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Throughout my 25-year career, I've often been brought into organizations to navigate periods of significant cultural upheaval or to mitigate the aftermath of catastrophic events. These interventions typically occur when underlying cultural issues have escalated, leading to severe consequences. While my role is to help mend these situations and restore morale, there are instances where the damage is irreversible.
A recent incident involving Chamel Abdulkarim, a 29-year-old employee of NFI Industries, starkly illustrates this point. Abdulkarim recorded himself setting fire to pallets of products, resulting in an estimated $600 million in damages. In the footage shared on social media, he stated, "All you had to do was pay us enough to live... there goes your inventory." 
While his explicit reason cited low wages, my professional experience suggests a deeper, more systemic issue at play. Even with higher compensation, the underlying anger likely stemmed from prolonged periods of feeling unheard, ignored, or undervalued. It is plausible that the workplace culture was detrimental, offering no constructive outlets and potentially involving excessive hours without adequate breaks. This incident underscores a critical truth: employees seek more than just financial remuneration.
Modern employees desire to work for organizations that acknowledge and respect their lives outside of work. In an era marked by economic pressures, mass layoffs, and inflation, the demand for fair wages is undeniable. However, the catalyst for Abdulkarim's extreme actions was not solely financial; it was a profound sense of dissatisfaction across various aspects of his life, exacerbated by an unaddressed toxic work environment. While personal circumstances such as strained relationships, financial difficulties, loss, or even workplace discrimination could have contributed, the presence of an unhealthy organizational culture is a consistent factor in such breakdowns.
Effective cultural strategy is not a peripheral concern; it is a fundamental business imperative with millions, if not billions, of dollars at stake. Companies that prioritize revenue above employee well-being are inherently vulnerable. A positive work environment, beyond competitive wages and benefits, is crucial. It fosters commitment, recognizes good performance, encourages kindness, promotes active engagement, and provides necessary flexibility, including time off. The question is whether organizations are truly listening to their employees' needs.
The post-pandemic landscape has further amplified these sentiments. Millions have embraced remote work and flexible lifestyles, seeking autonomy and freedom. While not everyone desires a nomadic existence, there is a clear collective shift away from traditional work models. Employees now seek cultures that support their growth, offer flexible options, and provide clear pathways for career advancement and increased income. The era of lifelong employment with a single company and a guaranteed pension is largely over; today's workforce prioritizes living life to the fullest, without deferring personal fulfillment. Humanity is no longer willing to wait for a better future; they demand it now within their professional lives.
To prevent future crises, employers must proactively cultivate a supportive and engaging work environment. This means actively caring for staff, recognizing their humanity, and fostering a culture where every individual feels valued, heard, and respected, rather than merely being another cog in the machine. The cost of inaction, as demonstrated by recent events, far outweighs the investment in a healthy, human-centric workplace culture.
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Technology has changed everything; how we work, connect and how decisions get made. In many ways, it has made life easier, but it has also created a new set of challenges that we can’t ignore. Across industries, we are seeing the same pattern: systems are becoming more efficient, but less human. Companies are using automation to cut costs. AI is being used to make decisions about hiring, scheduling, and performance. Data is collected at every step, often without people fully understanding how it’s used. On paper, this looks like progress, but for many people, it doesn’t feel that way. Technology is scaling problems just as fast as it is scaling solutions.
Where Things Are Going Wrong
Most organizations don’t set out to cause harm. Harm happens when technology is used without thinking about the human impact. For example: when hiring is automated, qualified people can be filtered out without explanation. When productivity is tracked too closely, workers feel watched instead of supported and when decisions are made by algorithms, accountability becomes unclear. Over time, this leads to something deeper than frustration; it leads to disconnection within the system where people stop feeling valued, they stop trusting the system and eventually, they stop engaging altogether.
The Ethical Gap
There is a growing gap between what technology can do and what it should do. Most organizations are focused on moving faster, cutting costs and staying competitive while very few are asking: “What is the long-term impact of this on people?”
A Different Approach
At Linking Dreams, we believe technology should bring people closer together and leverage their talents to solve real problems that impact all of us. That means rethinking how systems are designed and used. Instead of asking, “How can we replace this role?” We guide organizations to asking questions like: “How can we support this person?” or “how will losing this person be a detriment to the system as a whole?” Instead of asking, “How do we collect more data?” We ask, “How do we build more trust?” Finally, instead of building for scale alone,
we build for impact.
What This Looks Like in Practice
We work with organizations and enterprises to:
- Build people-first strategies around AI and automation
- Create ethical guidelines that leaders can actually use
- Design systems that include human oversight and accountability
- Connect companies directly to real community needs
- Train teams to think beyond efficiency and focus on outcomes that matter
Our process doesn’t slow innovation or try to stop it. We are not the “squeeky wheel that stops progress;” we ensure innovation actually helps people where and when they need it most. It’s about protecting the organization to ensure they can afford to keep having a good impact and know they are doing it right.
Why It Matters Now
We are at a turning point. The decisions being made today about technology will shape how people live and work for years to come.
If we get it right, technology can:
- Open doors
- Create new opportunities
- Strengthen communities
If we get it wrong, it will:
- Increase inequality
- Deepen division
- Leave more people behind
The Opportunity
The good news is this: It’s not too late to choose a different path.
