Entrepreneurs, Tech & Sales: Own Your Voice on LinkedIn | Social Selling and Personal Branding —> Increase Pipeline & Brand Awareness | LEGO Flower Power 🌻

You're not a content creator. (Phew!!) 

You're a business owner leveraging content to grow your business.

2 very different ways to approaching LinkedIn.

You don't need to post daily. 
Chase the algorithm. 
Or become someone you're not.

You need conversations that turn into relationships that turn into revenue.

I'm on LinkedIn to help you get off LinkedIn.
The platform isn't the point. The relationships are.

That's what fills my cup AND my bank account.

---

Hi, I'm Natasha. 🙌

New mom. Breadwinner. Introvert who hates cold outreach.

I built my business to half a million in 2 years. All because of how I show up on LinkedIn.

Not by being loud. Not by gaming the algorithm. Not by sending soul-destroying pitch slaps in the DMs.

By building real relationships.

I've been "doing LinkedIn" for 10 years - as a scrappy sales rep who hated cold calling, running sales at Forbes Books, to now growing my own business exclusively through this platform.

I teach founders and executives to do the same.

---

Who is this for?

6-figure founders who've built something real.

You're good at what you do. Clients stay, refer, and thank you.

But on LinkedIn? Oddly invisible.

Your competitors aren't better. They're just louder.

The issue isn't confidence. It's knowing what to say and who to say it to.

---

Through my REALationship Growth Method I help founders go from respected offline to recognized online - without becoming someone they're not.

No hacks. No volume tactics. No influencer cosplay. 👀

Real outcomes:

→ Josie closed 3x 12 month contracts from one event
→ Michelle landed two $30k speaking engagements in three months
→ Dr. Ashley secured two speaking gigs in two weeks plus a five-figure client

If LinkedIn feels like noise, performance, or a mild existential crisis...

You're exactly who this is for.

DM me "LFG" and let's chat. 💜

Natasha Walstra

I hate drama. I have no bandwidth for it. I'm building a business, raising a toddler, and pouring everything I have into both.

But something came to my attention last week that I can't ignore.

Someone I trusted has been reaching out to my network - clients, partners, prospects. Scraping my posts and using my name to get in the door.

I'd be lying if I said it didn't sting.

Nothing prepares you when you realize not everyone operates with the same integrity you do. And that's a hard lesson when you assume the best in people.

The silver lining? It makes the right people stand out even more.

The ones who show up for you, the ones who protect your name when you're not in the room, the ones who would never use your success to build theirs.

Those are the relationships worth protecting.

So instead of losing any sleep over this, I'm focusing on how I show up. For me, for my family, for my clients, for all of you. And I'll keep doing it the way I always have - with integrity and real relationships.

All this to say, if you've received a message using my name, please know that's not a referral from me. Working with them reminded me why I don't operate that way. And never will.

Ok. Back to building.

You’re not a content creator. Good. You don’t need to be | LinkedIn personal branding & social selling for founders (not influencers) | Filling APRIL cohort - ask me about it! 🙌

I got reprimanded by 4 men on a call at 10am.

By 2pm, the President of Nokia asked for my resume.

Here's the full story:

I was on a call with the CEO, my manager, and two other senior colleagues. They were telling me how badly I was performing, especially on my cold calls.

(to be fair, I was sh!t on those calls.)

But I'd started leveraging LinkedIn for outreach instead, focusing on quality over quantity, building relationships instead of dialing for dollars. (booked calls with top companies like Home Depot even!)

They didn't see it that way.

For 30 minutes, I sat there shaking, on the verge of a panic attack...or throwing my computer out the door - wasn't sure which.

The crazy part? I had an in-person meeting in San Jose with the President of Nokia a few hours later..to pitch the tech from the company that just yelled at me.

You can imagine how that went.

I walked in and said: "I'm so sorry, I'm not sure what I'm doing here. I think I'm going to resign tomorrow."

He looked at me and asked, "Do you have a resume?" Then gave me a tour of the office.

I resigned the next day. And although I didn't end up going to Nokia, it led me to a unicorn 3D printing company that actually embraced my crazy LinkedIn ideas.

Sometimes the thing that feels like rejection is actually redirection. 

The approach that got me scolded is now the foundation of my entire business.

