August 13, 2025 • 37 mins
Mickelle Weber appeared on Radiant and Regulated with Alicia Inspired. Alicia is a coach for sensitive, ambitious women and invited Mickelle to speak about what it truly means to lead, innovate, and mother without burning out. Together, they explore the tension between ambition and sensitivity, the invisible labor of living abroad, and the radical act of designing a business that is rooted in a female founder and global belonging and how it all, down to the purpose of HOP is related to her human design chart.
Mickelle reflects on building House of Peregrine as a mother of three, a film director-turned-founder, and a highly intuitive leader creating space for international lives to feel less fragmented and more whole. The conversation touches on self-permission, energetic boundaries, redefining success, and the unspoken grief of feeling like an outsider—while also celebrating the beauty of resonance, innovation, and interconnection.
Key Moments:
- Behind House of Peregrine – Identifying and building for a niche.
- Redefining Success as a Sensitive CEO & Mother – Trading burnout for innovative balance.
- Feminine Business Practices – The power that comes when intuition and structure co-exist.
- Leading with “Small-e” Entitlement – Reclaiming the right to create a business that might not be obvious to others.
- Creating a Culture of Belonging – Creating a Place of Belonging and Identity.
- The Power of Knowing Your Shadows – That’s where the greatest gifts often hide.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Radiant and Regulated with Alicia Inspired:
Breaking Free From People Pleasing – Radiant and Regulated
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hey there. Before we get started, I just
wanted to come on and ask you all a favor.
In our research, we've discovered that the vast
majority of you do not actually like and subscribe to our
podcast. And so if I could ask you to do
so, I won't ask you for anythingelse.
And I promise to make this podcast the best I can.
Every day, me and the team really strive to do that for
(00:21):
you. And so if you could do this for
us, we would be eternally grateful.
Thank you so much. Hi, I'm Michael Weber, founder
and auteur of House of Peregrine.
Expat, immigrant, pioneer. None of these were a fit, but
Peregrine describes what we are all about perfectly.
Those that craft their life story with intention.
(00:45):
I've spent the last six years inawe of the life changing
connections and stories I've experienced while living abroad
and believe it is time for this adventure to be recognized,
celebrated, and elevated to the life stage that it is.
Through these interviews, I hopeto connect those living
internationally more deeply to both the place they are living
(01:05):
and with themselves and those around them.
We cover everything from international finances and
meaning making to global parenting and relationships to
make your time abroad more intentional, edifying and full
of beauty. Find us at houseofperegrine.com
where you can find more ways to connect with the ethos of
Peregrine. I hope you enjoy today's guest.
(01:28):
Let's get started. Hello everyone and welcome back
to the House of Peregrine podcast.
I'm Michael Weber and today I'm re sharing a conversation that
originally aired on radiant and regulated with Alicia inspired.
If you've been listening to the podcast recently, you might
remember Alicia from her episodethat we did together here on the
House of Peregrine podcast wherewe talked about basic nervous
(01:51):
system care, how to recognize early signs of burnout, and she
shared her story about her own burnout that many of you might
recognize. That conversation struck A chord
with so many of you, and I thinkthis one might too.
This time, Alicia invited me onto her podcast, and we had an
incredibly heartfelt and honest conversation about why I started
House of Peregrine, the tension between ambition and
(02:13):
sensitivity, and how to keep growing as a woman CEO without
burning out. We talked about building a
creative business rooted in belonging and feminine
principles, what it means to live far from where you started,
and how to be a woman, a CEO, and live with connection and
intention while still really thriving and succeeding.
(02:34):
I'm really grateful for the space that Alicia was able to
hold in the conversation and thehonesty that I was able to
actually come to the conversation with, and so I'm
really excited to share it here with you.
It's one of my favorite conversations I've ever had on
air to date. So if you enjoy what you hear, I
definitely encourage you to check out more of Alicia's work
on Radiant and Regulated. And her work in the world is
(02:56):
very important. So I'm excited to have been on
her podcast and bring her work to you.
All right, I hope you enjoy. Welcome to Alicia Inspired, the
podcast the place for sensitive,ambitious women who crave
success without sacrificing well-being.
I'm your host, Alicia. I'm a coach, mentor, speaker and
(03:18):
teacher that combines the wisdomof your body, the power of your
mind, and the magic of the mystical to help create a life
that you love. Let's do this.
Hi everyone, welcome back to thepodcast.
I'm so excited to share today's episode with you, especially if
you've ever felt like your ambition and your sensitivity
(03:41):
were somehow at odds with each other.
Today I'm joined by the brilliant Mikhail Weber, the
founder of House of Peregrine, which is a project that's
redefining what it means to liveand connect internationally.
Today, we're talking about the challenges that come with being
a highly sensitive, intuitive woman in leadership and what it
(04:04):
takes to grow a business withoutburning yourself out.
If you're a sensitive entrepreneur or you dream of
building something impactful, this episode feels like a warm
permission slip to do things your way.
Let's get into it. Oh, welcome, Mikhail.
(04:25):
I'm so happy that you're here. Would you like to introduce
yourself and your business? Absolutely.
Thank you so much for having me.First of all, Alicia, I really
am excited to be here with you today and to talk about
everything you have going on with with your work as well.
My name is Mikhail Weber, I'm the founder and CEO of House of
Peregrine, which is a platform and Co working Co creating space
(04:49):
for international people. We started a few years ago and
are now growing our community and platform for people around
the world to be able to live globally native lives.
So exciting. I love this so much.
What inspired you to start Houseof Peregrine?
So I was inspired by starting House of Peregrine because I
realized there is not an infrastructure for the way I
(05:11):
wanted to live life. I felt very much like a global
citizen, someone who had more ofAI, just saw the world as my
playground a little bit, which is naive and maybe a little bit
privileged, but I wanted everyone else to be able to feel
that way too. So after I moved abroad, I
realized that it just takes a lot of time and energy and
(05:32):
there's no culture around it. So it can be kind of lonely, it
can be kind of isolating. But also when you meet people
from around the world that you have more in common with than
you do with the people you grew up with, there's not a better
feeling in the world to find that residence.
And so for me, that was the spark that started House of
Peregrine. Peregrine means outsider, but
(05:53):
it's the fastest bird in the world.
So a peregrine Falcon can live on any continent of the world.
But again, it means outsider this feeling that when you move
abroad or you live in two different countries or are from
multiple countries, you're neveractually going to belong to one
place ever again. And that creates a very unique
group of people that are actually spread out across the
(06:15):
world. But when they find each other,
like I said, it's magic. Absolutely.
And I can relate to this so much.
Being a third culture kid and growing up in different cultures
and not really having my own cultural identity.
I always find that I connect best with people who have also
lived in other countries becausethere's this sort of shared
experience of like, oh, you knowwhat I'm going through.
(06:38):
And I love that you've created this community to help support
expats, essentially, because like you said, there's not
really a support. You're kind of just expected,
you know, land in a country onceyou've got a job, find a house,
and then you're good. But there's so many layers that
go so much deeper than that in truly finding connection and
(06:59):
belonging. And it also takes a lot of time,
yeah. It takes a lot of time.
It's a, it's a muscle you you develop and the people who do it
well develop this skill. But what I really was missing
was an an acknowledgement that this is actually a cultural
identity in a way. You're never going to integrate
the same way someone who's livedthere.
You're expected to integrate, which is the goal, but you're
(07:22):
never ever going to actually fully integrate in more than one
place. And so that that notion and that
reality is actually hard, but it's also really beautiful.
It's just that lack of connection that is missing with
other people. So you're not wondering, am I
just broken? Why do I feel like I'll never
belong? Am I just lazy?
(07:43):
Or do I just have more to do? Because integrating plus living
life actually turns out to take a lot of time.
