Vikas and Priya Narula have created an innovative solution through co-founding Keyhubs and Neighborhood Forest.

Vikas was introduced to the concept of informal networks – that while we work in hierarchies, real work happens through the web of human connection. Mapping and understanding that web can help organizations and leaders do better.

Vikas decided to rekindle his college love of giving trees to schoolchildren and started Neighborhood Forest. It has turned into a family affair with his wife, Mom, brother, sons (and dog!) involved in running and growing the program.

How are these programs connected? The vision and philosophy of each entity are connected through the honoring of life and the wisdom of everyday people. In work and life, we are surrounded by formal and informal structures and networks. Understanding the power and wisdom of human networks, connection, and awareness of self and others is a crucial leadership attribute.

As the lungs of the world, trees, can be seen as a bother, a resource, or a nice decoration. Trees are actually the original network of life, transmitting information, transforming the environment around them. Trees help clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and provide habitat to over 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity. Forests provide jobs to over 1.6 billion people, absorb harmful carbon from the atmosphere, and are key ingredients in 25% of all medicines.