Turns out I wasn't bad at sales, I was just bad at their version of it.

P.S. How did I get that meeting with the President of Nokia? Through my network. I'd started intuitively connecting with and reaching out to people who already knew me, trusted me, and liked me. Wasn't intentional then (it was just better than cold calling 😅). 

P.S.2 Even crazier? Yesterday I had a call with the VP of CX from that same company. She was there that day, making sure I didn't break things (in the most supportive way). She's been following me ever since. Now she wants to bring what I do to her current company. Talk about full circle moment!

I'm finally retiring my profile pic.

(long overdue)

My hair is 3x the length now, I've got a lot more wrinkles, and a whole different life.

The pic was fun while it lasted! You might not even know the original actually has a plant on my head - edited it out last year. It was a whole vibe (see below).

But a lot has changed since 2021.

Back then, I was newly in leadership as VP & Director of Sales at Forbes Books and I'd just moved to South Carolina (for the first time).  

I was very unsure of myself, very single, and honestly? A lotta bit lost.

Feels like a lifetime ago...and it was.

Now? 

I'm a Founder, a wife, a mother.

Same me. Just with more clarity, more stories, and a lot more life lived.

Here's to the next chapter. 🙌 

P.S. Peekaboo! Expect some new fun pics in the coming weeks! 📸

I don't know what I was doing in college, but it sure wasn't this!

On Tuesday, I spoke at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina to an entrepreneurship class where every student is starting a business this semester.

Let that sink in...they're not just learning about entrepreneurship. They're doing it. Literally! One student has an AI automation company and already bringing on big clients! 🤯

What we covered:
→ Why LinkedIn matters even when you're 20 
→ My 3-step framework for a successful LinkedIn presence 
→ 3 things they could do today

I also gave them a custom GPT, the Profile Glow Up, I built to help with their profiles. 

The questions they asked were so on point:

"I have a job lined up, but I'm building a business on the side. How should I show up on LinkedIn?"

"What content should I create beyond 'about me' posts?"

"How do I get a company's attention without pitching in the DM's?"

These students are thinking about intentional relationship-building NOW.

While everyone else waits until they "need" to network, these future founders are already making trust deposits. 😎

AND what was cool about this on a personal note? 
This is the third time I've spoken to this class.

The first time was exactly 2 years ago. 
I was six months into my business. Terrified. 
I have no idea what I even said to them.

Now I'm back. More confident. Having FUN.
Growth is wild when you're paying attention.

P.S. Shoutout to Jeff Savage, PhD for inviting me back. We met at a previous startup, and one of the best things that came from it was meeting him. Some relationships outlast the circumstances that created them.

Anything look strange here? 

Yep, my eyes are super dilated. 👀

And if you could see me right now, I’m typing this post at an arms distance since I can’t see sh!t. 

I’m doing something I never thought I’d be able to afford: 

Correcting my eyes! 

The prescription is too strong for Lazik but there’s another surgery that works despite the -7.0 eyes and astigmatism! 

It’s something I’ve wanting to do for some time, but even more so now because it makes me so sad every time I have to tell my son to “watch out for my mamas glasses!” I just want him to be able to touch my face. Sounds silly typing that but, how cool would that be?? 

Have to admit though, I feel pretty proud I’m able to do this. 🤓

Happy Monday, y’all! Anything you’re feeling proud of this week? Share below! 👇

Edit: today’s just prep, surgery isn’t for a few months. I’m too excited not to share though. Someone just told me, ‘shine your light’ so I’m shining it!

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The CO— by U.S. Chamber of Commerce featured me!

They asked me to be part of their "Ask the Board" series - where they connect business owners with thought leaders to help solve their biggest challenges.

(A fictional fantasy board of directors. Pretty cool, right?)

They asked me to share how to build a reputation-first business that cuts through the noise.

I've got a lot to share on this, as you can imagine.

Your reputation isn't part of your strategy.
It IS the strategy.

Everything else... your brand, your relationships, your growth... flows from it.

In the article, I break down 7 ways to build a reputation-first business:

1. Why your LinkedIn profile is your reputation's home base 
2. The content balance that builds trust (hint: it's not just expertise) 
3. Why posting alone isn't enough 
4. What to show instead of polish 
5. How to turn clients into amplifiers 
6. The long game most people skip 
7. The one thing that makes you referable

With fluffy BS, exaggerated claims, and flashy marketing, people are looking for something REAL.