And so, yeah, that that actual infrastructure, like I keep
saying, just isn't present because it's so hidden.
Yeah. And it's so valuable to have a
community like this because I know from my experience, when I
(08:05):
moved to Amsterdam, it was really hard for me to find
community and groups of friends because people had grown up
together and they were a bit like, oh, yeah, nice.
But we have our own friends. We don't really need you.
So to find a place where everyone's like, I'll be your
friend, I need, I need community.
I need friends is super, super. Yeah.
It's really valuable. That's an additional thing.
(08:27):
It happens when you move to a new country.
You're suddenly in that freefall, which is actually a
really exciting time where you're looking for connection,
but the whole city's not lookingfor connection.
There's just a lot of people whoare that don't know how to find
each other. Yeah.
What would you say is the biggest internal challenge
you've had in growing House of Peregrine?
So I grew up in my early career working in advertising.
(08:51):
So I was a freelance film director for 10 years and worked
in advertising, and I had all mytime to work and develop my
skills. Then I worked as an investor for
startups and just saw how businesses actually put together
in a way that requires all of you all the time.
And then I had children. I have three children within
five years and realized I don't have that time to dedicate.
(09:15):
I can't build a business the same way someone in their 20s
can. But does that really mean that I
can't build a business? And so the struggle of it has
actually turned into the opportunity, which is the
question and the determination and almost like the right, I
feel like I have to be able to build a business and be a mom
and have kids that should be able to exist.
(09:37):
Like I have this deep belief that that will create a better
company. I'm not better in the sense it's
better than the others, but there's room in the world for
different kinds of businesses. The House of Peregrine is one of
them. And so that's been the biggest
internal challenge is actually having that.
I don't even know, Like it's like, it's a determination, but
like, I just feel like I have the right and, and keeping that
(09:57):
faith that I have the right to create the same way someone else
who can, you know, eat ramen andbe on their couch does.
Yeah, that's been the hardest internal battle, I think.
Yeah, that's a really powerful viewpoint because a lot of
people would use that as an excuse, or not an excuse, but as
a limitation, right? I can't build a business, I
(10:19):
can't follow my dreams because Ihave children, I have other
responsibilities and I don't have time.
And you've managed to. Show.
People that you can have both like that it's possible to
create. And yeah, we've gotten to know
each other pretty well, which isreally nice.
Like you're very creative, you're very ambitious, but
you're also quite a sensitive person.
(10:41):
So how have you been able to grow your business without
depleting yourself and driving yourself crazy?
I was trying to do mothering a certain way and expatting a
certain way and partnering a certain way, but my nervous
system is hooked in so deeply toeach of those things and I
didn't know it. So when I have three children
(11:03):
who are also very sensitive, I could feel everything they were
going through. People would say, oh, you're
such an intuitive mother. I'm like, how can you not see
that? So without the knowledge of that
it, I was designing my life in avery, very bad way for my
nervous system and taking on challenges that were never going
to lead to me being able to be full ever.
(11:23):
And so I had to completely redesign from scratch what my
strengths are, what my weaknesses are, what my goals
are, what my values are, what I want as a mother, and then build
a business around that. So it's not having it all, it's
having just the right thing. That's a really powerful shift
to focus on what you value and what's right for you, rather
(11:46):
than what necessarily they tell you in the business world of
what it means to be successful. Yeah.
It's it's defining success, but it's also defining what satiates
you actually, what is actual satisfaction?
Because there's a lot of things that people tell you you need.
And if you go after all those things, you're gonna at least
me, I'm going to burn out. But what is the exact right
(12:09):
thing I'm craving at just the right time and having I keep
forgetting the word I'm looking for.
It's the thing we always say menhave that we don't, which is
like entitlement. It's the entitlement accepting
that I am entitled to build a business.
And again, that's a dirty word, but I think women don't take it
on enough. Like I'm entitled to build a
business. I'm entitled as a mother to
(12:31):
still create and in a soft way, not in AI deserve this, which I
do and everybody does. But we don't all deserve the
same thing. We're not all craving the same
thing. There's not just one way.
And so that entitlement is what I guess would get me through and
it's entitlement with a small E,I'm entitled to the things that
(12:52):
I'm entitled to. Right.
Yeah, exactly for what's right for you.
And yeah, like we talk about this in the spiritual world as
well, that they say whatever it is that you desire is destined
for you because that's your desire, and your desire might be
different from someone else's desire.
And so exactly what you're saying that we each have to kind
of follow our own path. I'm really curious, what is your
(13:16):
version of success now and has it changed from when you
started? My version of success now.
So when I first started, I went through, I had to go through it
because there were no models andthere still isn't a lot of
models of women leading like women instead of leading by men.
So working in the film industry,I was very much emulating how a
(13:36):
man would make a film, how it and I always had these things
like, Oh, that'd be a really cool thing.
And then I'd be like, no, so I really got this message, like
the way you natively would do itis wrong.
You have to emulate a man how a man would do it.
And so that was my version of success as well is what a
version of success would be for a man, which is very important
that they have the right to their success and their version
(14:00):
of that. And, and I'm actually really
empathetic to that, but that doesn't mean that that looks
like for me. So I'm feeling my way through
that every day actually. And so I went from having a full
time nanny to working full time,trying to get back to working
full time plus and just felt my way through that.
I don't want to do that. Not I feel guilty not being with
(14:22):
my kids. It's all about them.
It's like I don't want that. And it again, it's, it took a
long path of being able to say what I want is best for
everybody and trusting what I want will be best for my entire
family. That is a was a really powerful
turn for me. And so following that day by
(14:43):
day, moment by moment, and actually year by year, I
actually don't know what the endlooks like.
I'm just trusting myself to be able to feel my way through.
And that will be my journey because without knowing I want
to be like Steven Spielberg, like I don't have a model of
someone. I'm creating my own hero, or
heroin if you will. And that's.
(15:05):
I know it's not a very satisfying answer, but I've had
to accept it. Yeah.
And it's, it's very feminine actually, to keep feeling into
because that feminine energy, itmoves in cycles and it changes
and it evolves. And so to keep checking in with
yourself, like, OK, what still feels a line for me right now?
What still feels good? Does this resonate?
(15:26):
Is this still what I want? And being able to adjust in that
way, I think is really, really powerful.
What are some ways that are? Would you describe the feminine
way of doing it? So like verse doing it like a
man, as you said. I think part of it comes down to
knowing that I have that inner masculine that will that I check
(15:46):
in with as well, right? So it's like do House of
Peregrine could very easily be avolunteer organization.
It's not, it's a for profit company.
And so I think what I'm really grateful for is I've developed
that masculine in myself and nowI can rely on it.
And so now it's like, how do I take those parameters of knowing
(16:07):
what, what is important to me asa, and my masculine energy?
And how do I let my feminine play and do the thing it's
supposed to do, which is to feel, to express, to create,
while also checking in with my masculine side.
And so that trust developing my feminine is now my, my pleasure
and my, I feel like that's what came from all those years of, I
(16:31):
guess, learning that craft of how to exist in a man's world.
And now how do I create a Woman's World?
And that it's actually probably the pleasure of my life is to be
able to do this part. And so I guess that balance is
really, really important to me, and I wish we could do it a
different way. I wish we could not have women
(16:52):
go through the trenches of a man's world first.
But that's been my journey. Yeah, in a way it's almost
learning. OK, how do I not want to do
things? This is the way that it works.
And how can I bring a new spin to it or do it in my own way?
Did you know the House of Peregrine has an app?
(17:13):
It is full of resources, information and products to make
life as an international more connected and more intentional.
