Every time I fly back to Madrid to visit my team, I see them again.

That backpack.

Gray. A little boxy. Bright orange accents. The Basic Fit logo stamped across the back.

At first, I didn’t think much of it. It’s not trendy or sleek. Not the kind of thing anyone’s showing off on Instagram.

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