27. Courage Recipe - Fuel Yourself - Sitting with Joti Balani

<p>I met Joti Balani during a <a href="https://www.fempeak.ai/">Fempeak</a> live mentorship session where I was a guest talking about Self-compassion. We connected over recognising the importance of kindness and empathy in the work that we do. &nbsp;Joti is Fempeak's Technology Adviser &amp; Sherpani (mentor/champion) and I am the Kindness Sherpani. &nbsp;She is Managing Director of <a href="https://freshriver.ai/">Freshriver.ai</a> where they design human to machine conversations. Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Emotional Intelligence. &nbsp;Over the last 2 decades, she has led product and technology innovation at both startup and Fortune 1000 enterprises including Citi, American Red Cross, AT&amp;T, Texas Instruments, Zayo group, Medocity, Anexinet and Cross River Fiber. Joti mentors rising product and technology women leaders helping them create their own personal and professional growth frameworks. She also founded the Sisters Circle, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women and children with education and opportunity.</p> <p>Part of the Kindness alphabet or A-Z I have created to help you to become kinder includes <strong>C for Courage</strong>. &nbsp;This is defined as mental or moral strength to persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. &nbsp;When I have seen Joti work her confidence comes through her belief in what she thinks is important. She has the courage to speak up for what is not working especially in the technology field that is influencing all our lives. If we forget our common humanity when designing and creating products, the consequences could be disastrous. She is teaching&nbsp;the importance of empathy, kindness and humanity at the core of the technology being created and designed.</p> <p>EI refers to the three E's, the 'economic' how do you create real value with the money minded world we live in, 'emotional' how do you make sure we are thinking&nbsp;about the human condition, 'ethical' are we doing the right thing?</p> <p>The courage to say YES to what is important to us.</p>