As a member of House of Peregrine, you also now have
access to exclusive discounts, products, guides and events to
make lifemorefunandconnected.simplydownloadtheapp@houseofperegrine.com
and save it to your home screen.OK, back to the show.
(17:38):
Yeah, For me, it feels very muchlike I see the banks of the
river. Do I want to create a New River?
Do I want to go to a different river?
Once I land in that river, whichis for me, this business, how do
I play within it? So now it's all feminine.
So it's not how do I not want todo it.
It's what do I want to commit myenergy to what?
What is going to fit my version of what is important and then
(18:00):
just go crazy in that space? Yeah, I'm choosing this and then
I'm just applying myself to that.
Yeah, that's so much. It's more inspiring and
empowering way to approach it, to keep checking in with the
desire, right? What?
How do I want to do this? Yeah, it's an innovative.
So I'm a natural innovator and so it's an innovative way.
So how do I innovate in this space that I think is important?
(18:23):
It's checks on my boxes. I can relax into this being my
problem to solve. And then within those parameters
I get to flow in that. And so it's very much going
towards something that's I have been and still am a very, very
big feminist and a believer in this.
Again, yeah, this word I keep. I hate using entitlement, but it
(18:43):
doesn't have to be against something it we really do have
the opportunity to create something new.
So when you make decisions in your business, would you say
that they're more strategy LED or intuitive or both?
You know, I think I've had to learn my own process.
And so I think what it comes from for me is again, that
(19:05):
structure like we need to be profitable.
I want us to be profitable. That's what I want.
And why do I want to be profitable?
So that I can grow, so I can do things the way I do things,
which I believe in my heart and my soul that I will be able to
provide something different for people who need it.
And so that's the very masculinepart of me, the provider, right?
(19:25):
So then when we make decisions, it's all based on that.
So can it be profitable? Can we build it in a way that's
our way and can we use the knowledge from the business
world that's very well been set up by men to use some of those
tools or some of those theories?And if not, we need to innovate.
And so that's how we make decisions.
Is it comes from are we a business?
(19:47):
Yes, we're a business. Do we need to provide for the
people that depend on us? Yes.
And then we flow and innovate inthere.
There's no sacredness about where we pull our inspiration.
Is it from a man's world? Is it from a?
You know, Native American, like it's just like very, very after
that, after it's been determinedthat we've taken it on, then
(20:10):
it's very much how can we make this happen in the best way?
Yeah, and that's where the creativity starts to come in.
Creativity, innovation. This is where our values come
in. How do we make it peregrine?
If we can't make it peregrine, we don't do it.
And that is led by Magic Beauty Connection.
And then it has to it. We're a business again, we're
(20:31):
not a nonprofit. And so that was a very big
decision for me because people always ask me because I'm a
woman and because I'm a creativeperson.
They're like, oh, so you're running a nonprofit?
And I'm like, absolutely not. I'm not running a nonprofit.
And not because I don't believe in them, because it's not right
for me. I can't support the people and
the causes I want to by being a nonprofit.
Yeah. And it's really important to
(20:51):
have that clear distinction within yourself with every
decision you make, right? Or what's right for you.
Yeah. Have you always seen yourself as
a leader? I didn't see myself as a leader,
but I kept getting put even froma very young age into leadership
positions. And so leadership finds me and I
(21:12):
tried to fight it for a really long time.
And that was one of my journeys,which sounds like not a journey,
right? It's almost like this
entitlement word. And I think these are journeys
that women are taking. And so I feel like I'm being met
in that more and more. But it's like, how do I own my
my entitlement? How do I own my leadership?
Because I don't see myself as a particularly strong leader
(21:32):
because I didn't see women leading.
I only, I grew up in a very patriarchal place where men LED,
women followed. Even if they were leading, they
were following and so I had to actually accept that my
leadership style is valid even though it doesn't look a certain
way. Yeah, absolutely.
And how would you describe your leadership style?
(21:56):
I think it's led by connection, but also I tend to see things in
people that they don't see. And again, this is often spun in
women as something you shouldn'tlike, but I see potential in
people that they don't often see.
And so bringing people to that first and then helping them and
not even helping them, they're helping me.
I feel like they're helping me more than I'm helping them.
(22:17):
But them blossoming thing bring something to me as well.
And seeing that that's a synergetic relationship, it's
not only important, but it's essential to bring certain types
of talents and things to the world.
Yeah, the power of collaboration, essentially,
right? We're much stronger together
than if we try to do it all ourselves.
So I'm curious, how did you start to really embody that type
(22:40):
of leadership? How did you start to own that
and claim them be like, actually, yes, I am going to
lead. I'm going to lead this business.
I'm going to lead this vision. Well it's still a day-to-day so
every day someone will say this is never going to work.
But I think what I learned is when you find the right people
around you, again, this Co creation, this collaboration,
when other people see in you what they need or they can work
(23:04):
with, that's a validating process.
And once you do it once or twice, you're like, that helps.
But then after a while you get this.
And again, I wish this for everywoman is this feeling that
you're being supported the way you've seen other leaders who
are more have a different leadership style you again, that
entitlement that you should be supported in your vision comes
(23:26):
more easily now. But it took a really long time
to recognize that my sensitivity, any neurodivergence
I have, anything I'm seeing thatothers don't is valid and
important and that it sounds so sad, but that has been my
journey to just I have the rightto exist.
I have the right to build and create what I want in the world.
(23:49):
It doesn't have to be validated by someone who doesn't have that
experience. It's an ongoing journey, but at
least I'm not at the beginning of it anymore.
Yeah, and I feel like what you said, this is a journey that so
many women have to take, exactlywhat you said, that there's just
not many examples. And women have always just been
taught to follow. I have so many clients that
(24:10):
especially when I go into their human design chart, I'm like,
wow, there's a lot of leadershipin here.
The first reaction is, oh, no, I'm not a leader.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no. And when I asked them like, why?
It's because they've seen examples of leadership that they
don't agree with. And they say that feels really
unnatural for me to to to be in that mold.
(24:32):
And so it's always this discussion about, OK, but what
does leadership look like for you?
What do you actually desire froma leader yourself?
And how can you share that with other people?
Yeah. And, and as women, I'm sorry
about the noise we're having a everyone.
We are on the center of Amsterdam and this is what
happens. They are constantly rebuilding.
(24:53):
We're, we're, we're. Rebuilding out there?
Well, we're rebuilding in here. I think it's really, really,
it's in the end, it's beautiful that we're creating our own
heroes. We are our own heroine, right?
And that it's tiring and it's tragic and, and it makes me,
it's the tragedy of my life thatI have to be my own hero.
(25:15):
But I do think that there's something in that that I wanted.
So if I look at the natural Innovator and myself, I probably
would have, even if I had 20 heroines that I was looking up
to, I probably would have found my own way anyway.
So I have to believe it's for a purpose that even if it's for my
own daughters, that that's enough purpose for me.
(25:35):
The examples we've had are amazing, right?
Like I'm not knocking it. Women who are doing jobs like
men, that's amazing. I, if they want to do that, let
them. That's just not what my nervous
system and my goals were. But it's also not to be stay at
home mom. There's not two options.
There's not two options. There's billions of options.
And so that is the most empowering thing I can think of
(25:59):
as you can build it however you want.
Of course it's harder, but what you're building is not a
business. What you're building is your
hero and a business. So we're doing more, but
bringing that to the world, in my opinion, is the most
important thing we can be doing right now and supporting those
women who are doing the job likemen, not discounting them, not
(26:21):
discounting stay at home moms. But like we have a lot to bring
to leadership and to business and to the school and to the
world. And so just allowing for that
again is is part of the paradigmshift.
Yeah, I completely agree. And I also think that leaders
who do embody more sensitivity, sensitivity has always been kind
(26:46):
of seen as a weakness or something negative.
