For the past two weeks, I’ve seen NYU grads in their purple caps and gowns on nearly every walk I take with my dog. They gather in Washington Square Park, posing, laughing, blocking sidewalks with photographers, flowers, and champagne. And every time I pass them, I can’t help but think about what I wish someone had told me when I graduated.

Yesterday didn’t go how I expected.

Around midday, Spain and Portugal were thrown into a massive blackout. Airports shut down. Trains froze mid-route. Cell towers went silent. No warning. No time to prepare. Everything just... stopped.

This week marks the beginning of Passover.

It’s a time for tradition, storytelling, and reflection. And there’s one part of the Passover story that’s always stayed with me: the matzah.

Today I turn 28. Yes, I am an April Fools baby, and no, I have never been pranked. In the spirit of self reflection, I took some time to think about some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way as a business owner, leader, human.

When I was in high school, my best friend and I started our first business, Strung on Hope. It was a handmade gemstone jewelry company where we designed and sold pieces, donating a percentage of every sale to cancer research foundations.

What Lemonade’s CBO Taught Me About Storytelling