About me & my philosophy
My name is Ornella Nicolacci and I am the founder of Living Ayni. I’m a strategist, systems thinker, and coach, devoted to helping people live meaningful lives and restoring systems to balance. My path has crossed boardrooms, forests, and frontlines of change: from global climate initiatives, to operations, to leadership programs that reconnect people to purpose. Across all of it, one truth prevails: we lead best when we lead in reciprocity. That belief became Living Ayni—a space where ancient Andean wisdom meets modern science to transform how we live, work, and lead.
Ayni is an Andean principle describing reciprocal relationship: the understanding that systems endure only when giving and receiving remain in balance. Ayni reflects the truth of how all complex systems (human, ecological, or otherwise) function: reciprocity is not a value preference, but a structural condition for sustainability.
So much of what isn’t working in our world stems from disconnection. Disconnection from ourselves, from each other, from the human collective, and from the living systems that sustain us. Living Ayni was built to reconnect us; to restore reciprocity as the norm one individual, one organization, and one system at a time.
Living Ayni understands and celebrates that we don’t rise alone; we rise together. It is an homage to my ancestors and all Original Peoples of the world.