Kimberly’s Wanderings & Wonderings (January 2026)

Picture this: You are standing at the edge of something new. Behind you, three decades of certainty (well, most of the time, if you leave out significant world events like 9/11, financial crises of 2008, the pandemic) and a career woven into the fabric of family, routine, and identity. Ahead of you, a vast expanse of possibility that both exhilarates and terrifies. The gap between what was and what will be feels impossibly wide.

That is where I found myself in 2025. And as we step into this new year together, I want to share something personal with you, the two words that will guide my journey through 2026: Wonder and Leap.

PS: I also ordered the words on a bracelet from www.myintent.org so I have a daily reminder on my wrist.

The Wondering: Why These Words?

Leap captures the essence of what I did and what I continue to do. It is not just about leaving a 30-year career in the family business or the stability of working at JPMorganChase. It is about that moment when your feet leave solid ground. The faith and risk inherent in building something entirely on your own. The acknowledgment of uncertainty, of that uncomfortable gap between what was and what will be. The trust that you will land. Somewhere. Somehow. And, perhaps, in a place more magnificent than you ever imagined.

But here is what I have learned: a leap without wonder is just falling.

Wonder is how I navigate the journey. It is in the way I open every conversation with “Picture this…” scenarios. It is in how I structure insights around inquiry rather than answers. It is in my invitation to you, and to myself, to embrace ongoing curiosity rather than rushing toward neat conclusions. Wonder is my North Star, the light that keeps me oriented when the path ahead is not clear. I spent New Year’s in Florida and every night, I looked up at the stars that filled the night’s sky. So much wonder, so much promise, so much hope.

When you leap with wonder, every question becomes an opportunity. Every uncertainty becomes an invitation to explore. Every setback becomes data or a learning opportunity for the next experiment.

Three Intentions for 2026

As we begin this new year, I am not making resolutions. I am setting intentions. You might remember in my December Newsletter, I had three wishes for each of us: Be Kind, Stay Curious, Stay Connected. So, I invite you to consider these 2026 intentions alongside me:

1. Ask better questions, not seek faster answers.
   In a world that rewards speed and certainty, I am choosing depth and curiosity. What if the point is not to know everything quickly, but to understand what truly matters? What if the question “why?” is more valuable than any single answer?

2. Leap toward possibility, even when the landing is not visible.
   I am learning that the most meaningful leaps do not come with guarantees. They come with trust, in yourself, in your vision, in the belief that growth happens in the uncomfortable space between letting go and landing. Where are you being called to leap this year?

3. Bring all of me to everything I do.
   At ILTM North America last fall, something shifted. For the first time in a long time, I showed up fully integrated, not wearing different hats, but bringing all of me. All at once. That’s what Keep Wondering Why is really about: creating spaces where we can all show up whole. Where curiosity and confidence coexist. Where questions are celebrated, not feared.

An Invitation to Wonder and Leap with Me

This year, I am committed to building conversations that do not rush toward easy answers but instead invite us to embrace curiosity and ask “why.” I am speaking on stages and in boardrooms. I am facilitating dialogues in family businesses, luxury spaces, and in the LGBTQ+ community. I am helping leaders develop the confidence to leap and the wisdom to wonder.

And I want you to be part of this journey.

I would love to hear from you:

• What word or words will guide your 2026?
• What leap are you considering?
• What wonder are you pursuing?

Just hit reply and share with me. I truly read every response, and your insights often inspire future conversations.

Cheers to a year of brave leaps and endless wonder. Cheers to asking better questions. Cheers to showing up whole.

With love, curiosity, and the courage to leap,