powerful chapter of all.

Revenge feels good - briefly. But neuroscience shows that holding onto resentment wires the brain for stress and fixation, draining clarity, creativity and resilience. Forgiveness isn’t weakness - it’s a power move that clears your mind, restores balance, and helps you move forward - lighter and stronger.

In a culture where saying “yes” is seen as a badge of leadership, the best leaders know when to push back. Strategic refusal isn’t about resistance - it’s about protecting focus, preserving trust, and delivering what truly matters

A new AI tool called FaceAge is reshaping cancer care by predicting biological age from a single facial image. This deep-learning algorithm offers a powerful, non-invasive marker of treatment tolerance and survival prospects. FaceAge may open the door to earlier detection and more personalized, preventive medicine.

At a time of rapid disruption, shifting roles, and constant reinvention, perhaps the most valuable attribute for leadership isn't experience alone, but the ability to stay youthful in mindset. Neoteny - the retention of youthful traits such as curiosity, playfulness, and adaptability into adulthood, may well be the secret to sustainable leadership.

Pope Leo XIV's papacy marks a new era of global leadership. As the first US-born pope, he bridges cultural divides and offers a counterweight to political divisions. His message builds on Pope Francis's call for the Church to be a moral force around issues of migration, inequality, and climate change.

“Quiet ambition” is emerging as a powerful response to hustle culture burnout and performative success. The traditional markers of success - constant hustle, visible wins, and non-stop productivity - are starting to feel out of sync with the needs of both individuals and organizations.

For decades, federal research funding has driven lifesaving breakthroughs, fueled economic growth, and cemented America's global leadership in science and innovation. Today’s proposed budget cuts and funding freezes threaten to undermine this legacy — putting future medical advances, public health, and economic prosperity at risk.

The Brexit outcome sends an important warning to the US: it is uncertainty, more than policy itself, that can paralyze investment and slow growth. But it also offers a lesson: only clarity, stability, and a forward-looking strategy can ultimately restore economic confidence.

When we understand the science behind our stress, learn to protect our emotional energy, and adopt smart personal and financial strategies - we unlock something powerful: the ability to thrive in ambiguity.

Millennials do not face a “traditional” midlife crisis – one that looks similar to their parents. The term midlife crisis needs to be redefined in the context of their generation’s experiences and circumstances.

AI unlocks huge potential for discovering new potential uses for old drugs, known as 'drug repurposing'. Discover Joseph's story. Doctors said he had run out of options – until AI found one more, giving him an unexpected second chance.

In an age of information overload and manipulation, critical thinking and media literacy are no longer optional - they are essential life skills.

Knowing our strengths, how we perform best and our values: are all key to our professional success and leadership effectiveness. A powerful tool that helps clarify these areas is Ingram's identity mapping.

Taylor Swift isn’t just a global music icon - she’s also a master strategist, continuously redefining success through innovation, reinvention and visionary business acumen. Business leaders looking for longevity and impact can draw inspiration from the calculated moves that have propelled her success.

“Change fatigue” is a natural response to an era of extremely rapid and unpredictable transformation. However, rather than succumbing to exhaustion, burnout and disengagement, we can take steps to counter its negative effects and turn it into a success.

The rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy is set to redefine numerous sectors of the global economy. These drugs, originally developed for the treatment of diabetes, have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in weight loss, hence their widespread adoption. As their popularity grows, we can expect major shifts in the industries of food production, healthcare, insurance, apparel, fitness and leisure.

Innovation is not just about making groundbreaking discoveries. It involves creatively framing problems and applying proven concepts in novel ways. This mindset empowers entrepreneurs to revisit, reshape and reapply established ideas to unlock value creation in unexpected places. They ultimately move faster and more efficiently.

In today's fast-paced and increasingly complex world, there are striking parallels between the demands and challenges faced by business leaders and top-level athletes. Both require strategic focus, relentless learning, data-driven decision-making, extraordinary mental resilience and the ability to perform under high pressure. Find out what these two worlds have in common.

Donald Trump exhibits several characteristics that resemble pre-revolutionary French monarchs, particularly in terms of governance, style and public perception. Discover more about these similarities.

'Inflammageing' is a term used to describe the chronic, low-grade inflammation that naturally increases with age; it constitutes a major risk factor for the onset and progression of various age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and frailty.

Unlocking the power of memory: understanding how it works and developing strategies to improve memory and recall.