But actually I'm seeing more andmore that that sensitivity is so
valuable in leadership because you're very attuned to what's
happening in your team with other people with how does this
feel? This very intuitive, I think.
I think people who are sensitivehave a lot of value to bring.
(27:09):
Yeah. And the skill of bringing that
to bear in business has actuallybeen a really.
So I've been on this journey of taking my sensitivity at work
and then I'm suddenly helping everyone out.
They're not supporting me. That's the, that was my first
stop on this journey is like, oh, no, how I don't want to take
advantage of anyone. Business is extractive.
I just need to be there for themand they'll reciprocate.
(27:32):
That's not true. Actually, that's a really good
way to burn out. Again, the way I'm looking at it
now is it's a filter. So I am who I am.
There's a filter of sensitivity and there's a business filter
and there's, so there's all these filters that I uniquely
have that I'm putting over the overlay of my interactions with
others. There's also the interlay of who
(27:53):
I am to them. And that's important.
It's important to have that boundary.
Who am I to you? My sensitivity on top of that
and my business always there, right?
That that's my my baby, if it will this people say it's your
baby all the time. And so it's very much that skill
of bringing sensitivity after who you are to them and being
(28:14):
who they need you to be to them a first.
Then the sensitivity that was a really important.
It sounds really technical and really nerdy, but for me that
has been a big unlock of we're not just human to human.
I wish that was how we could do things.
But I'm the CEO of a company that has to come first.
Then the sensitivity, right? So keeping that boundary is not
(28:35):
doesn't come naturally to me. And I actually thought it was
evil and a power imbalance or something just icky, but it's
important. And so accepting that has been a
very, yeah, part of my journey, I guess, Yeah.
And I'm curious because I know your human design chart,
actually. We did.
You did a great. You did a great job.
(28:55):
I loved it. It was so fun and there's a lot
in your energy that really values community and connecting
people together. So it's really no surprise that
you've created this amazing community and House of
Peregrine. But also in your energy, besides
the sensitivity there is this need to just be on your own like
(29:15):
and just have your alone time todischarge.
So how do you protect your energy when you're running a
business that is so community focused?
Yeah. And as you saw, my chart is full
of a lot of contradictions. So first of all, accepting
those, and it's actually the hardest part about that is being
a mom, not being a business owner.
(29:37):
And so being a mom actually, again, that entitlement to my
own space when you have 3 toddlers was a journey on its
own. People telling you you're
selfish telling are you even telling yourself you're selfish,
telling yourself, why do I need this?
So how do I do it? I accepted something I need and
that it's just, it just is now. And I explained to my kids, I
(30:01):
just need to read by the fire. Can you can you snuggle with me?
You can't talk to me. And so they, we have a, we have
language for this in the companyand in my family where mommy is
sensitive. So are you like we're built
differently. We have a lot of neurodiversity
in our family that's highly masked.
And so learning that is a game changer for kids.
(30:22):
Why you get to take your space. You don't want to have a play
date every day. Great.
There's language around that. You need time.
So it's really being in touch with and accepting your unique
needs and communicating to them with those of you who are
closest to you and having them accept it as well.
There's not one model of human. Luckily, we're learning that.
There's not one human mother. We're learning that.
(30:45):
But I think that process of identification, acceptance,
communicating it to others and having them accept who you are
uniquely is it sounds basic. Again, it was a long process,
but that's how I do it. I communicate with people at who
will accept my unique blueprint and mark in the world.
(31:06):
Yeah, and your boundaries as well, right.
And it's such a it's such a powerful model to teach your
children this as well that you, that they can also tune into
themselves and be like, what do I actually want?
Maybe I don't want this right now.
Maybe I need this right now and that that's all OK because
there's no, there's no wrong boundary, right?
(31:28):
Like it's just based on what youneed and how you're feeling.
So to be able to honor that as it changes day by day is just
it's really powerful. For me, it's not only a
boundary, it's your need is so important in the world because
it will change the world. If you identify what's inside of
you, it will fundamentally change the world for everyone
(31:49):
for the better. That's a deep belief of mine
that if sensitive people were totune in and express their needs,
the entire world will change literally overnight.
That that's a deep believe I have.
And so training people to be thesame type of person is actually
a lot of violence for the world and for the individual.
(32:09):
So just, I think I just deeply believe that now, but that's
been a long journey of not only is it not unfair, it's unjust.
It's violence. It's actually depleting the
world of what is needed, actually.
Yeah, it takes a lot of energy to not be yourself and to try to
be someone else and to constantly self abandoned as
(32:32):
well is. Not, not bring your gifts that
that's the third tragedy, that there's all this other stuff
that they're the 3rd or 4th tragedy is you're not bringing
what you need to to the world. And that is what makes me want
to cry. Yeah, yeah.
Because just being who you are can change someone's life, can
(32:55):
inspire people can. Yeah.
It's it's really, really powerful.
Can bring new businesses into the world.
Can nurture the people who need to bring businesses into the
world. We don't talk about enough how
leadership happens at every level.
Leadership is following. Following is leadership.
It's just the partner to the leadership and women who want to
(33:17):
do that are massively valuable in the world.
We don't always have to be the the figurehead, but we do need
to register it as a valuable. That is where we've gone wrong.
It's not the person who's leading that's the most
important. They are just the one in front.
And so I think not recognizing the value of every kind of
(33:40):
person in the world, it's, it's a disservice to humanity.
It is, I completely agree. And so the more people we can
get connected to their authenticself, the better it's going to
be. Yeah, yeah, of course, of
course. And and so that's again these
convictions. Get me up in the morning.
I love it. What advice would you give to
(34:02):
sensitive, intuitive entrepreneurs who want to build
something meaningful? Maybe they've started, maybe
they haven't, but they're afraidof that burnout.
They're afraid of the visibilityand showing up and being seen as
a leader and and the uncertaintythat comes with creating
something when you don't know the endpoint.
(34:24):
I think my biggest advice would be to start with your shadows,
because there's a shadow side. They're a fear to everything you
think is good about you. And if you know that better than
anybody, then that gives you a lot of power.
And so I learned the shadow sideof my passion and love is anger.
And that was a really powerful thing.
So I know now when I'm angry, that is something I love.
(34:48):
But before I I just thought I was angry all the time.
The world wasn't built for me. And so I think when we're
sensitive and we have had a lot of trauma, people misunderstand
us our whole lives. I think it's really easy to get
caught up on what you don't want, what you are afraid of and
letting that hold you back. And I would just really love for
sensitive people to to get through that faster, identify
(35:10):
that faster, know there's evil in everybody, including in you,
get to know your demons and thatthat will make you go farther
faster than anything I've ever learned.
Because it is really hard to grow up feeling misunderstood by
even yourself. That's really, really hard.
And that's OK to be angry about.But what I would love for people
to do is recognize that and and move through it faster just by
(35:34):
not thinking they're all good either.
Yeah. And it sounds really, really
silly, but it's it's what helpedme the most.
Yeah, embrace your humanness, right?
The good, the bad, the ugly, themessy.
It's that's just the more we make peace with that, the less
that behavior comes out in extremes.
Yeah, and in shadowy ways. And, and that's how my my first
(35:57):
foray into business was. Luckily it was like short lived
and I just started recognizing I'm trying to do the right thing
all the time because I don't want to hurt anybody because I
was hurt. And then that didn't help
anybody. I think it's really valuable
advice because it's not something people talk about a
lot, and yet it's that deep inner work that will bring you
forward in every area of your life.
(36:19):
And when we don't do that inner work, that's how we hold
ourselves back. It's been such a great
conversation. Thank you so much, Mikel.
How can people connect with you?Connect with House of Peregrine?