This is how you become it.

Take a look!

https://lnkd.in/eR25iWea

P.S. Still can't believe that the girl who was "too empathetic to be in sales" is now giving business advice in the US Chamber of Commerce. Pretty cool stuff if I can say so! 🤓

I took a 7-day "break" from alcohol.

That was 3 years ago this week.

I didn’t realize it then, but alcohol was my "extrovert fairy dust" 🧚‍♀️

For years, I used it as a security blanket to transform my introverted (and insecure) self into someone I thought the world wanted me to be.

The result?
→ Chronic migraines (for 5 years straight)
→ Relationships that never felt right
→ Insomnia that wouldn't quit
→ A career that drained me

Then 3 years ago, I took a break after going to SXSW
That break turned into weeks, weeks to months...

In the first 2 years:
- met my now husband
- started a business
- got married
- had a baby
- crossed $500k in revenue

In just the last 6 months?
- bought a house
- signed a Big Four contract
- Sold Out of 3 cohorts (and filling my 4th!)
- accidentally built a community.

Coincidence? I think not.

But, this isn't an anti-alcohol post.
It's an anti-hiding-who-you-truly-are post.

For me, drinking masked my introversion and kept me chasing relationships and environments that weren't aligned with my authentic self.

The moment I embraced who I really am?
Literally my world did a 180.

Now I have a beautiful toddler, the love of my life by my side, and a thriving business that energizes me instead of draining me.

Life doesn't truly begin until you stop forcing yourself into shapes that weren't designed for you.

If you feel stuck, misaligned, or something is holding you back from doing "the thing" you're meant to do...take a look around.
Maybe something isn't serving you the way you thought it was. Maybe it's time to make changes.

And once you do?
Everything really does fall into place.

PS: Being your authentic self is probably the most strategic thing you can do.

When you show up as who you really are, you attract the right people, opportunities, and energy that fuel sustainable success.

I've never felt better.🤸‍♀️

You know those days where everything just flows?!

Yesterday was not that day.

→ Didn't sleep a wink
→ Massive headache
→ Bombed a workshop 
→ Mixed up client work
→ Dog threw up everywhere 
→ Spoke gibberish on my cohort call
→ Showed up 13m late to a call (thought was an hour later)

The good news?

Apparently, there's some planetary alignment happening that explains all of this.

I'm choosing to believe that. 👀

____

Anyone else blaming the planets this week? 🪐
.
.
.
TGIF

Yesterday, 2 clients renewed with me.

One's a biotech sales team that's been with me for 2 years. 

The other is a 1:1 client for 4 months.

Different industries, different stages, same reason for staying:

There's always more to do.

New approaches to test, relationships to deepen, and business development that never stops (#AlwaysBeProspecting)

The first few months are the heavy lift...profile, content, figuring out your voice. Gaining the confidence to get into the DMs and understanding how to show up without feeling weird about it.

We set a foundation.
Then things start to get really interesting.

Now it's tactical, strategic. Who do you reach out to this week? How do you get in front of this person or that person? How do you turn a comment into a conversation? A conversation into a call? What about that upcoming event? Or workshop? Cohort?

The trust deposits start to compound...the flywheel starts to spin.

My client asked: "Do you think we still have things we can do?"
I almost laughed.

This is when it gets fun. 🤓

P.S. He also left 2 industry associations he'd been part of for years. Said he's gotten more from LinkedIn in 4 months than he got from them in 2 years.

"Thanks to you, I've got too much work." 

Want the same thing? I'm booking for Q2. I still have space for 1x team and 4x 1:1. DM me "LFG" for deets.

I'm a day late for International Women's Day.

But let's be real, one day isn't enough anyways!

I want to celebrate the 39 women in the REALationship Growth Method right now.

12 that just kicked off in my third cohort. 27 in my other cohort and community.

Every single one of them is building something unique.

Growing businesses, dominating industries...showing up with heart, care, and an insane amount of strength.

But it's not just how they show up for their own businesses.
→ It's how they show up for each other. 👯‍♂️

The encouragement, the referrals, the "you've got this" when someone needs it most.