One of the world’s toughest challenges- combating climate change- is yet another area where AI has transformational potential. AI-powered tools can process huge amounts of complex data, enabling data-informed decision-making for effective climate action.

While feedback can be a powerful tool for growth and improvement, it is essential to recognize its limitations and strive for a more differentiated and individualized approach in its application.

Set goals to improve your well-being – not your wallets or waistlines

As 2024 draws to a close, the year 2025 is set to be defined by a number of key global themes.

A US foreign policy that emphasizes transactional relationships over alliances in a multipolar world can lead to significant shifts in international dynamics affecting the economy, security and stability of the international order.

How to navigate challenges that may seem like binary choices – but aren’t. Polarity thinking is a concept that challenges “either/or” choices for the benefit of “both/AND” solutions. The most effective decisions often lie in the space between binary choices.

AI's potential in medicine is huge. Discover the fictional story of a patient that illustrates how AI will revolutionize early detection, surveillance and personalized treatment of hematological cancers.

What can corporate leaders learn from executives who served their country during wartime conflicts? Lessons from the experience of Walt Disney, Dwight Eisenhower, General George S. Patton.

Incumbents everywhere are doing poorly. America just proved it is not exceptional. We see America falling in line with global patterns, mainly driven by inflation and anti-incumbency bias, that have weakened governing parties around the world.

Scientific studies show that politics can be detrimental to our physical and emotional well-being, as well as to societal cohesion. Election periods generally generate collective anxiety, amplified by incessant negative news cycles and uncertainty about the future.

Shortening the workweek remains a controversial topic. Yet a number of successful global initiatives show a compelling case: employee well-being improved, and productivity either stayed the same or increased. Is a shorter working week the way to go for reducing stress without sacrificing productivity?

The breakdown of journalistic ethics in favor of anticipatory obedience

The interconnectedness of the world's economies means that the health of China's economy has major implications for Western countries in terms of geopolitical stability and trade relations, market potential and investment opportunities, as well as environmental and health initiatives.

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded on Wednesday October 9, 2024, to three scientists for discoveries that show the potential of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, to predict the shape of proteins, and invent new ones.

Obesity and overweight are major health issues in the United States. The groundbreaking discovery of new weight-loss drugs is transforming the perception of obesity and its treatment. Stigma is gradually giving way to the concept of obesity as a treatable chronic disease.

In September, employment figures confirmed the strength of the economy, with 104,000 more jobs than forecast, and fears of a recession faded: “The general direction of US employment indicates that the economy is a long way from recession,” wrote Paul Donovan, chief economist at UBS, in a note published in Fortune on Monday, October 7, 2024.

AI-powered tools are transforming the healthcare sector and have already entered mainstream medical practice, to become a reality in many medical fields and specialties. Yet, as with any innovation, there are clear benefits, but also uncertainties and risks.

The craving for junk food is driven by ingredients that activate the brain's pleasure centers.

Being a ‘joyful warrior’ is not only a great way to conceive of leadership, but also an effective mindset for successfully dealing with the challenges of personal and professional life.

The Taliban's hard line on gender discrimination has grown even tougher since their ouster from power in 2001. Women rights and educational prospects hit an all-time new low.

Today's society encourages people to devote their 20s on journeys of personal and professional self-discovery and self-fulfillment. Children are seen as a bonus, a milestone to be reached after a long list of achievements: getting a degree, forging a satisfying and well-established career, buying a house, cultivating the ideal romantic partnership.

A recent study investigated the relationship between diet and the gut microbiome in patients with early-onset colorectal cancer, average-onset colorectal cancer and cancer-free or control patients, using machine learning (ML) classifier model software. 

Please VOTE, even if you reside abroad!

When faced with a decision, it's essential to recognize that cognitive biases, known as “flawed thinking”, can cloud logical reasoning. Whether the decision is professional or personal, acknowledging these mental traps is the first step towards clear thinking. 

The art of letting go is a transformative journey, a testament to our resilience and our capacity to find closure in the chapters of our lives. As we navigate the delicate balance between what was and what can be, “letting go” creates space for new beginnings with the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

Sometimes, bold and proactive actions are what it takes to fundamentally redefine and transform the present for a better tomorrow, whether in business, in our personal lives or in politics.

