Cherry Ward - Bluebird Labs

Brisbane channelling Seattle this morning 🌧️

Grey skies, rain on the railing, river running quiet. Not exactly the backdrop you’d choose for a breakfast gathering.

We had an intimate conversation by the fire about and needed for the future.

We’ll be back at The Breakfast Table later in the year. If today’s themes resonate, follow along and check out Chapters.

What’s the challenge your team is sitting with right now?

I need your help!

If you're a parent of a teenager with ADHD, I'd love 10 minutes of your honest experience.

I know what homework nights can look like. The frozen kid at the desk. The third time you've asked. The night that ends in tears. The guilt the next morning.

I've spent over two decades in leadership and human development, and the more I've looked at this space, the more I've realised: high school students with ADHD are chronically underserved by the tools that exist. Generic planners don't stick. Tutors cost more than $50/hour. Most study apps are built for neurotypical brains and optimised for the average student.

Bluebird Study is an AI powered study platform designed specifically for high school students with ADHD. It helps students figure out what to do first, break overwhelming tasks into manageable steps, and stay on track. Parents get a weekly summary without having to interrogate their teenager. Students stay in control.

We've been building a prototype but we want to ensure we understand your world.

If you're a parent of a high school student with ADHD (or suspect ADHD), we would love 10 minutes of your honest experience. We've put together a short survey and there's also an early beta opt-in at the end.

Survey link: https://forms.gle/HZe5HjTAwqUJpWzu5

Please share if you know a family who would find this useful 💙

This The North Face fleece has been my companion since 2008.

Sixteen winters. Countless countries. Adventures I couldn't have imagined when I first put it on.

On I've been reflecting on how we can each make a difference in our own meaningful ways.

Japanese philosophy has a word for what this fleece represents: Wabi-sabi. The beauty found in things that are imperfect, worn, and enduring.

Every fade mark is a story. Every season it still keeps me warm is a quiet act of resistance against the "always upgrade" economy.

You don't have to march to make a difference. You just have to be conscious. Buy less. Keep longer. Choose quality over novelty.

How are you showing up for the planet this Earth Day? 🌏

Last night I was too busy engrossed in conversation to take photos, apart from this one early in the evening of Rebecca Niebler and Rosie Lozano. That felt like the right problem to have.

An intimate group gathered for the first Culture First Brisbane BYO Book Club, and what was meant to be a relaxed share-your-book evening turned into one of those conversations you don’t want to end.

I walked away with two books I’m starting this Easter long weekend:

📖 Belonging by Owen Eastwood
📖 TomorrowMind by Gabriella Rosen Kellerman & Martin Seligman

That’s the thing about being in a room with people who care about culture, leadership and creating a better world of work: you never leave empty-handed.

We’ll be doing this again. If you missed this one, check out our upcoming Culture First Brisbane gatherings on the Culture First Chapters web site.

What are you reading these holidays?

It’s been a full year already and we’re only halfway through March!
I’ve been quiet on here, but not still.
I’ve been writing — Lead with Kokoro is just about ready for publishing submission, and sharing the journey on Substack has been one of the most unexpectedly vulnerable things I’ve done.
I’ve been coaching, spending a lot of time with leaders and building community.
And of course some news I’m still smiling about - Bluebird Labs was named a 2026 Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Grant recipient. The funding goes toward Bluebird Study, our AI-powered learning platform for neurodivergent learners.
More of all of this to come.

Coffee with some of Brisbane’s most generous humans this morning ☕

I’ve been mentoring with for over five years and I’m still connected to the women I first mentored.

Watching them step into bigger roles, land promotions, find their voice? That’s the return on investment that actually matters.

Rare Birds connects women in business with mentors. No cost. Just experience, shared generously.

Brisbane, we need more mentors. DM me if you’re curious or get in touch with

After sharing my energy struggles earlier this week, today reminded me what refills the tank. My cup is always full after catching up with Rebecca Niebler

Our first planning session of 2026 at our favourite spot, ☕

We’ve been collaborating for a few years now, and this year we’re going bigger.

Two upcoming events for leaders done with burnout culture:

🗓️ Return Recharged — 29 Jan | Virtual | Free

🗓️ Lead Beyond Burnout — 20 Feb | Brisbane

Plus something new brewing... a free app to measure your energy. Stay tuned 👀

The right collaborators don’t just make work better. They make you better.

Who fills your cup?

Sydney has put on a magnificent show this week and last week…except for the heat wave yesterday 🥵Fulfilling workshops with leaders and can’t complain about the harbour views from the office or the Opera House from the hotel.

I had a wonderful group of leaders in Wellington this week and managed to enjoy a morning of sunshine as “Windy & Wet Wellington” certainly lived up to its name and reputation. Didn’t quite manage to capture the sideways rain ☔️ as I was walking to the client office, trying not to get blown away 💨