I wake up every morning genuinely grateful that these women trust me with their LinkedIn and business development strategies... it's not something I take lightly.

To my cohorts and my community:
You inspire me more than you know.

Keep building, keep showing up, keep being exactly who you are.

The world needs what you're creating.

Their like was the first move.

Your DM should be the second.

No one will get mad at you for sending a DM after they like your post.

In fact, they might even be grateful you reached out because, guess what,
Initiating conversations is hard!

And someone has to start the conversation - why not let it be you? 🤔

Plus, the way I see it:

- A like
- A profile view
- And definitely a comment

These are the digital (subtle) versions of starting a conversation.

It's them quietly waving saying,
"Hello, I hear you, and what you said makes sense!"

Now, don't go pitch-slapping them, please. 🙏

But connect, say hi back.
See where the conversation goes.

You never know what inspired that little hint of interest.

Might be your next client.
Might be a referral partnership.
Might be an intro to the best networking call you've ever had.

All I know is this:
The best opportunities only happen once words are exchanged.

____

PS. I know it might be time consuming. I have to admit I'm not able to do this all the time either.

But if you're not doing this type of follow-up, you're going to struggle to see results from all the effort you're putting into actually posting!

My challenge to you:

After your next 3 posts, send 5 DMs to people who engaged with each one.
Start small. See big impact.

I never felt rage towards tech until ChatGPT.

(I'm embarrassed to say that. I shouldn't have let it get to me so much, I know 🙈.)

But it just wouldn't listen!

The em dashes everywhere.
The "Here's the thing:" before every point.
The excessive praise.
The trying-to-be-my-bro energy.

I'd ask for direct,
I'd get fluff.

I'd ask for my voice,
I'd get... motivational poster.

So when I discovered Claude early last year, I literally couldn't believe my eyes.

It actually listens.
It's straightforward.
It remembers what I've shared.

Yes, it still makes mistakes. 
But it doesn't hallucinate to the extent that ChatGPT does. 

And it does SUCH a good job maintaining tone of voice and copywriting.

My writing changed significantly since I started using it.

I brain dump ideas. 
Based on my instructions, it turns them into posts. 

Always starting with my original thought. 
Never replacing it.

Which sparked a really cool idea:
What if I made custom Claude bots for my clients?

So easy they can't NOT post.
So I did.

Now all my clients get a custom ClaudeBot - loaded with information about them, my Know-Like-Trust content framework, and their brand voice, and my instructions.

All they have to do is speak into their phone and poof! - a post is there.

It's the opposite of garbage in, garbage out.

Is it perfect? 
No. But it gets to 80-90%.

And then there's the feedback from clients:

"I can write 8 new posts in 4x less time."

"It's one of my most satisfying relationships" 
(that one made me LOL)

"This stuff is really good."

AI isn't replacing your voice.
It's amplifying it - if you use it right.

____

P.S. I offer this not just for my 1:1 clients, but my cohort, also! I've got 1x 1:1 spot left for March and already filling my April cohort. 

You also get custom branding...AND video content. 

(yep, I'm basically an agency disguised as a coach. if you've been even the slightest bit curious, now's the time to lock it in before things change!) 

DM me "LFG" for deets!

Can we just say the unpopular opinion instead of stating “Unpopular Opinion:” first? 

Thoughts? 😉

"It's working out gooood!"

My client was skeptical for weeks. Wouldn't try it.
Finally did. First post? Someone reached out.

This same approach has gotten me 160+ workshop registrations and 3 SOLD OUT cohorts. 

Without a single promotional post.

What is it?

Take a peek! 👀

P.S. Can you guess what it is? ; )

Question for you: if you don't tell people how to work with you, how will they know how to work with you? Really obvious question, I know, but I find 

Open article: How to sell in posts without actually selling (I sold out 3 cohorts this way) by Natasha Walstra • 3 min read

How to sell in posts without actually selling (I sold out 3 cohorts this way)

I got real on this one.

Just did a podcast with Nick Berry about why LinkedIn feels harder than it should for business owners.

Nick's interviewed top dogs like Jason Feifer (Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine), Dr. Benjamin Hardy (10x Is Easier Than 2x, The Science of Scaling), and other impressive people. I was so shocked to be asked on it.

This was his first episode specifically on LinkedIn for entrepreneurs.

