welcome

A New Beginning: Where Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Purpose

Everything has a beginning, and for me, this moment marks a new chapter, both personally and professionally. That phrase, “everything has a beginning,” also serves as the working title for a creative project I’m developing with two extraordinary collaborators. While I’m eager to share more about that adventure soon, today my focus is on Arete Strategic and the journey that brought us here.

Arete Strategic has long been a vision tucked away in the “someday” file, both in my mind and literally, in a Google Drive folder filled with ideas, dreams, and half-formed plans. Life, as it often does, reshuffled my priorities and presented unexpected opportunities for reflection and renewal.

I can’t recall the exact sequence of events that led me to rediscover the word “arete,” but the moment I did, it struck me with the force of a revelation. It was 2023, a year that, for many reasons, remains a blur. Yet, in the midst of that uncertainty, I found a guiding light in the ancient Greek concept of arete.

The past eighteen months have been a professional intermission, a time for travel, for experiencing new places, and for learning to appreciate the value of silence. After years spent in the relentless spin cycle of professional “fight or flight,” I realized how deeply that chaos had shaped my rhythms and routines. Unlearning the instinct to thrive on disorder is a slow and deliberate process, but it’s one that ultimately leads to clarity.

In that newfound calm, I discovered something essential: clarity is the foundation of purpose. My Gallup assessments have long shown “Empathy” and “Harmony” as my so-called basement dwellers. Yet, this journey taught me to lean into these qualities, using my other strengths as levers for growth and connection.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to recenter, to reflect on what truly matters for the next chapter of my life and career, and to build the framework for Arete Strategic. Throughout this process, Arete has been my grounding source of intention, a reminder that excellence is not a destination, but a way of being.

Arete (ἀρετή) is more than just a guiding principle; it is a call to live and work with intention, striving for excellence not as a fixed goal, but as a continuous journey of growth and purpose. Rooted in ancient Greek philosophy, arete represents the fulfillment of potential—a commitment to virtue, wisdom, and self-discipline that transcends time and context.

Today, as I look ahead, I am inspired by the promise of what we can achieve together. Arete Strategic is built on the belief that transformation begins with bold thinking and fearless action. We partner with leaders and organizations across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, helping them unlock their highest potential and turn vision into reality. Our unique 4P framework [ People, Purpose, Performance, and Place ] guides our approach, ensuring that every solution is tailored to the authentic identity and aspirations of our clients.

I am excited to embark on this journey with you—our clients, collaborators, and communities—as we redefine excellence, challenge the status quo, and create lasting impact. Because, at its core, arete is not just a philosophy; it is the foundation for meaningful change and the inspiration for what comes next.

Thank you for joining me at the beginning. Here’s to the journey ahead.

Photos, Top Row (2011): The northern shore of the Gulf of Corinth as seen when traveling to Delphi, and the Archaeological Site of Delphi.

Photos, Bottom Row (2023): The Archaeological Site of Delphi, revisited.