Curiosity as a Daily Practice

Curiosity has been the guiding compass of my life. I have often found that a relentless willingness to question, explore, and learn is far more valuable than any single qualification or credential. While formal education provides a foundation, it is curiosity that builds the structure of a meaningful life. It opens doors that routine and "the way things have always been done" keep firmly closed.

In my years leading and steering philanthropic initiatives, I have learned that the moment you stop being curious is the moment you start to stagnate.

I approach every challenge with what is often called a "beginner’s mind." This can be difficult when you have decades of experience, as the temptation is to rely on past successes. However, the world moves too fast for yesterday’s solutions to solve tomorrow’s problems.

Rather than assuming I have the answers, I focus on asking the right questions: Why is this system structured this way? What are the possibilities we haven't explored? Who has a perspective I haven't considered yet? By approaching life as a series of inquiries rather than a series of commands, I uncover opportunities that are otherwise invisible to the rigid mind.

Curiosity is also an incredibly practical tool for leadership. In business, it informs better decision-making by helping to identify shifting market trends and consumer behaviors before they become obvious to the masses. In philanthropy, curiosity leads to genuine impact; it allows us to look past the surface of a social issue to find the root causes and the most creative, sustainable ways to address them. On a personal level, curiosity keeps the mind agile and sustains emotional resilience. It turns the process of aging into a process of continuous ripening.

Importantly, curiosity is not bound by circumstance. You do not need a massive budget or a seat at a corporate table to be curious. Anyone can cultivate this trait by choosing to look beyond their immediate surroundings and engaging with diverse viewpoints. In the age of digital information, the world’s knowledge is at our fingertips, but it takes a curious spirit to seek it out and synthesize it into something useful.

I often remind the younger professionals and students I work with that curiosity and action are inseparable. It is not enough to simply wonder; one must follow through and experiment. This is how curiosity transforms from a mere thought into an outcome that matters—be it a career advancement, a breakthrough in research, or a meaningful contribution to one’s community. The habit of curiosity, practiced daily, shapes not just what we know, but who we are. It keeps us humble, adaptable, and deeply engaged with the vibrant complexity of the world.