Optimism is not just a way of thinking

2025 has shaken us, and many of us have ended the year with an emotional migraine. Between global tension, climate disasters, and apocalyptic headlines about AI sweeping through entire industries. As a founder, I have seen how systems falter… and how doubt quickly sets in. But I have also seen something else: raw strength, unwavering will, and a solidarity that comes to the rescue with lightning speed. In the women I mentor and with whom I collaborate, I see them leading from passion, not from panic. And I see the glimmer of something more: the real possibility that hope is back.

I want to share good news, drawn from real experiences of founders and community builders.

During a recent trip to Madrid, while organizing a dinner for a friend's business launch, I spent 48 hours immersed in a vibrant microcosm of creativity and innovation in the Justicia neighborhood. Walking down Calle de Pelayo was like stepping into an indie film: Shop window after shop window led by women, from a modern wellness apotheke, Dr. You, to the high-fashion concept store Casona, to the modern supplements APIH. Founders who came from different backgrounds and countries, some had experience in the fashion world in New York, others a background in finance, and even an inspiring spiritual devotion, but all united by something common: passion for their work and a shared desire to enrich their city.

In just that block of Justicia, going down Calle Pelayo, contacts, advice, and help flowed naturally. I heard stories of entrepreneurs supporting each other in the most everyday things: from deliveries to client presentations. A living demonstration of a community woven from collaboration, not competition. The neighborhood's energy reminded me of Williamsburg before the boom: raw, honest, full of texture and possibility; defined not by big brands, but by people, purpose, and creativity. That weekend reaffirmed why I believe so much in projects with purpose, in women who support each other, and in the power of neighborhood, identity, and shared values as the basis for meaningful leadership.

Back in the United States, I am also encouraged by the grassroots action emerging in response to fear and injustice. A clear example is the Pink Poster Club, a lobbying group founded by women in my hometown, Evanston, Illinois, which mobilized neighbors to resist unjust ICE raids. Instead of retreating, or merely fundraising, they proactively organized. They formed "mother brigades," equipped with whistle kits, legal resources, bilingual aid, and community networks ready to protect vulnerable families. What began as a modest social media channel quickly grew into impactful collective action that made enough noise to change the narrative and attract national attention. The founders, humble in comparison to what they are achieving, simply say they are protecting the children who go to the same school as theirs.

Isn't that the most revealing way to simplify why we need to come together to harness the power of community? That gives me hope.

As a leader, I often recall my first big break after college: joining the communications team for Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008. Driven by my faith in change and citizen participation, I learned firsthand what can be achieved with vision, community mobilization, and hope. You see, optimism is not just a way of thinking; it is the fuel that founders and change agents need to turn their vision into reality.

So yes, I believe 2026 will demand strength. Living in a state of shock or in "defensive mode" will not help. But those who combine a long-term vision with purpose, resilience with empathy, and action with heart will not only survive. They will transform. I long for hope to return; not an ephemeral hope, but one that we build ourselves in our "neighborhoods" of Justicia and Evanston, thanks in part to the energy of intelligent and brave women.