From the identification of target patients using unstructured data from medical records to the generation of personalized promotional and medical texts, all the way to interactive digital sales agents and self-managed customer support, generative AI will lead to revolutionary innovations in the pharmaceutical sector.

When faced with a major opportunity or challenge in our professional or personal life, such as embarking on a new business venture, relocating to a new country or buying a home, there are 5 types of questions we should ask ourselves before moving forward.

The power of rituals is as profound as it is underappreciated. Mainly because we live in a time-starved culture where rituals are seen as a waste of time. And yet, they improve our well-being by providing an element of predictability in the face of an uncertain future.

The transformative power of silence: How silence works its magic on the brain and body to enhance our mental and physical well-being, as well as our leadership effectiveness.

With life expectancy on the rise, the prospects of remaining in relatively good health and getting another shot at a fulfilling and rewarding life is very real as we enter this ‘new phase’ of life. The term ‘retirement’ is therefore a misnomer.

Researchers found clues as to why certain types of cancer are on the rise in young adults: ‘accelerated aging’ – when biological age surpasses chronological age – a major risk factor for early-onset cancer.

As generative AI becomes more widely deployed and adopted, it is set to fundamentally transform the way we do business in the future – assuming that workforce reconversion, and the inherent risks of this technology, can be mastered and controlled from the outset; the result will have a major impact on socio-economic progress.

Creating a ‘cognitive budget’ – a plan to direct our energy use – can help us do 2 things: proactively direct our mental energy where we want it to go (reflection) and stop it from reactively going where we don't want it to go (rumination).

One of the major events of 2016 was Brexit. This emblematic case illustrates the extent to which far-fetched initiatives led by irresponsible politicians with no long-term vision prove detrimental to a country's economy.

A consistent trend is emerging in today's world: the ‘culture of victimhood’ is rampant. Often perpetrated by individuals, leaders, politicians or cultural groups seeking to feed their egos and magnify their personal importance, or to justify the harm inflicted on others by invoking their moral superiority. Ultimately, this self-perception is a recipe for disaster.

The breakdown of the moral framework in America has left our country in an inarticulate, self-referential moral vacuum, endangering our democracy.

Anxiety and fear have become a widely universal experience. And there is no shortage of causes: from the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic to ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, to climate change. Faced with so many uncertainties and tensions, the world's leaders are challenged to inspire and guide their people, while keeping their own insecurities in check.

Repetitive microstresses of everyday life build up in our minds, adding to each other, day after day. Their damaging effects are the result of their inability to trigger the brain's normal stress response that helps us cope. Their long-term effects can prove debilitating to our mental and physical well-being.

Setting and enforcing boundaries in all our relationships is essential. It's a form of self-care: to clearly articulate guidelines/rules/limits on how we want others to behave towards us – it’s fundamental to our well-being and burnout prevention.

Excellence is a prerequisite for a happy, successful, and fulfilling life. The quest for excellence may look different for each one of us, but it calls for the same set of core skills, irrespective of where we are on our life’s journey.

People used to tip based on performance. Now the near ubiquitous use of touch screens at places where you’d never previously thought of tipping applies enormous pressure. You shouldn’t feel guilt or misery and leave a tip for excellent service.

The development and adoption of AI is profoundly transforming the future of work – not just job quality, but also how work is organized, the nature of the tasks we perform and therefore the skills that we’ll need.

Today’s organizations are in constant flux. New business models are emerging, new technologies are being developed, and consumer behavior is shifting. Peter Drucker's guiding principles for successful strategy management have never been more relevant than today.

Investigating the gender gap in the labor market, Claudia Goldin demonstrated how technological progress, the expansion of the service sector and rising education levels have led to a growing demand for female labor. Yet societal stigma, legislation and other institutional barriers have limited the effects of these factors, which continue to weigh heavily on the gender gap.

Access to education leads to greater opportunities, higher earning potential and upward mobility, especially at a time when the economy relies increasingly on highly skilled workers. Education is key to mental and physical well-being, happiness and longevity

China and the West grow apart – China launches a strategic shift in its economic relations with the world

Maintaining a healthy brain all your life is an absolute priority: it's the key to mental and physical health, well-being, happiness and longevity.

Evidence from around the world supports the value of flexibility in the workplace: it enhances work-life balance, boosts productivity and organizational results by increasing employee engagement and performance.

Discover how the growing tensions between two opposing forces – the "old economy" and the "new economy" – will shape society and businesses in the years to come.