So you can connect with me on LinkedIn.
So Mikel Weber, you can connect with House of Peregrine at House
of Peregrine on Instagram, Tiktok, YouTube, our website,
(36:40):
houseofperegrine.com. And there you can write for us.
You can create with us. You can come to events, you can
do a lot of things on there, so just check it out.
If you are in that space, this is a great place for you.
Yes, I agree because I'm part ofthe space and I really enjoy it
as well. Thank you so much you.
(37:02):
Too. Thanks for having me on.
OK, that's it for today. I hope you've enjoyed our show.
For the latest insights on living internationally, join us
at houseofperegrine.com to find out how you can connect with our
community. Let's craft our life story with
intention, together.
Hey there. Before we get started, I just
wanted to come on and ask you all a favor.
In our research, we've discovered that the vast
majority of you do not actually like and subscribe to our
podcast. And so if I could ask you to do
so, I won't ask you for anythingelse.
And I promise to make this podcast the best I can.
Every day, me and the team really strive to do that for
(00:21):
you. And so if you could do this for
us, we would be eternally grateful.
Thank you so much. Hi, I'm Michael Weber, founder
and auteur of House of Peregrine.
Expat, immigrant, pioneer. None of these were a fit, but
Peregrine describes what we are all about perfectly.
Those that craft their life story with intention.
(00:45):
I've spent the last six years inawe of the life changing
connections and stories I've experienced while living abroad
and believe it is time for this adventure to be recognized,
celebrated, and elevated to the life stage that it is.
Through these interviews, I hopeto connect those living
internationally more deeply to both the place they are living
(01:05):
and with themselves and those around them.
We cover everything from international finances and
meaning making to global parenting and relationships to
make your time abroad more intentional, edifying and full
of beauty. Find us at houseofperegrine.com
where you can find more ways to connect with the ethos of
Peregrine. I hope you enjoy today's guest.
(01:28):
Let's get started. Hello everyone and welcome back
to the House of Peregrine podcast.
I'm Michael Weber and today I'm re sharing a conversation that
originally aired on radiant and regulated with Alicia inspired.
If you've been listening to the podcast recently, you might
remember Alicia from her episodethat we did together here on the
House of Peregrine podcast wherewe talked about basic nervous
(01:51):
system care, how to recognize early signs of burnout, and she
shared her story about her own burnout that many of you might
recognize. That conversation struck A chord
with so many of you, and I thinkthis one might too.
This time, Alicia invited me onto her podcast, and we had an
incredibly heartfelt and honest conversation about why I started
House of Peregrine, the tension between ambition and
(02:13):
sensitivity, and how to keep growing as a woman CEO without
burning out. We talked about building a
creative business rooted in belonging and feminine
principles, what it means to live far from where you started,
and how to be a woman, a CEO, and live with connection and
intention while still really thriving and succeeding.
(02:34):
I'm really grateful for the space that Alicia was able to
hold in the conversation and thehonesty that I was able to
actually come to the conversation with, and so I'm
really excited to share it here with you.
It's one of my favorite conversations I've ever had on
air to date. So if you enjoy what you hear, I
definitely encourage you to check out more of Alicia's work
on Radiant and Regulated. And her work in the world is
(02:56):
very important. So I'm excited to have been on
her podcast and bring her work to you.
All right, I hope you enjoy. Welcome to Alicia Inspired, the
podcast the place for sensitive,ambitious women who crave
success without sacrificing well-being.
I'm your host, Alicia. I'm a coach, mentor, speaker and
(03:18):
teacher that combines the wisdomof your body, the power of your
mind, and the magic of the mystical to help create a life
that you love. Let's do this.
Hi everyone, welcome back to thepodcast.
I'm so excited to share today's episode with you, especially if
you've ever felt like your ambition and your sensitivity
(03:41):
were somehow at odds with each other.
Today I'm joined by the brilliant Mikhail Weber, the
founder of House of Peregrine, which is a project that's
redefining what it means to liveand connect internationally.
Today, we're talking about the challenges that come with being
a highly sensitive, intuitive woman in leadership and what it
(04:04):
takes to grow a business withoutburning yourself out.
If you're a sensitive entrepreneur or you dream of
building something impactful, this episode feels like a warm
permission slip to do things your way.
Let's get into it. Oh, welcome, Mikhail.
(04:25):
I'm so happy that you're here. Would you like to introduce
yourself and your business? Absolutely.
Thank you so much for having me.First of all, Alicia, I really
am excited to be here with you today and to talk about
everything you have going on with with your work as well.
My name is Mikhail Weber, I'm the founder and CEO of House of
Peregrine, which is a platform and Co working Co creating space
(04:49):
for international people. We started a few years ago and
are now growing our community and platform for people around
the world to be able to live globally native lives.
So exciting. I love this so much.
What inspired you to start Houseof Peregrine?
So I was inspired by starting House of Peregrine because I
realized there is not an infrastructure for the way I
(05:11):
wanted to live life. I felt very much like a global
citizen, someone who had more ofAI, just saw the world as my
playground a little bit, which is naive and maybe a little bit
privileged, but I wanted everyone else to be able to feel
that way too. So after I moved abroad, I
realized that it just takes a lot of time and energy and
(05:32):
there's no culture around it. So it can be kind of lonely, it
can be kind of isolating. But also when you meet people
from around the world that you have more in common with than
you do with the people you grew up with, there's not a better
feeling in the world to find that residence.
And so for me, that was the spark that started House of
Peregrine. Peregrine means outsider, but
(05:53):
it's the fastest bird in the world.
So a peregrine Falcon can live on any continent of the world.
But again, it means outsider this feeling that when you move
abroad or you live in two different countries or are from
multiple countries, you're neveractually going to belong to one
place ever again. And that creates a very unique
group of people that are actually spread out across the
(06:15):
world. But when they find each other,
like I said, it's magic. Absolutely.
And I can relate to this so much.
Being a third culture kid and growing up in different cultures
and not really having my own cultural identity.
I always find that I connect best with people who have also
lived in other countries becausethere's this sort of shared
experience of like, oh, you knowwhat I'm going through.
(06:38):
And I love that you've created this community to help support
expats, essentially, because like you said, there's not
really a support. You're kind of just expected,
you know, land in a country onceyou've got a job, find a house,
and then you're good. But there's so many layers that
go so much deeper than that in truly finding connection and
(06:59):
belonging. And it also takes a lot of time,
yeah. It takes a lot of time.
It's a, it's a muscle you you develop and the people who do it
well develop this skill. But what I really was missing
was an an acknowledgement that this is actually a cultural
identity in a way. You're never going to integrate
the same way someone who's livedthere.
You're expected to integrate, which is the goal, but you're
(07:22):
never ever going to actually fully integrate in more than one
place. And so that that notion and that
reality is actually hard, but it's also really beautiful.
It's just that lack of connection that is missing with
other people. So you're not wondering, am I
just broken? Why do I feel like I'll never
belong? Am I just lazy?
(07:43):
Or do I just have more to do? Because integrating plus living
life actually turns out to take a lot of time.
And so, yeah, that that actual infrastructure, like I keep
saying, just isn't present because it's so hidden.
Yeah. And it's so valuable to have a
community like this because I know from my experience, when I
(08:05):
moved to Amsterdam, it was really hard for me to find
community and groups of friends because people had grown up
together and they were a bit like, oh, yeah, nice.
But we have our own friends. We don't really need you.
So to find a place where everyone's like, I'll be your
friend, I need, I need community.
I need friends is super, super. Yeah.
It's really valuable. That's an additional thing.
(08:27):
It happens when you move to a new country.
You're suddenly in that freefall, which is actually a
really exciting time where you're looking for connection,
but the whole city's not lookingfor connection.
