January did not unfold the way I expected. Instead of moving straight into 2026 planning, I felt a pull to slow down. So I did something unusual for a founder: I spent the month listening. Over January, I had close to 100 one-on-one conversations with Odettians across roles, countries, and life stages. There was no formal agenda. No performance reviews. Just open conversation. What surprised me was not what people said about work, but how often work showed up through life. I did not do these conversations to collect feedback in the traditional sense. I did them to understand what emerges when leadership listens long enough to hear the system it is responsible for. I came to think of the month as The Coherence Experiment: an alignment exercise to help us move together with greater trust. When alignment is strong, less energy is lost to self-protection and more becomes available for the work that matters. Listening at this depth helped set the field for how we work, lead, and scale in the year ahead. That same discipline is how we approach work for our clients. We look for where truth degrades, where assumptions quietly compound, and where human judgment remains essential. Whether the system is a team or a database, the work is the same: slow down enough to see what is actually happening, then design from there. With gratitude, Katharine
Mishaal Tauseef
3mo
I just want to say thank you—from the bottom of my heart. You have truly been a fairy godmother to me, stepping in and supporting me at the hardest moment of my life. Our one-to-one conversations meant so much to me; being heard, understood, and guided by you gave me strength, clarity, and hope when I needed it most. Your genuine care and the way you listen to your people is truly special, and I will always be grateful to you. With so much appreciation and Love <3
Andres Righetti
2mo
Spending a month just listening takes real discipline. Most founders say they value alignment, but very few actually slow down long enough to see where energy is leaking. The idea that less self protection means more capacity for meaningful work really landed with me. That feels true in teams and in data systems.
Urooj Saeed
3mo
Thankyou for this honest piece Katharine Wolf. I love how the emphasis is on creating systems where people can be fully human while still doing great work. When that kind of coherence exists, trust grows naturally in a way policies alone never can. Grateful to be part of a workplace that values this.
Katharine Wolf I was part of the January conversations too! 😊 I came prepared to dive into work mode, but you flipped the script with a simple 'How are you feeling?' and it sparked a super meaningful chat. Loved this newsletter! 💕 Thanks for sharing, it really hit home.
Fareha Zafar
3mo
Thank you for sharing this Katharine Wolf. I was part of the January conversations, and I truly felt the difference of being listened to, without an agenda. The focus on coherence and system trust has stayed with me. Grateful to be part of a company where people feel heard and valued.
Wise words, Katharine! It inspires others to the importance of listening. Although we usually think we're listening, practicing it demands time and commitment.
Sameen Shahid
3mo
Such an aligned and inspiring way to start the year! 🔥🔥
Deanna Sattler
3mo
I love everything about this post!
Tanja Gihr
3mo
You are such an inspiration Katharine Wolf ✨
Very smart! Thanks for sharing it! Do you mind sharing something else, Katharine Wolf? How did you start those conversations? What was the opening? Thanks.