Launched in 1959, the world's most famous doll - with adult features - embodies the very essence of American culture and the major social and cultural changes that have shaped over half a century of history. More than 60 years after her creation, she continues to capture our imagination.

Our basic worldviews are fundamental in shaping our self-image, ambitions, behaviors and ultimately our success in life. They have their roots in early childhood are passed on by family, the school system and society. They are often unconsciously reflected in our actions.

From drug discovery to greater accuracy in early disease detection, diagnosis, and personalized treatment, AI could be the next game-changer in healthcare.

The world prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine belongs to the past.

More women are following alternative paths to motherhood. Only she knows when she is physically and emotionally ready to give birth and care for a child. That final choice is deeply personal; it’s hers and no one else's.

Midlife is a time of significant change and readjustment of our priorities. Themes of change include our body, our role as family provider, our career, or our ambitions, all of which are deeply relevant to our sense of meaning and purpose in life. These basic building blocks of meaning are at risk of collapsing in midlife.

The significant rise in the number of adolescents and young adults battling mental health challenges may be explained by an increased awareness of mental health issues, a greater openness to seeking help, and an exceptionally stressful life context that exacerbates mental health disorders.

How is the world of work changing? What will be the new normal? A snapshot of emerging trends affecting the workforce and the workplace should help us prepare for what’s next.

A compelling story is the key to a successful job interview. A great story takes the audience on a journey. It has a clear beginning, middle and end. You have one goal: To leave a lasting impression by candidly depicting who you are, what you value, and how these two elements fit into the larger mission of the team or organization.

Suddenly your work seems meaningless, you experience job fatigue, or your career is at a standstill; are you ready to quit? Or have you been laid off? Consider the benefits of taking an extended break from work.

Research supports the notion that casual interactions with strangers or acquaintances improve our sense of well-being in life and provide access to the kinds of connections that are conducive to career advancement.

Burnout is highly prevalent and much talked about in the abstract, as a set of signs and symptoms. Now, with prominent names such as Ms. Ardern, Simone Biles, and Pope Benedict XVI personally connected to the subject, it becomes more real and relatable to us.

Drs. Mamie and Kenneth Clark, two black scientists, studied the effects of segregation on children. Their landmark ‘Doll Test’ study persuaded the Supreme Court to overturn school segregation in 1954.

The middle class plays a major role in our society: its purchasing power drives global economic growth, contributes to healthy democracies, and keeps the world safer. Yet, globally, we are witnessing a decline in the middle class amid growing economic inequality, increasing corruption, and rising political instability.

The tradition of patriarchy with its beliefs and values about gender division of labor has its roots in early childhood, through family, society and the school system.

Exceptional events occur when ordinary leaders and people rise to the challenge of attempting the seemingly impossible. In so doing, they become extraordinary leaders and extraordinary people.

People are living longer today and realize that their journey has only started after 30 years of life experience. They’re looking for opportunities to grow personally and professionally so they can leave their mark on the world.

Historically, people had little need to manage their careers – they were naturally born into a career track or, until recently, relied on their company to chart their career path. But times have changed... Today, we must assume responsibility for managing our future and acquire the skills to manage ourselves and others.

Many of the personal, social, and environmental ills we face are rooted in our obsession with "greatness" as a value. This mindset is based on the premise that only outperformance and excellence are acceptable, when in reality they can sometimes prove irrelevant or counterproductive.

In a constantly evolving environment with hybrid work arrangements, the danger is real that some executives will lose touch with reality or cultural norms. A leader plagued by hubris is a major source of toxicity at work.

Inflationary pressures are improving, spiraling costs of living are beginning to ease - and as expected and desirable - the pace of economic growth is slowing.

Historical parallels indicate that both despots used the same playbook, but the forceful and decisive interventions of the Western states suggest a very different outcome this time around.

The American Dream evolved to mean different things to different generations and people – though it usually includes some promise of opportunity. It is part of the American ethos and likely always will be.

It means ditching the ‘hustle’ culture mindset. The term ‘Quiet quitting’ is a misnomer; we reframe it as ‘healthy working’ which is about restoring a healthy work-life balance

The same basic management concepts that drive business success may also be applied to make better choices in life

Culture often receives less attention than purpose and strategy, yet it plays a huge role in an organization’s success. Culture happens – whether by design or by default – so why not design it intentionally based on how we want the organization to operate?