We broke down:
→ Why most advice doesn't fit you
→ Why smart people act weird online
→ What to do instead

I also shared some personal stuff I've never talked about publicly.

Take a read (and a listen!)

https://lnkd.in/eFgkAg_D

(my most honest conversation about LinkedIn yet) Hey you! I was recently a guest on The Business Owner’s Journey podcast with Nick Berry. And I’m stil

Open article: You're going to want to hear this by Natasha Walstra • 3 min read

"There's no way anyone would respond to this."

My client said this about a DM I suggested she send.

It was a simple DM for when someone views your profile.

She thought it was weird, too forward, pointless.
She sent it anyway.

The response? A four-paragraph novel.

The person explained exactly why they'd checked out her profile, what they were looking for, what they were struggling with.

They went back and forth and then jumped on a call.
All from one "weird" DM.

Here's the reframe (and why she sent it anyways):

You're not bothering them, you're doing them a favor.

Most people have so much to say, they're just waiting for someone to start the conversation.

They viewed your profile for a reason, they're curious, maybe interested. 
But nervous to initiate.

So you go first.

And if they have no reason? They just won't respond. No harm done.

But more often than not? 
They're relieved you broke the ice.

The DM that feels awkward to send is usually the one that starts the best conversations.


____

P.S. I'm doing another live workshop! And you bet we'll cover this. 

April 2nd at 12:00 ET

Why Your LinkedIn Isn't Converting...and the System That Fixes It

Register here! https://lnkd.in/eg3Kq5iX

Everyone in my community wants 2 things:

Visibility and sales.

And one of the best ways to get both? Speaking.

So I brought in Marta Spirk, M.A.

Her story was powerful. 
Her framework was clear. 
And her interactive Bingo exercise got everyone thinking about their next move.

The feedback?
"This was a phenomenal session." 
"This was so valuable!"

I could talk about LinkedIn all day. 
But speaking? That's not my lane.

Part of building something that actually serves people is recognizing where your expertise ends and someone else's begins.

Marta was the right person to have in the room. 
And my people are better for it.

P.S. My April cohort of the REALationship Growth Method is filling up FAST. 

We're not just learning LinkedIn tactics, we're hearing from top experts, actually implementing together, and you guessed it, building REALationships. Spaces are limited, and the next cohort won't be until June! 

If you're curious to learn more, DM me "LFG" for more deets OR let's hop on a call! https://lnkd.in/ecAKhTAq

Brain fog, breadwinner, business owner... AND content creator?

No, thank you!

This week's newsletter is a permission slip for everyone who's been told they need to "show up more" but can barely remember where they put their coffee.

You don't have to become a content creator to grow your business.

You just have to play a different game.

Check it out 😎

P.S. I'm hosting my next live workshop! April 2nd at 12:00 ET!! Deets coming next week. In the meantime, register here:
https://lnkd.in/ejGSQN2Z

You expect me to be a content creator on top of everything else going on? No, thank you. I've got a multi-6 fig business I run on my own (with a few c

Open article: Brain fog, breadwinner, business owner, AND content creator? by Natasha Walstra • 2 min read

Brain fog, breadwinner, business owner, AND content creator?

The most underutilized part of your LinkedIn profile?

→ Recommendations.

You might think no one looks at them. But if someone's about to spend $1000s with you? They're checking you out everywhere.

They *might* not notice if you don't have any...but they'll definitely notice if you do.

Here's one I got last week from Mahesh Guruswamy - CTO of Kickstarter when we worked together, now COO at Kajabi.

When someone's vetting me, they see this. They click his profile, they verify he's real, he held those positions, AND he said I'm "the real deal."

That builds trust faster than anything I could say about myself.

And right now? Trust is everything.
We're not in a trust recession...we're in a trust depression.

Everyone claims to be an expert, AI can write anything that sounds credible, and anyone can put "strategist" in their title.

How do you know who's the real deal anymore?
You don't - unless you can prove it.

Recommendations are one form of proof.

Real names, real titles, real companies, specific results.
 
Not a testimonial on your website that could've been written by anyone or a quote you could've made up.

A real person vouching for you in a way that AI (and potential clients) can verify.

If you don't have recommendations on your profile, you're asking people to take your word for it when where very few take anyone's word for anything anymore.
(Or at least, they want to trust, but they also just want a little proof to back it up. Recommendations give them that.)

