About
Life's Notebook shares insightful observations on fundamental and timely topics affecting our daily lives, with simplicity and clarity, in a way that resonates with a diverse audience.
Who am I?
Hi and welcome, I'm Malou Jacques: doctor, businesswoman, and now writer, ever curious to discover the infinite opportunities life has to offer, with its occasionally surprising detours and unexpected rebounds. A native German speaker, married to a Frenchman, I lived in the United States for more than half of my working life.
I had a difficult start: I lost my mother at the age of 14 and my soul brother at the age of 21, both of whom were very dear to me. So, my story is similar to so many others, full of ups and downs. Fortunately, I was blessed with a solid education and the opportunity to explore many continents/countries around the world. My immersion in various cultures and exposure to a multitude of diverse people has enriched my life experience in so many ways.
I developed a passion for discovering new and better strategies for living a more fulfilling life. By gaining a better understanding of the inner workings that govern our values and beliefs, we can improve the quality of our lives.
" The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. "
- William James
What are my goals ?
To share my life experience so that others may benefit from my learnings and observations, thereby sparking their reflection and providing them with insights that will lead them to make the best possible decisions to improve their well-being.
That is the purpose of this blog. It deals with a variety of subjects that are relevant to our daily lives. What's more, these are topics that have always fascinated me:
- Science, Health and Well-being: the use of science in the service of health and well-being,
- Leadership: the art of inspiring and empowering others to become the best version of themselves,
- Business: navigate the complexity of today’s business world and thrive in multiple ways,
- Economy and Finance: understand and exploit the intricacies of the economic/financial world in which we live,
- American Culture: showcasing some of the most intriguing and fascinating facets of American culture.
Ultimately, to build and leave a legacy through a Foundation to promote education for a better life.
The origin of this blog
This blog is the result of multiple conversations I’ve had with close friends in recent years, which revealed a growing sense of confusion shared by many of us: social media blurs our vision of the world, relationships are tarnished by superficiality, reference points are scarce or non-existent, there is a perception that values are being lost and this creates a certain degree of hopelessness.
This blog is to spark reflection on ways to overcome life's difficulties and to offer a message of hope. By rediscovering the importance of values, taking a fresh look at life, finding a new project to pursue – a number of challenges can be overcome.
In my blog posts, I draw on evidence-based science, the wisdom of the ages, lessons from popular culture and also my own experiences to explore how we can make our lives happier, healthier, more successful and innovative.
This blog is intentionally simple in both content and style, with no ambition to prescribe behavior – but it has the potential to inspire and offer support in difficult times.
Short Biography
Franco-American, I grew up in Europe. I hold an M.D. from the University of Louvain and an M.B.A. from New York University-Stern School of Business.
Over the past 40 years, I have held several senior R&D leadership positions worldwide in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech Industry. I have brought numerous innovative medicines to market, particularly in Ophthalmology.
Since 2012, I am CEO and Founder of my own consulting company based in the NY metro area.
I am also actively involved in a nonprofit organization for education in NYC and I am planning to create my own foundation for education in the near future.
My shared values
Value of Work
Your work is the expression of your creative power combined with your commitment to materialise a vision. Allow yourself to live by your dreams, steps by steps and bit by bit over the long run.
Respect
Respect covers three entwined entities : yourself, others and the ecosystem we are all living in. Cherish your singularity and the intrinsic value of others as a fertile ground for valuable relationships and impactful action.
Thoughfulness
Our world is sophisticated and rich of reliefs and nuances. Seek to understand and appreciate them from a macro as well as a micro point of view. This, in business as well as in your daily life.
Integrity
Strong ethics and strong values aligned with your conduct in all circumstances.
" She shares with us her peaceful reflections & encourages us to discover the 'warrior of light' (Coelho) that lies within each one of us. "
"Malou has that unique skill of discerning what matters and turning a challenge into an opportunity. Her communication is direct, she provides clear direction and empowers her team to perform at their best. Her unparalleled level of energy is infectious and inspires everyone to rise to the challenge."
Former chief of staff
“I have been fortunate to know and work with Malou for 12 years. We met at a finance meeting at New York University. We hit it off instantly and Malou has become a committed and well-respected volunteer with our nonprofit organization, which provides financial education and college and career readiness programs to students nationally. She is passionate about education and devotes significant time and energy to mentoring students, including orienting them to the workings of the European economic system. She views writing as a new form of commitment to education. It is her belief that "there is no happiness without knowledge and that knowledge should be shared without limits".
CEO W!SE
"When I first met Malou in medical school, I instantly loved her out-of-the-box thinking and worldview: it helped us to navigate the ocean of life with serenity. Today, reading her reflections is a real pleasure. Her style is direct, clear and precise. She writes as she is and writes what is; it is her nature to be forthright, without fuss. With and without a pen, she is animated by the same generosity of heart that seeks to ease the pain of others and to provide comfort and hope to all those who desire it."
Husband
“Malou shared with me her life journey and it was with great emotion that I listened to her. A childhood marked by the repeated loss of loved ones, a life often disrupted by unexpected events and the challenges common to all of us, did not prevent her from pursuing a brilliant worldwide career. Today, she shares with us her peaceful thoughts and encourages us to discover the 'warrior of light' (Coelho) that lies within each one of us.”
Brother-in-law