There's just a lot of people whoare that don't know how to find
each other. Yeah.
What would you say is the biggest internal challenge
you've had in growing House of Peregrine?
So I grew up in my early career working in advertising.
(08:51):
So I was a freelance film director for 10 years and worked
in advertising, and I had all mytime to work and develop my
skills. Then I worked as an investor for
startups and just saw how businesses actually put together
in a way that requires all of you all the time.
And then I had children. I have three children within
five years and realized I don't have that time to dedicate.
(09:15):
I can't build a business the same way someone in their 20s
can. But does that really mean that I
can't build a business? And so the struggle of it has
actually turned into the opportunity, which is the
question and the determination and almost like the right, I
feel like I have to be able to build a business and be a mom
and have kids that should be able to exist.
(09:37):
Like I have this deep belief that that will create a better
company. I'm not better in the sense it's
better than the others, but there's room in the world for
different kinds of businesses. The House of Peregrine is one of
them. And so that's been the biggest
internal challenge is actually having that.
I don't even know, Like it's like, it's a determination, but
like, I just feel like I have the right and, and keeping that
(09:57):
faith that I have the right to create the same way someone else
who can, you know, eat ramen andbe on their couch does.
Yeah, that's been the hardest internal battle, I think.
Yeah, that's a really powerful viewpoint because a lot of
people would use that as an excuse, or not an excuse, but as
a limitation, right? I can't build a business, I
(10:19):
can't follow my dreams because Ihave children, I have other
responsibilities and I don't have time.
And you've managed to. Show.
People that you can have both like that it's possible to
create. And yeah, we've gotten to know
each other pretty well, which isreally nice.
Like you're very creative, you're very ambitious, but
you're also quite a sensitive person.
(10:41):
So how have you been able to grow your business without
depleting yourself and driving yourself crazy?
I was trying to do mothering a certain way and expatting a
certain way and partnering a certain way, but my nervous
system is hooked in so deeply toeach of those things and I
didn't know it. So when I have three children
(11:03):
who are also very sensitive, I could feel everything they were
going through. People would say, oh, you're
such an intuitive mother. I'm like, how can you not see
that? So without the knowledge of that
it, I was designing my life in avery, very bad way for my
nervous system and taking on challenges that were never going
to lead to me being able to be full ever.
(11:23):
And so I had to completely redesign from scratch what my
strengths are, what my weaknesses are, what my goals
are, what my values are, what I want as a mother, and then build
a business around that. So it's not having it all, it's
having just the right thing. That's a really powerful shift
to focus on what you value and what's right for you, rather
(11:46):
than what necessarily they tell you in the business world of
what it means to be successful. Yeah.
It's it's defining success, but it's also defining what satiates
you actually, what is actual satisfaction?
Because there's a lot of things that people tell you you need.
And if you go after all those things, you're gonna at least
me, I'm going to burn out. But what is the exact right
(12:09):
thing I'm craving at just the right time and having I keep
forgetting the word I'm looking for.
It's the thing we always say menhave that we don't, which is
like entitlement. It's the entitlement accepting
that I am entitled to build a business.
And again, that's a dirty word, but I think women don't take it
on enough. Like I'm entitled to build a
business. I'm entitled as a mother to
(12:31):
still create and in a soft way, not in AI deserve this, which I
do and everybody does. But we don't all deserve the
same thing. We're not all craving the same
thing. There's not just one way.
And so that entitlement is what I guess would get me through and
it's entitlement with a small E,I'm entitled to the things that
(12:52):
I'm entitled to. Right.
Yeah, exactly for what's right for you.
And yeah, like we talk about this in the spiritual world as
well, that they say whatever it is that you desire is destined
for you because that's your desire, and your desire might be
different from someone else's desire.
And so exactly what you're saying that we each have to kind
of follow our own path. I'm really curious, what is your
(13:16):
version of success now and has it changed from when you
started? My version of success now.
So when I first started, I went through, I had to go through it
because there were no models andthere still isn't a lot of
models of women leading like women instead of leading by men.
So working in the film industry,I was very much emulating how a
(13:36):
man would make a film, how it and I always had these things
like, Oh, that'd be a really cool thing.
And then I'd be like, no, so I really got this message, like
the way you natively would do itis wrong.
You have to emulate a man how a man would do it.
And so that was my version of success as well is what a
version of success would be for a man, which is very important
that they have the right to their success and their version
(14:00):
of that. And, and I'm actually really
empathetic to that, but that doesn't mean that that looks
like for me. So I'm feeling my way through
that every day actually. And so I went from having a full
time nanny to working full time,trying to get back to working
full time plus and just felt my way through that.
I don't want to do that. Not I feel guilty not being with
(14:22):
my kids. It's all about them.
It's like I don't want that. And it again, it's, it took a
long path of being able to say what I want is best for
everybody and trusting what I want will be best for my entire
family. That is a was a really powerful
turn for me. And so following that day by
(14:43):
day, moment by moment, and actually year by year, I
actually don't know what the endlooks like.
I'm just trusting myself to be able to feel my way through.
And that will be my journey because without knowing I want
to be like Steven Spielberg, like I don't have a model of
someone. I'm creating my own hero, or
heroin if you will. And that's.
(15:05):
I know it's not a very satisfying answer, but I've had
to accept it. Yeah.
And it's, it's very feminine actually, to keep feeling into
because that feminine energy, itmoves in cycles and it changes
and it evolves. And so to keep checking in with
yourself, like, OK, what still feels a line for me right now?
What still feels good? Does this resonate?
(15:26):
Is this still what I want? And being able to adjust in that
way, I think is really, really powerful.
What are some ways that are? Would you describe the feminine
way of doing it? So like verse doing it like a
man, as you said. I think part of it comes down to
knowing that I have that inner masculine that will that I check
(15:46):
in with as well, right? So it's like do House of
Peregrine could very easily be avolunteer organization.
It's not, it's a for profit company.
And so I think what I'm really grateful for is I've developed
that masculine in myself and nowI can rely on it.
And so now it's like, how do I take those parameters of knowing
(16:07):
what, what is important to me asa, and my masculine energy?
And how do I let my feminine play and do the thing it's
supposed to do, which is to feel, to express, to create,
while also checking in with my masculine side.
And so that trust developing my feminine is now my, my pleasure
and my, I feel like that's what came from all those years of, I
(16:31):
guess, learning that craft of how to exist in a man's world.
And now how do I create a Woman's World?
And that it's actually probably the pleasure of my life is to be
able to do this part. And so I guess that balance is
really, really important to me, and I wish we could do it a
different way. I wish we could not have women
(16:52):
go through the trenches of a man's world first.
But that's been my journey. Yeah, in a way it's almost
learning. OK, how do I not want to do
things? This is the way that it works.
And how can I bring a new spin to it or do it in my own way?
Did you know the House of Peregrine has an app?
(17:13):
It is full of resources, information and products to make
life as an international more connected and more intentional.
As a member of House of Peregrine, you also now have
access to exclusive discounts, products, guides and events to
make lifemorefunandconnected.simplydownloadtheapp@houseofperegrine.com
and save it to your home screen.OK, back to the show.
(17:38):
Yeah, For me, it feels very muchlike I see the banks of the
river. Do I want to create a New River?
Do I want to go to a different river?
Once I land in that river, whichis for me, this business, how do
I play within it? So now it's all feminine.
So it's not how do I not want todo it.
It's what do I want to commit myenergy to what?
What is going to fit my version of what is important and then
(18:00):
just go crazy in that space? Yeah, I'm choosing this and then
I'm just applying myself to that.
Yeah, that's so much. It's more inspiring and
empowering way to approach it, to keep checking in with the
desire, right? What?