P.S. I'm going to be sharing more juicy systems about why your LinkedIn isn't converting. April 2nd at 12:00 ET. LFG!

https://lnkd.in/epsuaE8z

Today’s the day!! 

LIVE MERCH LAB → Turning My “No Pitch Slaps” Into Swag! 

There’s a lot I’ve been saying lately that’s triggering (in a good way). 

Definitely could make for some good swag. 

And I love how Amanda Hofman turns your brand essence into company swag you’d *actually* wear. 

Can’t wait to see what we come up with today!! See you there!!

Branded Merch & Swag Expert | Chief Swag Officer | Your guide for sustainable & anti-boring branded merchandise | Print-on-Demand Shop Set-Up | NYC Marathoner turned Cyclist 🏃🏻‍♀️🚴‍♀️

Can LinkedIn advice become wearable? We’re about to find out.

Natasha Walstra is known for helping people sell on LinkedIn without being weird about it. She’s built her brand around making LinkedIn feel more human and helping you be more effective while you’re there.

Her signature rule: No Pitch Slaps. 

But Natasha’s message goes beyond one phrase. If her bold, honest, refreshingly real voice had to become wearable… what would actually make the cut?

In this 🎉 Live Merch Lab 🎉, we’re building Natasha’s very first merch line — translating her sharp, funny, straight-talking energy into something her community would genuinely want to wear.

If you care about building visibility without being cringe, spammy, or robotic, this session is for you.

In this live session, you’ll see:

→ How to brainstorm merch for your own brand while helping design Natasha’s
→ How to turn a strong point of view into something people proudly wear
→ What Natasha should absolutely NOT print
→ A live audience vote on the final picks

This isn’t a webinar. It’s a working session.

→→ RSVP to influence what makes the drop.

Bring your opinions, claim your (virtual) creative director seat, and help us decide what goes from idea to wearable.

Danae Gabriel, Kelly Edmondson and 34 other attendees

LIVE MERCH LAB → Turning Natasha Walstra’s “No Pitch Slaps” Into Swag

Innovation X Ecosystems @Topian, the NEOM Food Company

TL;DR
I turn bold ideas into sustainable reality. I fuse technology, sustainability, and food systems to shape a resilient, future-ready world. With a PhD in Applied Mathematics and a track record spanning research, entrepreneurship, and global partnerships, I’m passionate about driving transformative projects that advance Vision 2030.

Speaker bio:
Dr. Andrew Yip is dedicated to curating sustainable innovations and strategic partnerships that will help the food sector reach its full potential. With his extensive experience in technology, innovation, and data governance, Dr. Yip is committed to driving positive change and creating innovative solutions for the industry, supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to promote economic diversification, job creation, and social and cultural development.

Dr. Yip holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Computational Science from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and has been a NEOM pioneer since 2019. When he's not working, he enjoys tabletop gaming with friends and strangers alike.

Andrew Yip, PhD

Our first Chinese New Year 🐎 and Ramadan 🌙 together with little Justin. Grateful for the blessings and may you all find JOY and peace in this auspicious season for you and your family. 🙏 🙏

Saudi Premium Resident | Turning bold ideas into sustainable reality | Tech × Sustainability × Future Food Systems

Behold, easily the most inspiring spot for scientists and nerds in the Kingdom: KAUST, perched on the Red Sea with labs, supercomputers, and a whole marine sanctuary built in.

Just finished a 2 am feed and wanted to mark the moment by sharing something I’ve quietly been building: my own baby activity tracker (Just do it).

Over the past weeks I’ve tried a bit of everything — apps, notes on my phone, even scribbles on the wall — but nothing really matched how my days with my son actually feel. So I started designing a simple tracker just for us, and it’s slowly becoming part of our nightly rhythm. The screenshots here are from this week, where I’ve been logging feeds and diapers and getting little reflections back on how the week went.

One funny (and honest) observation: I almost never manage to log sleep time. Somehow, by the time he finally dozes off, the last thing I want to do is tap another button. That gap made me notice how much I crave calm more than perfect data. Using this tool has helped me be more mindful of our routines without obsessing, and seeing the week summarized gives me a small sense of order in the blur of new parenthood.