Organizations have more power than they realize. They can decide how technology is used and they can choose to put people first. When they do, something powerful happens: Trust grows, communities strengthen and business becomes more sustainable in the long run.
Moving Forward
Technology isn’t going anywhere but the way we use it can change for the better. At Linking Dreams, we’re working with those who are ready to build something better; systems that respect people, support communities, and create real opportunity.
Because in the end, success isn’t just about what we build. It’s about making it work for everyone.
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Morning thoughts about balance.
Perfection takes time.
There is an old saying I used to tell my daughter: "Strive for excellence rather than perfection."
Well, the vision of Linking Dreams is already excellent, but I haven’t been too good putting it into words. The language always sounds "fluffy," but I can assure you I am not fluffy. I am direct, our services and support are direct, but how we impact people is not direct. We empower people; help them, regardless of who they are. Our special, unique feature is that we are a connector.
Being a connector takes on challenges all its own. As a connector, I collect contacts, names, resources, organizations, solutions, problems and meaningful data in the form of images, articles, sticky notes, business cards, etc. Over the last 20 years, I would have to say that most of my time has been dedicated to logging in the information into contact sheets, organizing filing systems and building a unique digital storage container that contains nearly every person I have come in contact with. To give you an idea of how many there are- I transfer 10 gigs of saved information every month. In basic terms-I store about 2000 items per month.....that's a lot of resources out there! Just imagine how many people we will be able to help!
Linking Dreams is built on a holistic model. We don’t just do one thing. We have 4 foundations of which we serve and work with people, organizations, communities, and enterprises. We are busy all the time and it's impossible to ever make it perfect.....because we are always collecting- always connecting. We are building a resource hub so people can navigate what opportunities for help are out there. We are connecting people to meaningful work and employers to hard-working people. We connect communities together to create a bigger impact by helping strengthen what they do. And then we have products, services, events, while also being on the road full-time. There are never enough hours in the day for perfection; there can only be excellence of which I strive for every day. Today, I am not there yet but we will be because I won't ever stop reaching for the stars.
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Today I sit in the desert, looking out at the vastness of the still. I look back at the life I have lived and look forward at what's next. I am a man who has lived a lot of lives; I have done a lot of things, lived alot of places; I have lived as a woman, a wife and mother and I have been a husband, father, and brother. There is no greater journey than one that has seen the ugliness and beauty in all things from both perspectives of gender. I have been through many trials, pains, I have been arrested, inprisoned- both physically and metaphorically. I have served in the armed forces and I have given of my self in every sector to help others in their darkest hour. I too, have experienced loss in every aspect of the word, while also having experienced the best that this world has to offer. I have been fortunate to obtain a stellar education, from of the best institutions in the world and I have formed a niche unlike any other. If I have to choose a life that works for me, a person that is a mix of everything, I choose peace, tranquility and fullfillment. I choose to be me in the only way I know how- some may love me, some may hate me- at the end of the day, I have a purpose on this planet and I am going to live it every day.
Today I embark on the journey forward. I am relaunching my overall brand. Linking Dreams is a brand that is bold, unique and empowering; a brand that represents a friend in your pocket. It is an organization that cares about the human condition and is committed to tranforming hopelessness into prosperity and purpose for all people- regardless of who they are or where they came from. Linking Dreams connects people, from all walks of life, into one place to find holistic solutions that empower people and enterprises in body, mind, heart, and soul.
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A Path of Discovery and Faith
This past year has been a long path of discovery and perseverance. I’ve never been great about keeping up with blog posts, but I’m working on a schedule to do better. It’s been a busy season—challenging, exhausting, but ultimately worth it. That’s why I’ve chosen to launch now, and in this way.
The world is hurting. People are fighting over every meme and post—distracted from what’s really going on beneath it all.
I grew up in a very poor family. We went to church every Sunday, and I remember how the church often helped us with food and provided a refuge when home felt unbearable. As I got older, I tried to be the best “Christian” I was taught to be, but parts of who I was conflicted with what I had been taught in church.
In my late adolescence, I drifted away from organized religion and embarked on my own journey of self-discovery. Years later, I found my way back to faith—scarred, wiser, and more grounded. I sometimes wonder if my life would have been better, worse, or no different had I never left, but looking back, I have no regrets. My path taught me that faith isn’t confined to a building or bound by doctrine. It’s about the journey, and about cultivating a personal relationship with God.
By taking the path less traveled, keeping faith, and trusting in God, I’ve become a better version of myself—and I continue to grow every day.
On November 9th, 2025, I’ll be launching our newest campaign: Ignite Synergy—a movement for people who seek common ground. As humans, we need to look beyond ourselves and our differences, and release the limiting beliefs that keep us divided. Only then can we come together to create real solutions for the world’s most pressing problems.
Churches hold a unique position. They can be powerful agents of hope and help for those in poverty, but many also need support to continue their mission. That’s why I’m reaching out to inclusive churches and congregations of all kinds—to work together toward a shared purpose.
My hope is to share my experiences and insights in a way that inspires compassion and demonstrates what it truly means to lead by example. People still need churches, but many no longer feel comfortable asking for help from them. I believe we can change that.
Through collaboration, I hope to help bridge the divide between people and faith communities—so that churches can once again become places of hope, connection, and prosperity for people of all walks of life.