How do I want to do this? Yeah, it's an innovative.
So I'm a natural innovator and so it's an innovative way.
So how do I innovate in this space that I think is important?
(18:23):
It's checks on my boxes. I can relax into this being my
problem to solve. And then within those parameters
I get to flow in that. And so it's very much going
towards something that's I have been and still am a very, very
big feminist and a believer in this.
Again, yeah, this word I keep. I hate using entitlement, but it
(18:43):
doesn't have to be against something it we really do have
the opportunity to create something new.
So when you make decisions in your business, would you say
that they're more strategy LED or intuitive or both?
You know, I think I've had to learn my own process.
And so I think what it comes from for me is again, that
(19:05):
structure like we need to be profitable.
I want us to be profitable. That's what I want.
And why do I want to be profitable?
So that I can grow, so I can do things the way I do things,
which I believe in my heart and my soul that I will be able to
provide something different for people who need it.
And so that's the very masculinepart of me, the provider, right?
(19:25):
So then when we make decisions, it's all based on that.
So can it be profitable? Can we build it in a way that's
our way and can we use the knowledge from the business
world that's very well been set up by men to use some of those
tools or some of those theories?And if not, we need to innovate.
And so that's how we make decisions.
Is it comes from are we a business?
(19:47):
Yes, we're a business. Do we need to provide for the
people that depend on us? Yes.
And then we flow and innovate inthere.
There's no sacredness about where we pull our inspiration.
Is it from a man's world? Is it from a?
You know, Native American, like it's just like very, very after
that, after it's been determinedthat we've taken it on, then
(20:10):
it's very much how can we make this happen in the best way?
Yeah, and that's where the creativity starts to come in.
Creativity, innovation. This is where our values come
in. How do we make it peregrine?
If we can't make it peregrine, we don't do it.
And that is led by Magic Beauty Connection.
And then it has to it. We're a business again, we're
(20:31):
not a nonprofit. And so that was a very big
decision for me because people always ask me because I'm a
woman and because I'm a creativeperson.
They're like, oh, so you're running a nonprofit?
And I'm like, absolutely not. I'm not running a nonprofit.
And not because I don't believe in them, because it's not right
for me. I can't support the people and
the causes I want to by being a nonprofit.
Yeah. And it's really important to
(20:51):
have that clear distinction within yourself with every
decision you make, right? Or what's right for you.
Yeah. Have you always seen yourself as
a leader? I didn't see myself as a leader,
but I kept getting put even froma very young age into leadership
positions. And so leadership finds me and I
(21:12):
tried to fight it for a really long time.
And that was one of my journeys,which sounds like not a journey,
right? It's almost like this
entitlement word. And I think these are journeys
that women are taking. And so I feel like I'm being met
in that more and more. But it's like, how do I own my
my entitlement? How do I own my leadership?
Because I don't see myself as a particularly strong leader
(21:32):
because I didn't see women leading.
I only, I grew up in a very patriarchal place where men LED,
women followed. Even if they were leading, they
were following and so I had to actually accept that my
leadership style is valid even though it doesn't look a certain
way. Yeah, absolutely.
And how would you describe your leadership style?
(21:56):
I think it's led by connection, but also I tend to see things in
people that they don't see. And again, this is often spun in
women as something you shouldn'tlike, but I see potential in
people that they don't often see.
And so bringing people to that first and then helping them and
not even helping them, they're helping me.
I feel like they're helping me more than I'm helping them.
(22:17):
But them blossoming thing bring something to me as well.
And seeing that that's a synergetic relationship, it's
not only important, but it's essential to bring certain types
of talents and things to the world.
Yeah, the power of collaboration, essentially,
right? We're much stronger together
than if we try to do it all ourselves.
So I'm curious, how did you start to really embody that type
(22:40):
of leadership? How did you start to own that
and claim them be like, actually, yes, I am going to
lead. I'm going to lead this business.
I'm going to lead this vision. Well it's still a day-to-day so
every day someone will say this is never going to work.
But I think what I learned is when you find the right people
around you, again, this Co creation, this collaboration,
when other people see in you what they need or they can work
(23:04):
with, that's a validating process.
And once you do it once or twice, you're like, that helps.
But then after a while you get this.
And again, I wish this for everywoman is this feeling that
you're being supported the way you've seen other leaders who
are more have a different leadership style you again, that
entitlement that you should be supported in your vision comes
(23:26):
more easily now. But it took a really long time
to recognize that my sensitivity, any neurodivergence
I have, anything I'm seeing thatothers don't is valid and
important and that it sounds so sad, but that has been my
journey to just I have the rightto exist.
I have the right to build and create what I want in the world.
(23:49):
It doesn't have to be validated by someone who doesn't have that
experience. It's an ongoing journey, but at
least I'm not at the beginning of it anymore.
Yeah, and I feel like what you said, this is a journey that so
many women have to take, exactlywhat you said, that there's just
not many examples. And women have always just been
taught to follow. I have so many clients that
(24:10):
especially when I go into their human design chart, I'm like,
wow, there's a lot of leadershipin here.
The first reaction is, oh, no, I'm not a leader.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no. And when I asked them like, why?
It's because they've seen examples of leadership that they
don't agree with. And they say that feels really
unnatural for me to to to be in that mold.
(24:32):
And so it's always this discussion about, OK, but what
does leadership look like for you?
What do you actually desire froma leader yourself?
And how can you share that with other people?
Yeah. And, and as women, I'm sorry
about the noise we're having a everyone.
We are on the center of Amsterdam and this is what
happens. They are constantly rebuilding.
(24:53):
We're, we're, we're. Rebuilding out there?
Well, we're rebuilding in here. I think it's really, really,
it's in the end, it's beautiful that we're creating our own
heroes. We are our own heroine, right?
And that it's tiring and it's tragic and, and it makes me,
it's the tragedy of my life thatI have to be my own hero.
(25:15):
But I do think that there's something in that that I wanted.
So if I look at the natural Innovator and myself, I probably
would have, even if I had 20 heroines that I was looking up
to, I probably would have found my own way anyway.
So I have to believe it's for a purpose that even if it's for my
own daughters, that that's enough purpose for me.
(25:35):
The examples we've had are amazing, right?
Like I'm not knocking it. Women who are doing jobs like
men, that's amazing. I, if they want to do that, let
them. That's just not what my nervous
system and my goals were. But it's also not to be stay at
home mom. There's not two options.
There's not two options. There's billions of options.
And so that is the most empowering thing I can think of
(25:59):
as you can build it however you want.
Of course it's harder, but what you're building is not a
business. What you're building is your
hero and a business. So we're doing more, but
bringing that to the world, in my opinion, is the most
important thing we can be doing right now and supporting those
women who are doing the job likemen, not discounting them, not
(26:21):
discounting stay at home moms. But like we have a lot to bring
to leadership and to business and to the school and to the
world. And so just allowing for that
again is is part of the paradigmshift.
Yeah, I completely agree. And I also think that leaders
who do embody more sensitivity, sensitivity has always been kind
(26:46):
of seen as a weakness or something negative.
But actually I'm seeing more andmore that that sensitivity is so
valuable in leadership because you're very attuned to what's
happening in your team with other people with how does this
feel? This very intuitive, I think.
I think people who are sensitivehave a lot of value to bring.
(27:09):
Yeah. And the skill of bringing that
to bear in business has actuallybeen a really.
So I've been on this journey of taking my sensitivity at work
and then I'm suddenly helping everyone out.
They're not supporting me. That's the, that was my first
stop on this journey is like, oh, no, how I don't want to take
advantage of anyone. Business is extractive.
I just need to be there for themand they'll reciprocate.
