By Rebecca Sutherland, CEO and Founder of HarbarSix

There’s a word that often makes people shift a little in their seats. Assertiveness. It can sound sharp, maybe even a bit harsh, like something that belongs in boardrooms filled with ego or in negotiation books gathering dust on someone’s shelf. But in truth, assertiveness, when you really understand it, is one of the most compassionate tools we have as leaders.

Because at its core, assertiveness isn’t about being pushy. It’s about being clear.

And when you’re building something, a business, a team, a dream that lives outside the ordinary, that kind of clarity becomes essential. Without it, you end up drifting, making decisions that don’t feel quite right, saying yes when you mean no, and slowly watching the thing you once felt lit up by become a source of tension or exhaustion.

I’ve seen it happen more than once. A brilliant, creative founder full of drive and vision, slowly ground down by too many compromises, too much people-pleasing, too little space to breathe. They don’t lack skill or ambition. What they’re missing is that anchor, the ability to be assertive without feeling like they have to apologise for it.

So, let’s unpack that, because I think we need to talk about how to lead from a place that’s both strong and soft. Firm but open and rooted in who you are.

Assertiveness starts with self-trust

Before you can speak clearly to others, you must be clear with yourself. What do you stand for? What kind of culture are you trying to build? What do you value, not just on a branding level, but deep in your bones?

Because if you don’t know that, you’ll find yourself pulled in all directions. You’ll agree to partnerships that don’t serve you, hire people based on panic rather than alignment, and find it hard to hold boundaries when the stakes feel high.

But when you do know—when you’ve taken the time to understand what really matters to you—it becomes easier to communicate it, calmly and confidently, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Saying what you mean isn’t unkind—it’s respectful

There’s a misconception, especially among founders who want to be “good” leaders, that being direct is somehow abrasive. That if you’re too clear, you might upset people. But in my experience, the opposite is true.

When you wrap your truth in too many layers of softening or delay saying the hard thing because you’re worried about how it will land, you actually create more confusion, not less. People want to know where they stand. Your team, your investors, your clients—they respect leaders who can speak with warmth and certainty.

You don’t need to bark orders or dominate a room. But you do need to be able to say, “This isn’t working for me,” or “This direction doesn’t feel right,” or even, “I’ve changed my mind.” That kind of honesty is a form of care. It protects your energy, and it gives everyone around you a clearer playing field.

Boundaries aren’t barriers—they’re invitations to trust

One of the most powerful forms of assertiveness is knowing when to say no. Or not yet. Or not like this.

As founders, we’re often wired to keep giving—to clients, to our team, to the business itself. But that constant giving, without boundaries, leads to burnout. And more than that, it models a kind of unsustainable leadership where overextending becomes the norm.

Boundaries, when set with intention, are not walls. They’re signals. They say, “This is how I work best,” or “This is what I need to stay at my best,” or “Here’s the line where my role ends and yours begins.” And far from pushing people away, they create the safety and trust needed for real collaboration.

Not everyone will like it—and that’s okay

Here’s the part that might sting a little: not everyone will like your assertiveness. Some people will bristle when you stop bending over backwards. Others may be used to you saying yes to everything, and might struggle when you start to reclaim your space.

Let them. Your job isn’t to be liked by everyone. Your job is to build something honest, sustainable, and true. And the people who are meant to walk alongside you? They’ll stay, in fact, they’ll probably thank you for the clarity.

Practice before you need it

Like any skill, assertiveness gets easier with practice. Start small. Have that conversation you’ve been avoiding. Say no to the next thing that doesn’t feel aligned. Express a need clearly without over-explaining. And then do it again. Not perfectly, just consistently.

If you’re not used to it, it might feel clunky at first. That’s okay. Clarity is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.

The most powerful leaders are not the loudest

They’re not the ones who dominate meetings or chase visibility for its own sake. They’re the ones who know who they are. Who can sit in discomfort without losing their footing. Who can say the hard thing with softness and stay true to their vision when the noise gets loud.

Assertiveness isn’t about power over others—it’s about being in your own power. And when you lead from that place, it changes everything.

For your business. For your team. And most importantly, for you.