I’m deeply grateful that my baby Justin  is the inspiration / pair-programming buddy / tester for this little project. The idea is that the tool will grow with him, and I’ll grow with it: what we track, how we reflect, and how we build tiny moments of awareness into everyday care. If it can help other new parents feel a bit more grounded and gentle with themselves, then it’s already a success.

Give it a try, or share it with a new parent friend. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it. 

Link in first comment.

After feeding baby Justin tonight, I suddenly got hit by a very specific craving: that steamy, savory bowl of halal Lanzhou noodles in China – the kind where the broth warms your soul and the hand-pulled noodles disappear way too fast.

So, while the little one was settling back to sleep, I opened up HalalYalla and did the next best thing to actually flying to China: I added a few halal Lanzhou noodle spots in Shenzhen to the app.

If you’re heading to Shenzhen (or already there!), you’ll soon see new listings for:
- Lanzhou / Chinese Muslim noodle places in key districts
- Clear halal tagging and addresses you can navigate to directly

This is just the start. I’ll keep expanding the China halal noodle map city by city – if you know any must‑visit spots, reply or DM so we can add them to HalalYalla and help more Muslims find that perfect bowl.

Link in first comment.

Desert sea of thought—
Ibn al-Haytham’s light gleams still,
KAUST dawns anew.

Nations endure not just on vision or resources, but on trust: the quiet promises that bind us all.

Saudi Founding Day celebrates exactly that: leaders and people whose word built a lasting foundation, from Diriyah in 1727 to today. That's why I write about trust and foundation today.

Confucius says, "lacking trustworthiness, it's hard to know what can be made of them". In homes as in nations, kids learn trust not from words alone, but from whether "I'll be there" holds true.

In celebration of Foundation Day today, pick one recent promise to your child. Keep it by day's end, or sit down, explain honestly why not, and rebuild together. 

Small acts build strong foundations.

Happy Foundation Day!

自謂西川業漸成，
荊郊野夢尚纏情。
六年閒坐雲山外，
一劍未嘗試世塵。
水繞孤城春自碧，
心隨駿馬意難停。
他年若問興衰事，
但指江流笑未名。

新野覺前歌

Pi Day 2026: The Pie Chart Exception I Teach (And Built)

Data science teacher confession: I always warn against pie charts—bars are better for comparisons. 

Exception? Pi Day, when "parts of a whole" demands intuitive slices.

Enter Slice Truth on π Day – 20 interactive pies in one view.

Some of those pies:
AI's venture capital grip
Shifting global defense budgets
Timeless truths:
10,000 hour myth debunked
Where your focus really goes
How long habits take to form
How identical are we as humans genetically

Pick your provocation—what slice surprises you?
Enjoy the πs. 

Link on first comment.

Celebrating the arrival of Eid in the spirit of service, I had the privilege of moderating discussions among agrifood tech innovators and ecosystem enablers from around the world at the preparatory meeting for the Global Agrifood Innovation Alliance (GAIA), a "child" of World AgriFood Innovation (WAFI) Conference, as Prof. Wenge Fu the Founder of WAFI has so affectionately put it.

I was especially honored to introduce our Middle East speaker representative, Prof. Abdulaziz Al-Harbi, PhD, Chief Scientific Advisor of the Saudi AgriFood Tech Alliance (SAFTA) التحالف السعودي لتقنيات الزراعة والغذاء —a true pioneer in the field with over 40 years of contributions shaping agrifood innovation in the region.

What stood out most was the genuine energy for collaboration across regions—from colleagues in Spain exploring deeper engagement with the Middle East, to the inspiring momentum across Africa in advancing both technology and human capacity to support smallholder farmers at scale.

I’m deeply grateful to all participants for their openness, shared purpose, and commitment to building bridges across ecosystems. 

This is just the beginning. 

We warmly welcome continued dialogue and invite partners from across sectors and geographies to join us in shaping this collective effort.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to continue these conversations during our upcoming innovation roadshow in mid-April—more details to follow soon.

In these complex times, I also extend sincere wishes for peace, stability, and shared prosperity across our region and beyond. We look forward to welcoming delegations and visitors to the Middle East in the months to come, to deepen collaboration on the ground and translate dialogue into action.

Eid Mubarak 🌙

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The Battle

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Andrew Yip, PhD

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