(27:32):
That's not true. Actually, that's a really good
way to burn out. Again, the way I'm looking at it
now is it's a filter. So I am who I am.
There's a filter of sensitivity and there's a business filter
and there's, so there's all these filters that I uniquely
have that I'm putting over the overlay of my interactions with
others. There's also the interlay of who
(27:53):
I am to them. And that's important.
It's important to have that boundary.
Who am I to you? My sensitivity on top of that
and my business always there, right?
That that's my my baby, if it will this people say it's your
baby all the time. And so it's very much that skill
of bringing sensitivity after who you are to them and being
(28:14):
who they need you to be to them a first.
Then the sensitivity that was a really important.
It sounds really technical and really nerdy, but for me that
has been a big unlock of we're not just human to human.
I wish that was how we could do things.
But I'm the CEO of a company that has to come first.
Then the sensitivity, right? So keeping that boundary is not
(28:35):
doesn't come naturally to me. And I actually thought it was
evil and a power imbalance or something just icky, but it's
important. And so accepting that has been a
very, yeah, part of my journey, I guess, Yeah.
And I'm curious because I know your human design chart,
actually. We did.
You did a great. You did a great job.
(28:55):
I loved it. It was so fun and there's a lot
in your energy that really values community and connecting
people together. So it's really no surprise that
you've created this amazing community and House of
Peregrine. But also in your energy, besides
the sensitivity there is this need to just be on your own like
(29:15):
and just have your alone time todischarge.
So how do you protect your energy when you're running a
business that is so community focused?
Yeah. And as you saw, my chart is full
of a lot of contradictions. So first of all, accepting
those, and it's actually the hardest part about that is being
a mom, not being a business owner.
(29:37):
And so being a mom actually, again, that entitlement to my
own space when you have 3 toddlers was a journey on its
own. People telling you you're
selfish telling are you even telling yourself you're selfish,
telling yourself, why do I need this?
So how do I do it? I accepted something I need and
that it's just, it just is now. And I explained to my kids, I
(30:01):
just need to read by the fire. Can you can you snuggle with me?
You can't talk to me. And so they, we have a, we have
language for this in the companyand in my family where mommy is
sensitive. So are you like we're built
differently. We have a lot of neurodiversity
in our family that's highly masked.
And so learning that is a game changer for kids.
(30:22):
Why you get to take your space. You don't want to have a play
date every day. Great.
There's language around that. You need time.
So it's really being in touch with and accepting your unique
needs and communicating to them with those of you who are
closest to you and having them accept it as well.
There's not one model of human. Luckily, we're learning that.
There's not one human mother. We're learning that.
(30:45):
But I think that process of identification, acceptance,
communicating it to others and having them accept who you are
uniquely is it sounds basic. Again, it was a long process,
but that's how I do it. I communicate with people at who
will accept my unique blueprint and mark in the world.
(31:06):
Yeah, and your boundaries as well, right.
And it's such a it's such a powerful model to teach your
children this as well that you, that they can also tune into
themselves and be like, what do I actually want?
Maybe I don't want this right now.
Maybe I need this right now and that that's all OK because
there's no, there's no wrong boundary, right?
(31:28):
Like it's just based on what youneed and how you're feeling.
So to be able to honor that as it changes day by day is just
it's really powerful. For me, it's not only a
boundary, it's your need is so important in the world because
it will change the world. If you identify what's inside of
you, it will fundamentally change the world for everyone
(31:49):
for the better. That's a deep belief of mine
that if sensitive people were totune in and express their needs,
the entire world will change literally overnight.
That that's a deep believe I have.
And so training people to be thesame type of person is actually
a lot of violence for the world and for the individual.
(32:09):
So just, I think I just deeply believe that now, but that's
been a long journey of not only is it not unfair, it's unjust.
It's violence. It's actually depleting the
world of what is needed, actually.
Yeah, it takes a lot of energy to not be yourself and to try to
be someone else and to constantly self abandoned as
(32:32):
well is. Not, not bring your gifts that
that's the third tragedy, that there's all this other stuff
that they're the 3rd or 4th tragedy is you're not bringing
what you need to to the world. And that is what makes me want
to cry. Yeah, yeah.
Because just being who you are can change someone's life, can
(32:55):
inspire people can. Yeah.
It's it's really, really powerful.
Can bring new businesses into the world.
Can nurture the people who need to bring businesses into the
world. We don't talk about enough how
leadership happens at every level.
Leadership is following. Following is leadership.
It's just the partner to the leadership and women who want to
(33:17):
do that are massively valuable in the world.
We don't always have to be the the figurehead, but we do need
to register it as a valuable. That is where we've gone wrong.
It's not the person who's leading that's the most
important. They are just the one in front.
And so I think not recognizing the value of every kind of
(33:40):
person in the world, it's, it's a disservice to humanity.
It is, I completely agree. And so the more people we can
get connected to their authenticself, the better it's going to
be. Yeah, yeah, of course, of
course. And and so that's again these
convictions. Get me up in the morning.
I love it. What advice would you give to
(34:02):
sensitive, intuitive entrepreneurs who want to build
something meaningful? Maybe they've started, maybe
they haven't, but they're afraidof that burnout.
They're afraid of the visibilityand showing up and being seen as
a leader and and the uncertaintythat comes with creating
something when you don't know the endpoint.
(34:24):
I think my biggest advice would be to start with your shadows,
because there's a shadow side. They're a fear to everything you
think is good about you. And if you know that better than
anybody, then that gives you a lot of power.
And so I learned the shadow sideof my passion and love is anger.
And that was a really powerful thing.
So I know now when I'm angry, that is something I love.
(34:48):
But before I I just thought I was angry all the time.
The world wasn't built for me. And so I think when we're
sensitive and we have had a lot of trauma, people misunderstand
us our whole lives. I think it's really easy to get
caught up on what you don't want, what you are afraid of and
letting that hold you back. And I would just really love for
sensitive people to to get through that faster, identify
(35:10):
that faster, know there's evil in everybody, including in you,
get to know your demons and thatthat will make you go farther
faster than anything I've ever learned.
Because it is really hard to grow up feeling misunderstood by
even yourself. That's really, really hard.
And that's OK to be angry about.But what I would love for people
to do is recognize that and and move through it faster just by
(35:34):
not thinking they're all good either.
Yeah. And it sounds really, really
silly, but it's it's what helpedme the most.
Yeah, embrace your humanness, right?
The good, the bad, the ugly, themessy.
It's that's just the more we make peace with that, the less
that behavior comes out in extremes.
Yeah, and in shadowy ways. And, and that's how my my first
(35:57):
foray into business was. Luckily it was like short lived
and I just started recognizing I'm trying to do the right thing
all the time because I don't want to hurt anybody because I
was hurt. And then that didn't help
anybody. I think it's really valuable
advice because it's not something people talk about a
lot, and yet it's that deep inner work that will bring you
forward in every area of your life.
(36:19):
And when we don't do that inner work, that's how we hold
ourselves back. It's been such a great
conversation. Thank you so much, Mikel.
How can people connect with you?Connect with House of Peregrine?
So you can connect with me on LinkedIn.
So Mikel Weber, you can connect with House of Peregrine at House
of Peregrine on Instagram, Tiktok, YouTube, our website,
(36:40):
houseofperegrine.com. And there you can write for us.
You can create with us. You can come to events, you can
do a lot of things on there, so just check it out.
If you are in that space, this is a great place for you.
Yes, I agree because I'm part ofthe space and I really enjoy it
as well. Thank you so much you.
(37:02):
Too. Thanks for having me on.
OK, that's it for today. I hope you've enjoyed our show.
For the latest insights on living internationally, join us
at houseofperegrine.com to find out how you can connect with our
community. Let's craft our life story with
intention, together.
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