commmunity

With IMind2Lead we create an international Community for Women Leaders who Mind.

Who mind making the world a more just, peaceful & sustainable place AND who mind their mental health.

As women leaders who want to make a difference in the world, we work hard. We may face multiple challenges on our leadership path on the way to a better world. From discrimination, power-imbalances and undervaluation of women leadership qualities to violence, poverty or other human rights violations. Some of these challenges are painfully obvious, others are so subtle and deeply rooted that we are not even aware of them at first. Many challenges (embedded values, behavioral patterns, limiting beliefs and thoughts) originate from the social, political, economic and family systems we live and work in. We notice them once we slow down, are mindful and examine them closely. That’s when the work of change can begin.

Instead of slowing down, as women leaders we tend to work harder and longer hours. We are strongly committed to the cause. The stakes are high and the issues are many and urgent. We (unconsciously) tend to self-sacrifice to reach our goals for a better world. Stress-management and mental well-being are seldom a priority -or even a taboo in our demanding work environments. We risk living life on autopilot, leading our teams in survival mode and compromising our health, potential and decision-making.

With IMind2Lead we believe that whole leadership offers a powerful alternative. Whole leadership allows us to pause, revisit our core values and challenge dysfunctional (aspects of) systems. Many of the systems we live and work in are living constructs. Shaped and maintained by human beings, by leaders, by us. Once we start applying small changes in what / the way we think, speak and (inter)act, we will begin to create a different social fabric. Step by step. Modestly and humbly. Open-minded, trusting our inner compasses and knowledge. It ís possible to improve (instead of sacrifice) our own inner resilience and by doing so increase our meaningful impact in the outer world. By being in it together, holding hands, all these small steps create change that ripples like waves.

Whole leadership is not a fixed model or state. We are humans and see ourselves as ‘continuously in the making’. Whole leadership is shaped in interaction with others ánd by knowing yourself at a deep level. It therefore differs per person and is continuously in dynamic development. With IMind2Lead we found that there are some common key – elements that include: aligning heart, mind & body; living and leading from your core values; balancing between doing ánd being; welcoming all your parts -no need for ‘masks or spacesuits’; practicing respect, courage, compassion and intuition.

Setting up new IMind2Lead-Circles

To join hands and forces we bring together women leaders working in demanding environments in The Netherlands & African countries. In IMind2Lead-Circles (6-8 women meet once a month during one year) we co-create safe breathing spaces to jointly explore whole leadership -while wandering and wondering. Together these circles form the IMind2Lead-Our Community. Our personal stories provide a starting point. Guiding questions serve as light houses during the joint explorations: what is whole leadership to you? Which values, beliefs and actions are at its core? In which moments/situations/with whom does your leadership feel whole? How do you create the right circumstances for whole leadership? How is your impact different when you practice whole leadership?Including women leaders from diverse cultural, social and economic background deepens our exchange and learning paths. The IMind2Lead-Our Community Foundation makes it possible for those financially limited to join.

Interested in funding the IMind2Lead-Our Community Foundation?

We are now crowd-sourcing for the start-up phase. Please contact us for more information.

Together we travel towards whole leadership, creating ripples of change in our own lives and those of others.