Dear Students,
This semester has felt like riding a bullet train. The rush and tumult of everyday life, the pressure of endless tasks to complete, deadlines to meet, emails that need responses, texts that chime constantly, exams to study for, papers to write, projects to plan: all these conspire to obscure the richness that is around us every day. Some days I feel like my whole life is organized around my endless to-do list and that just makes me grouchy. Instead (on a good day) I am trying to make a conscious effort to notice the wonder that is New York City. I am trying to pay attention, savor, and delight in the crazy, beautiful, startling, delicious and vibrant city we live in.
Here are a few things that have happened lately in the Big Apple that have broken through my weary and worn-out mindset and surprised me with joy:
Seeing a young woman celebrating her quinceañera and taking photos in Fort Tryon Park with her friends and family. Watching the teenagers in their gorgeous outfits laugh and tease one another while the family elders beamed at all of them made me pause my weekend jog and just soak up their happiness.
Watching strangers jump up to help a man in a wheelchair exiting the subway car who risked having the doors close on him. People rushed to his aid from opposite sides of the car and made sure he exited safely. Then everyone retreated back to their seats, pulled out their phones and acted like nothing wonderful just happened. Even though it had.
Noticing the fall foliage that has exploded in Central Park, Bryant Park, Riverside Park, Prospect Park, Fort Tryon Park and Inwood Park. New York City’s parks are nothing short of gorgeous right now.
Eating at the Food Gallery 32 in Koreatown that was on my route home after doing a team workshop with a group of museum curators. The variety, ease, and reasonable prices in so many delicious Korean food stalls all in one place made my day.
Hearing a young man singing Elton John’s Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters at top volume, in perfect pitch, with the most beautiful tenor voice, as he passed by my apartment at 7:00 one morning while I was sitting on my couch with a cup of coffee. It made me want to run outside and join him.
Enjoying the fellow passenger waiting for the bus next to me who peered into my open shopping bag and said, “What a beautiful birthday cake! That’s gonna be a great birthday party.” And, it was.
Exchanging “Good mornings” with the actor and comedian Amy Schumer as we passed each other walking on Central Park South one cold sunny day last month. I immediately googled, “Does Amy Schumer live in Manhattan?” just to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. She does.
Walking in a large crowd of people packed tightly on a narrow downtown sidewalk as my son and I exited the Chance the Rapper concert we had just attended, I overheard one young woman say to her friend, “No more concussions in 2025. That’s my goal for the rest of the year. No. More. Concussions.” Same girl, same.
Leaving work late one night this week and looking up at the sky to see a deep, midnight blue color that was so stunning I forgot to be annoyed that I was hungry and cold.
It is easier (and more automatic) for me to complain about feeling overworked, overwhelmed, and overstimulated than it is to notice and relish the gift it is to live and work in New York City amidst the embarrassment of riches that is NYC’s culture, art, music, food, and most of all its remarkable humans. I asked my Group Dynamics students this week to share a good piece of advice they’ve received. Cat Berry shared, “Fall in love with your life.”
I am reminding myself to fall in love (again) with my life in New York City. I have lived here for 34 years and it is so easy to do if I just remember to notice.
Amidst the swirl that is late November and the run up to the end of the semester, I am wishing you some moments to notice the wonder that is all around us, both in New York City and at TC, in the community we build together. Don’t forget to fall in love with your life.
I speak for all my faculty colleagues and staff when I tell you we are thankful for you, for the work we do together, and for the joy we create in community with one another. Happy Thanksgiving!
Warmly,
Current Student Profile
Cathie helps clients define success strategies that align their competitive edge with a desire to lead with humanity. She works with executives who are equally driven by ambition and purpose; leaders who understand that you can do hard things in a human way.
Cathie honed her professional skills in the exceptionally competitive world of politics and media. As a communications director operating at the highest levels of government, her work demanded strategic acumen, laser focus, personal integrity, and authentic compassion. She believes deeply in the power of mindfulness to enhance both personal and team performance—and actively cultivates it.
With over 15 years of experience leading communications strategy for high-profile figures including Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, Peter Jennings, and Diane Sawyer, Cathie has managed some of the most complex challenges, personalities, and crises. From Capitol Hill to the campaign trail to her role as Vice President of Communications at ABC News, she’s been pressure-tested in ways few professionals have—and brings a steady, composed presence to the most demanding environments.
As a coach, Cathie’s ability to get to the heart of any matter sets her apart. Her unique whole-person methodology is designed to provide actionable insights, spark personal growth, evolve behavior, and raise awareness through direct and powerful feedback. She has a rare ability to identify and address core issues, cutting through noise, distractions, and complexity.
Cathie earned her Executive Coaching certification from Columbia University and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social-Organizational Psychology at Teachers College at Columbia. Her professional credentials also include certifications in the Hogan Assessment and the Neethling Brain Instrument (NBI).
Alumni Profile
Trinity discovered her passion for belonging and human potential while studying Psychology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. After graduation, she moved to Latin America to explore how culture and language shape connection, developing a global, adaptive perspective on what fosters inclusion and meaning at work and in life.
She later joined Meta, formerly Facebook, where she supported DEI initiatives within Augmented and Virtual Reality. Her mission was to ensure that the creators and participants shaping the future of immersive technology reflected the diversity of the world it serves. During her tenure, she began her MA in Social-Organizational Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, focusing on what it truly takes to shift culture from within.
Following TC, Trinity founded Inner Power Consulting, a practice devoted to courageous and embodied leadership. Her work integrates DEI consulting, somatic awareness, and process consultation to help leaders lead with grounded authenticity and greater relational capacity.
Today, as a Senior People Development Partner at The Trade Desk, Trinity supports high-impact leaders and teams in realizing their potential. Her inquiry centers on what is needed to create teams that are capable of both growth and healing. Leaning on somatic awareness, courage, and connection, her work centers on how can we turn workplaces into spaces for transformation and collective evolution.
Trinity discovered her passion for belonging and human potential while studying Psychology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. After graduation, she moved to Latin America to explore how culture and language shape connection, developing a global, adaptive perspective on what fosters inclusion and meaning at work and in life.
She later joined Meta, formerly Facebook, where she supported DEI initiatives within Augmented and Virtual Reality. Her mission was to ensure that the creators and participants shaping the future of immersive technology reflected the diversity of the world it serves. During her tenure, she began her MA in Social-Organizational Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, focusing on what it truly takes to shift culture from within.
Following TC, Trinity founded Inner Power Consulting, a practice devoted to courageous and embodied leadership. Her work integrates DEI consulting, somatic awareness, and process consultation to help leaders lead with grounded authenticity and greater relational capacity.
Today, as a Senior People Development Partner at The Trade Desk, Trinity supports high-impact leaders and teams in realizing their potential. Her inquiry centers on what is needed to create teams that are capable of both growth and healing. Leaning on somatic awareness, courage, and connection, her work centers on how can we turn workplaces into spaces for transformation and collective evolution.