Beyond The Corporate Mask: Embodied Leadership, DEI, Well-being

Aflevering 1: Het masker dat je draagt (en waarom)

Meer ontdekken?  Suzanne’s boek over de 8 maskers en embodied leadership is binnenkort verkrijgbaar in de boekhandels.  👉 Pre-order het boek hier: https://www.doors-open.nl/product/embodied-leadership-boek-pre-order/ [https://www.doors-open.nl/product/embodied-leadership-boek-pre-order/]     Aan de buitenkant leek alles te kloppen. Maar vanbinnen voelde ze zich steeds minder zichzelf.  In deze eerste aflevering van Beyond the Corporate Mask deelt corporate socioloog Suzanne Mau-Asam een persoonlijk verhaal over de start van haar carrière in een corporate omgeving en hoe ze zich aanpaste om erbij te horen.  Wat begon als een manier om zich veilig te voelen, groeide uit tot een patroon: een masker.  Samen met co-host Emma verkennen we wat dat masker eigenlijk is, waarom we het allemaal dragen en wat het je kost als je dit op lange termijn blijft doen.  In deze aflevering ontdek je:  * Wat het ‘corporate masker’ is en hoe het ontstaat   * Waarom iedereen maskers draagt (en waarom dat niet per se slecht is)   * Hoe maskers je energie, authenticiteit en verbinding beïnvloeden   * Het BBC framework: Biologie, Biografie en Context als basis van je gedrag   * Hoe je lichaam (en je zenuwstelsel) een belangrijke rol speelt in je automatische reacties   * Een praktische oefening om meer keuzevrijheid te ervaren in hoe je reageert   Misschien is het masker je ooit komen beschermen.  Maar wat gebeurt er als je vergeet dat je het draagt?  Resources & tools:  Centering oefening (direct toepasbaar tijdens werk of dagelijks leven): https://youtu.be/znmRKSb2dGY [https://youtu.be/znmRKSb2dGY]     Meer ontdekken?  Suzanne’s boek over de 8 maskers en embodied leadership is binnenkort verkrijgbaar in de boekhandels.  👉 Pre-order het boek hier: https://www.doors-open.nl/product/embodied-leadership-boek-pre-order/ [https://www.doors-open.nl/product/embodied-leadership-boek-pre-order/]     Volg ons op LinkedIn en Instagram voor meer inzichten en oefeningen   Luister naar de volgende aflevering van Beyond the Corporate Mask

8. Beyond the Critic - a personal story of embodied leadership

In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Mask, Suzanne sits down with Nadine, a learning and development advisor who shares her personal story of growing up with a relentless inner critic, and learning to make peace with it through embodied leadership. From being bullied at school to pushing herself to prove her worth at work, Nadine’s story reveals how the inner critic can take over our bodies, not just our thoughts. Together, she and Suzanne explore what happens when self-doubt becomes a habit, and how somatic tools can help us move from pressure to presence. You’ll hear: * How early experiences shape the voice of the inner critic * The link between striving, overachieving, and self-criticism * What it feels like when the inner critic takes over your body (tight chest, shallow breath, frozen posture) * Why you can’t think your way out of it, and what helps instead * Simple, body-based practices to quiet the noise and reconnect with yourself Resources & Tools Mentioned: * Centering [https://youtu.be/znmRKSb2dGY]: A grounding practice that helps you return to calm and presence by noticing your breath, posture, and gravity. * The White Space Visualization: A way to create inner distance from harsh self-talk and find clarity. * Eye Stretch [https://youtu.be/-rTkNl_ct1U]: A short somatic practice that relaxes the vagus nerve and helps your nervous system settle. Advice from our guest: “The critic never fully disappears. But when I meet it with curiosity, instead of trying to silence it, it loses its power. I can breathe again.” – Nadine Links: 🎧 Listen to all episodes of Beyond the Corporate Mask [https://www.doors-open.nl/blogs-podcasts/] 🌿 Learn more about embodied leadership [https://www.doors-open.nl/embodied-leadership/] 🎧 Related episode: 7. Taming the Inner Critic - how embodied work changes your relationship with self-doubt

