What if one of the most important skills we can teach isn't academics—but curiosity, kindness, and how to get back to center?
I sat down with Hamsa Yaqo and Paul Spiegelman, co-founders of Kintsugi Village, a unique early childhood learning community in Detroit focused on curiosity, creativity, life skills, and community.
3 Takeaways:
1. Curiosity is a superpower.
The best learning starts with questions.
2. Life skills matter as much as academics.
Kindness, communication, and emotional intelligence are foundational skills.
3. Everyone needs a calm corner.
The ability to pause, reset, and recalibrate is a lifelong advantage.
In a world moving faster than ever, getting back to center may be one of the most important skills we can develop.
We dive into that and much more in my conversation with Hamsa and Paul.
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Hamsa Yaqo is a purpose-driven business leader and co-founder of Kintsugi Village, a community-centered hub in Detroit focused on early childhood education, the arts, food, and connection. With a background spanning higher education, tech, and mission-driven organizations, she is passionate about building strong teams, thoughtful processes, and meaningful impact. Hamsa holds a degree in Mathematics from Wayne State University and an MBA from Walsh College. Outside of work, Hamsa loves cooking, playing Scrabble, exploring cities like a local, and spending time with her family.
Paul Spiegelman is the co-founder of Kintsugi Village. He is also the founder of BerylHealth, The Beryl Institute, and the Small Giants Community. He is a New York Times best-selling author and has been honored with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. His thoughts have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Inc. Magazine.
Paul practiced law for two years prior to founding BerylHealth. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from UCLA and a law degree from Southwestern University. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family, playing tennis and traveling."
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Connect with Hamsa and Paul:
Website: www.kintsugivillage.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kintsugivillagedetroit/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-village-detroit
*E - explicit language may be used in this podcast.
