Jess Sato

Reader, I just wrapped up my first Social Impact Roundtable of the year, and I'm buzzing from the depth and heart in the conversations we had. In that sacred space, I posed two questions: What do you feel called to build/continue building in 2026, and why now? What conversations do you wish more entrepreneurs were having this year? As I was drafting these questions, I was also doing my own reflection. So, let me share a little. I am continuing to build out the work I do in collaboration with...

Reader, Happy New Year, and welcome to 2026! I know it’s been a minute since you last heard from me. I stepped back over the holidays to create some real space for myself. I wanted real rest, rich tome for reflection, and a bit of time to recalibrate some things in the business. As this year begins, it feels important to come back intentionally, not just pop back into your inbox with noise. As we start this year, I strongly believe we don't need more urgency, more optimization, or more...

Reader, As the year comes to a close, I just want to pause and say thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading, reflecting, responding, and staying curious. Thank you for the conversations we’ve shared, the big ideas you’ve boldly shared, and the courage you bring to the work you’re doing in the world. This season is an invitation to slow down, a time to rest, exhale, and reconnect with what actually matters. I hope you’re finding moments of ease, warmth, and calm, whether that...

Reader, I was recently on a networking call talking about the Built to Last Egypt Retreat, and one woman asked a thoughtful, honest question: “I love the idea of going, but how will this actually help me and my business?” It’s a fair question, especially coming from a smart, capable woman who doesn’t make decisions lightly. Here’s the high-level answer I gave her, and the one I want to share with you. This retreat is powerful for your business because it gives you access to things you cannot...

Reader, Last week, I sat on a panel in a room of multi-six and seven-figure female business owners, and I was asked: As we shift from what has "gotten us here" to what 2026 and beyond requires of us, what is the essential inner or outer shift you believe women must embrace to lead what’s next? I had to sit with this for a while, but I fundamentally believe we need to move from conditioning-driven leadership to conviction-driven leadership. So many of us have learned how to succeed by...

Reader, Imagine... 22-year-old me, fresh out of college, standing in the front of a room full of US Air Force warfighters, with my blonde curls, a navy suit, and high heels that clicked way louder than my confidence felt. There I was, the youngest person in the room by at least a decade, responsible for guiding actual warfighters who had seen more in a single deployment than I had in my entire life, through high-stakes conversations about the future of national security. It was my very first...

Reader, I recently rewatched Wicked with my husband and daughter before we went to watch the sequel. We got to that scene... the one with Elphaba on the balcony, Glinda pleading with her, the tension thick as the music swells... If you’ve seen it, you know the moment. Elphaba looks out over Oz, breathless, heart pounding, every part of her caught between who she’s been told to be… and who she’s becoming... who she WANTS to become. The music softens, she steps forward, and sings, “Something...

Hey there, Reader! As we move into Thanksgiving week, I’ve been reflecting on what I’m most grateful for, and you are at the very top of that list. Your courage, your ideas, your leadership, your willingness to grow… it’s all extraordinary. Whether we’ve worked together directly or you’re part of this community from afar, the impact you’re making on your clients, your teams, your families, and your communities, ripples further than you can see. As we near the end of this Re-Architecting Your...

Hey there, Reader! A few weeks ago, I was talking with a long-time client who said something that stopped me mid-sentence. "I don’t think anything is wrong… but something definitely isn’t right." The way she said it was so familiar it felt like déjà vu. I’ve felt that same feeling in my own business, and if you've had any measure of success in business, you probably have, too. It often shows us as quiet tension. It creeps in after you’ve hit all the milestones you once dreamed about. Instead...