Drew Tozer

We live in a technologically advanced world with artificial intelligence, electric cars, and advancing space travel.

But our primary strategy for heating homes is still “burning stuff”.

We pump gas, propane, or oil into a traditional furnace and light the fuel on fire to keep houses warm. It’s an archaic solution—like sending a fax instead of an email.

Furnaces are popular because the majority of HVAC is replaced in emergency “no heat” situations. The default option becomes a like-for-like replacement (swapping an old furnace for a new furnace) because it’s quick and easy.

HVAC is a top 5 most expensive purchase that a homeowner will make in their lifetime, and we rush the decision by ignoring equipment until it breaks.

Choosing the right HVAC system is an opportunity to improve homes. HVAC is the biggest factor for indoor comfort and air quality, and the chance to pick the right system only comes around every 15 to 20 years.

Heat pumps operate like two-way air conditioners. In the winter, they take heat (energy) from the outside air and use it to heat homes.

So, what makes heat pumps the right decision?

Because electric products are just… better

Consumer experiences matter, and electric products create better experiences. The quality of electric appliances (like heat pumps, electric vehicles, induction cooking, and electric yard tools) surpassed gas alternatives in recent years.

For now, there continues to be a place for gas appliances in niche situations. But the overwhelming consensus is that electric products are better than gas products

A few examples:

1. Oversized furnaces are the primary cause of comfort issues. Heat pumps are the direct solution—they can be properly sized to match the heating and cooling needs of a house, improving comfort and eliminating hot and cold rooms.
2. EVs are more fun to drive, while being quicker, quieter, more convenient, and lower maintenance. The stress of “range anxiety” has largely disappeared with better infrastructure and battery performance.
3. Electric yard tools are quieter, safer, and lower maintenance than gas tools.
4. Gas stoves increase the risk of asthma in children. Induction is safer and healthier while offering similar control and faster boiling times.

The performance gap of electric over gas is growing. Every generation of electric products takes a leap forward while gas appliances stay largely the same.

Over the last decade, gas furnaces have increased from 90% to 97% efficiency. That’s the only change.

By comparison, cold climate heat pumps achieve efficiency ratings above 300% by moving heat instead of burning fuel to create heat. Heat pumps continue to improve, both in efficiency, reliability, and cold weather performance. They’re a proven success in cold climates like Canada, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

Heat pumps can also be sized to provide the right amount of heating and cooling at any given time, and the lack of combustion eliminates the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks, and explosions.

A sustainable world is an electric world

The cost of ignoring climate change continues to grow.

There’s no way around it. Ignoring climate change won’t solve it.

The frequency and severity of wildfires in North America are a key example. Large parts of the US are becoming uninsurable as the damage risk becomes untenable for banks and insurance companies.

These aren’t political choices, it’s the free market working: climate change is bad for business.

When we choose to not take action, it increases pain and suffering without decreasing the economic burden. We’ll have to implement the same solutions, but we’ll have to pay more to rebuild and replace more infrastructure and homes along the way.

Delaying action is the more expensive choice.

Heat pumps are part of the solution because they create a path to sustainable heating. They can be powered by renewables, either on-site or within grids.

We have access to the cheapest source of electricity in human history: solar. We choose not to embrace and scale renewables for political reasons. It’s a people problem, not a technical one.

We’re fortunate that the sustainable option (heat pumps) is also the choice that improves the comfort, health, and safety of homes.

Energy (in)dependence matters

Heat pumps and renewables allow homeowners and countries to heat and power their homes with local energy. It makes homes and communities resilient against geopolitics and global energy costs.

A house can be entirely energy independent by combining a heat pump and electric appliances with rooftop solar and battery storage.

Conversely, you can’t extract and refine oil in your backyard. If you rely on combustion heating, then you’re dependent on the person or country that supplies your oil and gas. A situation that played out with Europe’s reliance on Russian gas.

In the tenuous landscape of global politics, energy dependence is a risk.

Heat pumps are the future of heating and cooling because they create a path to sustainable heating powered by renewables. They create comfortable, healthy, sustainable homes that benefit from energy independence and improve consumer experiences.