7. Taming the Inner Critic - how embodied work changes your relationship with self-doubt

“You’re not ready. Don’t speak up. They’ll think you’re not good enough.” That voice? That’s your inner critic. The relentless whisper that second-guesses your ideas, rewrites your sentences, and makes you shrink before you even open your mouth. In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Mask, Emma and Suzanne explore where the critic comes from, how it shows up in your thoughts, body, and voice, and what you can do to meet it differently. Instead of fighting it, you’ll learn how to recognise it, calm your nervous system, and choose another voice. You’ll hear: * Why the inner critic develops in childhood, and why double standards make it louder for certain groups of people. * The disguises the critic takes: the Perfectionist, the Doubter, the Harsh Motivator, the Shame Whisperer. * How the critic speaks through your body: tight jaw, racing heart, shrinking posture. * Why arguing with the critic doesn’t work, and what to do instead. * Simple, body-based practices to soften the critic’s grip in the moment. Resources & Tools Mentioned: * Spot the entry line - notice phrases like “Sorry, but…” and drop the apology. * Name it to tame it - locate the tension in your body and say it out loud (“My chest feels tight”). * Show compassion - instead of fighting, thank the critic for trying to protect you. * Centering practice - feet on the floor, lengthen your spine, open your posture, breathe toward the sensation. Try This: The next time the critic shows up, pause. Where in your body do you feel it? Is it in your jaw, chest, stomach, shoulders? Place your hand there, breathe slowly, and whisper to yourself: Thanks for looking out for me. I’ve got this. Links: * Learn more about Doors Open - Institute for Corporate Sociology [https://www.doors-open.nl/] * Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/doorsopenlearning/]/ LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/doors-open/posts/?feedView=all]for more on embodied leadership Beyond the Corporate Mask is a podcast by Doors Open - Institute for Corporate Sociology.

6. Unseen Pressure - how impostor feelings show up in your body

“Any second now, they’ll find out I don’t belong here.” The smile on your face looks convincing. You’ve prepared. You’ve earned your seat. But inside, your body tells a different story: clenched jaw, shallow breath, tense shoulders. That creeping fear of being exposed. In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Mask, Emma and Suzanne explore impostor feelings not just as thoughts in your head, but as patterns deeply wired into your body. From freezing in front of senior leaders, to over-preparing until exhaustion, we unpack how the impostor voice shows up in your body, and how to work with it instead of against it.   You’ll hear: * Why impostor syndrome isn’t only “in your head” * How environments like competition, jargon, and exclusion amplify impostor feelings * The body’s survival responses (freeze, shrink, overcompensate) and how to notice them * Simple practices to calm your nervous system when impostor feelings rise * Why embracing a beginner’s mindset and experimenting with imperfection can shift the cycle We also share personal stories of moments when impostor syndrome hit hard, and how embodied practices helped us move from collapse into presence. This is an episode about learning to stay with yourself, even when the voice of doubt whispers the loudest. Resources & Tools Mentioned: * Somatic practices – Calming the nervous system and opening space in the body * Beginner’s mindset – Claiming both what you know and what you’re here to learn * Experimenting with imperfection – Training your body to survive “good enough” * Embodied leadership retreat [https://www.doors-open.nl/event/embodied-leadership-retreat/] – Practicing presence, boundaries, and belonging in community Try This: Next time impostor feelings rise, pause and scan your body. Where do you feel it? Is it in your jaw, chest, stomach, shoulders? Place a hand there and breathe slowly, telling your body: It’s safe to feel this. Notice what shifts. Links: Learn more about Doors Open - Institute for Corporate Sociology [https://www.doors-open.nl/] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/doorsopenlearning/]/ LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/doors-open/posts/?feedView=all]for more on embodied leadership   Beyond the Corporate Mask is a podcast by Doors Open – Institute for Corporate Sociology.

5. Beyond Saying No - the courage to hold your boundaries

"A boundary isn’t a wall; it’s an act of presence." You finally say no. You draw the line. You set the boundary. But what happens when it’s met with tension, pushback, or even silence? In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Mask, Emma and Suzanne explore what it really takes to hold a boundary after you’ve set it. From freeze responses and people-pleasing to emotional overshadowing and group dynamics, we unpack why staying with your truth, especially under pressure, can be so challenging. You’ll hear: * Why systems often resist change when you shift your role * What makes holding a boundary harder than setting it * How your nervous system might override your good intentions * What to do when you’ve ‘lost’ your boundary in the moment * How to stay in relationship and stay true to yourself We also share Sarah’s story, a listener who set a boundary at work and was met with guilt-tripping and backlash, and reflect on what we can all learn from it. This is an episode about repair, return, and resilience. Boundaries don’t expire. You can always come back to your centre.   Resources & Tools Mentioned: * Emotional Overshadowing – How group dynamics and dominant emotions can drown out your inner voice * Relational Boundaries – Staying in contact with yourself and the other person * Nervous system responses – Why silence or freeze isn’t failure, it’s your body’s way of protecting you * Repairing a boundary – Simple steps to return to your boundary after the moment has passed   Try This: Think of a moment when you didn’t hold your boundary. Pause. Reflect: What was your truth? What did you want to say? Now, write it down, or speak it aloud to yourself. It’s not too late.   Links: * Learn more about Doors Open – Institute for Corporate Sociology [https://www.doors-open.nl/] * Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/doorsopenlearning?igsh=aGY1M2VxOWhqajE4]/ LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/doors-open/]for more on embodied leadership * Subscribe to Beyond the Corporate Mask on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Other platforms   Beyond the Corporate Mask is a podcast by Doors Open – Institute for Corporate Sociology. Let’s lead without hiding ourselves.