#1

Networking our way to loneliness

During lunch one day, Ron tried to convince Jacob to skip his child’s choir concert in favor of attending a “fireside chat,” a gathering that would surely draw the right people and connections needed to build a bank balance large enough to avoid attending such events in the future.

The promise was enticing: networking, the quintessential American pastime of trading authentic family moments for uncertain, lucrative opportunities. This raises the question: Why do we make these types of choices so often?

It’s a curious and stubborn belief that success requires personal sacrifice, especially sacrificing family time. Many professionals seem convinced that missing soccer games, choir concerts, or bedtime stories shows seriousness and ambition.

In his influential book Excellent Sheep, former Yale professor William Deresiewicz argues that contemporary American society is defined by misguided worship of “busyness” and professional success at the expense of meaningful relationships. “We’ve become adept at impressing strangers,” Deresiewicz writes, “but hopelessly estranged from those who matter most.”

Beneath the philosophical lament lies a deeper issue: a common cultural belief that attaining professional success inevitably requires sacrificing family milestones. But do these sacrifices produce the remarkable rewards we’re led to believe?

Data suggests otherwise. A seminal study from the Harvard Business Review found that, ironically, those who prioritize family commitments by establishing clear boundaries around family time report higher job satisfaction, improved mental health, and, surprisingly, better long-term career performance. Conversely, professionals who frequently skip family events for work commitments consistently report higher stress, lower satisfaction, and a greater likelihood of professional burnout. It’s as if missing the choir concert leads not to the corner office, but to the corner couch in a psychiatrist’s office.

Part of this disconnect may stem from what sociologist Arlie Hochschild termed “The Time Bind.” In her book, Hochschild notes that workplaces have subtly evolved into surrogate homes — spaces where validation, meaning, and identity are increasingly pursued at the expense of personal relationships. As Hochschild explains, “Workers often willingly accept longer hours, believing this sacrifice affirms their value in ways that home life does not.” This illustrates a fascinating paradox: networking events present themselves as opportunities for career advancement but primarily function as self-reassurance rituals.

Such reassurances come at a cost. The family calendar, proudly pinned to the refrigerator, doesn’t lie. Missed events quietly accumulate, each one a small wound until one day, the choir concerts stop altogether.

Psychology professor Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel laureate and author of Thinking, Fast and Slow, reminds us of our misguided intuition about happiness and success: “When thinking about how successful we’ll feel tomorrow, we rarely consider how we’ll feel looking back on missed opportunities ten years from now.”

So why do we persist?

#2

How AI and agility are redrawing the future of finance

Kamran Ansari, a seasoned venture capitalist and operator, has navigated the intricate corridors of Silicon Valley and New York’s tech ecosystems for nearly two decades. His journey, marked by strategic investments and pivotal roles in companies like Venmo, Pinterest, and Bread Finance, offers a lens into the evolving landscape of financial technology (fintech) and the broader venture capital (VC) domain.

Ansari’s venture into the capital world began at Tenaya Capital, followed by a notable tenure at Greycroft in New York. While at Greycroft, he led investments in fintech pioneers like Venmo and Braintree, highlighting his early awareness of the sector’s potential. His investment savvy extended to companies such as Azimo and Recurly, further solidifying his reputation in the fintech landscape. This path eventually brought him to Headline VC, a global venture capital firm, where he serves as a Venture Partner, concentrating on fintech investments.

In a recent interview with CEO.com, Ansari explained the current state of fintech, describing it as a “super category” comprising four main pillars: payments, lending, asset management (including stock trading), and insurance. He stressed that each pillar represents a vast market opportunity, reflecting fintech’s wide-reaching impact on the economy.

Addressing why traditional banks often fall behind in innovation, Ansari noted that their stable positions, marked by high gross margins and significant profits, reduce the motivation to innovate. He remarked, “Banks don’t innovate because they don’t really have to. They’re deeply entrenched in established, remarkable businesses.” This entrenched nature leads to slower adoption of innovative technologies compared to more flexible fintech startups.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has been a transformative force across various industries, and fintech is no exception. Ansari pointed out the critical role of AI in enhancing financial services, specifically in areas like fraud detection, customer service through chatbots, and personalized financial advice. He argued that AI’s incorporation into fintech solutions not only boosts efficiency but also democratizes access to advanced financial tools for a wider audience.

• Inside FinTech Investing: Stripe, crypto, and the future of AI in venture capital — Kamran Ansari, CEO.com

#3

The tariff tango begins

Few performances in the intricate ballet of global economics are as riveting — or as fraught with missteps — as the dance of tariffs. President Donald Trump’s recent imposition of sweeping tariffs has sent ripples through the international community, highlighting the complexities and unintended consequences that often accompany such protectionist measures.

On March 4, 2025, the Trump administration enacted a series of tariffs: a 25% duty on all imports from Canada and Mexico, with Canadian energy products subjected to a reduced rate of 10% and an increase of tariffs on Chinese goods from 10% to 20%. These measures, justified by the administration as necessary to combat the flow of illicit drugs and bolster domestic manufacturing, have been met with swift retaliation and widespread concern.

Canada, in a display of economic counterpoint, responded with 25% tariffs on $20 billion worth of U.S. goods, with plans to expand this to $85 billion. Mexico has also prepared its own suite of countermeasures, signaling a tit-for-tat escalation reminiscent of past trade disputes. Such actions underscore the delicate balance of international trade relations and the potential for rapid escalation.

The repercussions of these tariffs are palpable in the United States. The housing market, already navigating turbulent waters, faces additional strain as tariffs on lumber and appliances are projected to increase the cost of building a single-family home by $7,500 to $10,000. This surge threatens to dampen both new construction and remodeling projects, exacerbating an existing housing slump.

The automotive industry, deeply intertwined with North American supply chains, confronts uncertainty as tariffs disrupt the seamless flow of parts and vehicles across borders. Consumers may soon bear the brunt of these disruptions through increased prices and limited choices.

The tremors extend beyond North America. The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU has sounded alarms over the U.S.-European tariff clash, warning that it endangers annual transatlantic business worth $9.5 trillion. Such a rift threatens to unravel the intricate web of investments and trade that bind these economies, with potential spillovers into the services, data flows, and energy sectors.

Economists caution that the crescendo of these tariffs could lead to a ‘Trumpcession,’ with heightened risks of a U.S. recession due to policy unpredictability and escalating trade tensions. Financial markets have mirrored these anxieties, with significant declines observed across major indices.

As the world watches this economic choreography unfold, the outcomes remain uncertain. Will these tariffs achieve their intended goals, or will they lead to unintended economic dissonance?