 By Piotr Ostrowski, Online Travel Operations Director at Oojo

This year has marked significant strides toward a major consolidation of crypto assets, particularly in Latin America. Just a few years ago El Salvador, for example, took the initiative in promoting financial inclusion and became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as a legal tender worldwide. With Argentina leading the region in terms of cryptocurrency value received at an estimated $91.1 billion (slightly ahead of Brazil’s estimated $90.3 billion^*), the region holds a lot of promise of being the next “it” destination for major crypto developments. The young, tech-savvy population is hungry for changes in the financial sector and is therefore driving crypto adoption further, boldly positioning the region as a leader across the globe.

As cryptocurrency continues to gain momentum, its impact on various sectors, travel, is becoming impossible to ignore. However, the need for robust security and tighter regulations has become a critical roadblock to crypto’s growth. Without these safeguards in place, both users and businesses could face significant risks, making these precautions the essential baggage that ensures the smooth journey of crypto in the travel world. 

Setting Sail with Crypto

Let’s face it: crypto is becoming an integral part of the travel industry. About 67% of consumers in Latin America express interest in using cryptocurrency for travel, alongside traditional payment methods^**. In countries with limited access to traditional banking, like Argentina and Venezuela, travelers are turning to crypto-friendly booking platforms, such as Travala or Skylux Travel; such platforms allow crypto-powered payments for flights, hotels, and activities, therefore winning clients‘ confidence. 

As traditional payment methods might come with hefty exchange fees and delays, cryptocurrency for travel payments offers a fast, secure, and cost-effective way to make cross-border payments straight away. As an example, imagine a traveler from Argentina booking a trip to Mexico. Traditional payment methods would require hefty exchange fees, especially with Argentina’s restrictive currency policies. But, when it comes to crypto, the same traveler can pay directly and instantaneously – skipping the middlemen and keeping costs in check.

In other words, the payments can be made anytime from anywhere, without being tied to a specific banking system, which is particularly useful for families relying on remittances. But to set sail smoothly, crypto needs the right regulatory winds, or else its potential in travel could hit rough waters.

The Watchdogs of Crypto

I know what you’re thinking – crypto in LatAm smells fishy. But it’s more like a fresh catch with real substance, as crypto assets are adding a real thick layer to Latin America’s economy, plus regulatory bodies are stepping in to provide a stable legal ground. Crypto assets offer Latin America a very appealing benefit – it offers stability, which is particularly meaningful keeping in mind that economies in Latin America are historically sensitive to inflation and currency fluctuations. 

While cryptocurrency regulations in Latin American countries vary widely with countries like Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela taking restrictive measures towards crypto and either prohibiting or keeping it to the bare minimum, most of countries in Latin America are opting a comprehensive regulatory framework of cryptocurrencies, recognizing Bitcoin as legal tender while also introducing stricter oversight and progressive income tax frameworks.

In Colombia, for example, an estimated 11.3% of the population has used or owns cryptocurrencies, which represents approximately 5.7 million people in the country – the numbers are indeed very promising. Colombia, for example, has implemented a regulatory sandbox through its Financial Superintendence (SFC), where it tests and assesses crypto business models in a controlled setting, and a new, stronger standard is expected already by 2025ⁱⁱⁱ. This includes mandatory registration, transparency, and strict AML/KYC policies to align with global standards—positioning Colombia as a secure and attractive crypto market.

New regulations are in process, with the objective of boosting transparency and protecting investors by requiring crypto companies to disclose product risks. Such standards bring crypto closer to traditional finance practices, reducing fraud and market manipulation risks.

On top of that, the entire region is undergoing a significant shift in regulatory frameworks, driven by its Central Bank which is taking the initiative to provide safer legal ground for both businesses and users alike.

Clearing the Air

For the industry, crypto payments reduce user friction which used to be a major hindering factor when booking travel. But if these new forms of payment are not secure, reliable, and properly guided, the whole system essentially collapses – without any chance of ever recovering user trust. 

Latin America’s crypto journey is just taking off. Global and borderless, crypto and tourism make the perfect marriage material, and as the legal setting is now being arranged, this pairing looks ready for its ‘happily ever after’.