Hi. I’m Kai.

I’m a violinist/composer who uses music as a metaphor to help companies like Google, Disney and PWC to navigate change.

My journey began as a teenager when my mother came home one evening with life-changing news: she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. In that moment, she shared a list of ideas she regretted never bringing to life. Watching the deep pain of a life not fully expressed left an imprint on me. Though her cancer went into remission, it ignited a question that has guided me ever since: Why do some people write new music in their lives and work, while others simply play the notes they’ve been handed?

That question led me to Stanford University, where I learned from some of the world’s foremost thinkers on innovation. It led me to speaking, so I could witness firsthand the pain-points that transcend industry, culture, and age. It led me to advising founders, to better understand the inner tensions leaders face in times of uncertainty. For 15 years, I relentlessly pursued the hope that one day I could articulate the hidden forces that block ingenuity—and share them with my mom while she was still alive.

But in 2023, before I could piece it all together, my mom passed away from Parkinson’s disease. The loss left a deep void, and even stepping on stage began to feel - meaningless. But in her final days, I was reconnected to the profound sense of purpose that comes from centering the needs of those in pain. I realized the best way to honor her was not to abandon my quest, but to find a way to share the ideas with others with the same depth of care I wished I could have offered to her.

To center a patient, a doctor must possess a wide range of tools they select from based on each situation. I realized truly centering an audience required the same approach — not the prepackaged takeaways I was used to, but the flexibility to account for the many nuances that make us human. This was a monumental task. So, I walked away from a safe, lucrative speaking career, sold everything I owned, and moved to a small farming town in New Zealand. I spent a year in solitude with one mission: build an extensive database that would allow me to serve professionals with both empathy and precision.

From that work emerged The Composer’s Toolkit: a collection of musical metaphors designed to alleviate over 30 unique points of tension that prevent modern professionals from navigating change. Today, my approach is entirely human-centered. I begin by deeply listening to understand the specific pain-points your people face. Then I craft insights—tailor-made for your audience—that inspire them not just to adapt to change, but to Compose Their World.