Lead from a place of clarity and inner wisdom.
Having a greater sense of self-awareness is an essential component of emotional intelligence and effective leadership.
Empathetic leadership allows us to understand the needs of others and be cognizant of their emotions and overall wellbeing.
The quality of being present allows leaders to be more in the moment and available to themselves and their employees.
Leaders navigate a fine balance between confidence and humility. Understanding the ego and how it affects leadership is crucial for leading from a place of poise and presence.
There is an inner voice within you that urges you to listen attentively and become attuned to your own heartbeat, following where it may lead. By paying closer attention and cultivating a greater awareness, you can lead with deeper insight and clarity.
As with many aspects of life, effective leadership demands a delicate balance between instinctive action and careful contemplation. It is essential to find a calm equilibrium between reactive leadership, which prioritizes quick responses, and reflective leadership, which emphasizes thoughtful consideration and sustenance.
Practicing contemplative techniques fosters a sense of completeness and harmony within oneself. These techniques promote the development of stillness, self-awareness, focus, empathy, enhanced self-control, and stress reduction, among other advantages.
A leader's perceptions, behaviors, interactions, communication, and overall leadership style are influenced by their innermost self and their connection to that self.
By putting contemplative practices into action, a leader can contribute to creating a more mindful culture within their organization. As the leader incorporates these practices into their own life, their conduct can inspire a ripple effect that positively impacts the entire team.
In our current fast-paced culture, many of us feel inundated by the constant stream of mental distractions. This inner noise can drown out our most valuable resource: the small voice of intuition that resides within us.
To guide their organizations towards new horizons, leaders must possess a forward-thinking vision for the future. In order to achieve this, it is crucial to explore and embrace a broader reality that transcends the confines of what is currently familiar.
The level of disruption and unpredictability we currently face is unprecedented, and it goes beyond the preparation provided by traditional MBA or executive training programs. To navigate these challenges successfully, leaders must develop new and diverse leadership capabilities to guide their organizations and people towards a desired future.
As a speaker and a woman in the world, Dr. Thulani DeMarsay is the embodiment of open attention, sensitivity, compassion, and courage in the face of grief, crisis and chaos. Within the pages of this book, her writer's voice imparts clarity, calm and strength. She offers both a "hopeful path" to contemplative leadership as a "continuous, unbounded way of life," and an immediate and intimate invitation to readers to join her on the page, sharing writing space in response to thoughtful, well-guided exercises. A slender, spacious volume well worth engaging.
I find Dr. DeMarsay’s work to be a most welcoming invitation to be more than our positions, roles, or skill sets, more than our goals and achievement. It is an invitation to really be present which allows for a different level of caring and commitment to wellbeing in the workplace.
Core Faculty & Chair of Wellness & Health Promotion Undergraduate Program, Cambridge College
Small book with a big voice! Important and useful writing on leadership, effectively presenting mindfulness concepts AND strategies for today’s marketplace. Unexpected benefit that it includes worksheets to immediately try them out yourself - sets it apart from other efforts in the field.
Thulani has captured a model of contemplative leadership and what that means with regard to Seeing, Being & Doing on 3 levels: Individual, Team, and Organisational, The work we do in the world. Thulani offers a framework and a way of seeing and talking about our work that has me very excited.
Author & Founder of Symphonia,
Thulani creates meaningful opportunities for organizational and individual transformation. Her speaking events are powerful platforms that engage, motivate and inspire audiences towards positive change. She creates an environment that fosters growth and development, empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
Thulani's inclusive facilitation skills are exceptional, fostering constructive dialogue, critical self-reflection, and transformation. She skillfully navigates sensitive topics with empathy and sensitivity, facilitating a dialogue that inspires participants to reflect deeply on their own beliefs and perspectives.
Thulani possesses exceptional leadership coaching skills that enable her to guide leaders and teams towards transformative growth. Her approach is personalized and tailored to the needs of each individual. With a deep understanding of leadership and human behavior, Thulani provides insightful and practical guidance that produces tangible results for her clients.
Please include your first and last name and share any thoughts you have about a future team training.
Kamogelo, based in Pretoria, South Africa, is a vibrant and solutions-driven professional who brings enthusiasm, adaptability, and a human-centred approach to his role at Thulani Consulting Group. As the Executive Assistant, he plays a key role in keeping operations running smoothly, supporting both the administrative and strategic needs of the team. His calm presence, attention to detail, and ability to manage complex logistics make him an essential part of the organisation.
He is also a skilled technical producer for online events, using a variety of platforms and digital tools to deliver well-coordinated and engaging virtual workshops. Beyond the screen, Kamogelo is an insightful facilitator, passionate about creating spaces for reflection and growth, and supporting teams through behaviour-focused interventions that improve how people connect and work together.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography and Anthropology, along with an Honours degree in Environmental Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand. His academic journey deepened his interest in how people navigate and shape the environments they’re part of—insights he continues to apply in his work every day.
With over two decades of experience, Octavia is a dynamic force in the realm of transformational learning, guiding individuals and organizations toward deep self-awareness, healing, and authentic growth. As a seasoned facilitator, she has masterfully led personal development and self-discovery workshops across South Africa and the United States, empowering individuals to reconnect with their essence and embrace their full potential.
With a strong foundation in business development and strategic facilitation, Octavia bridges the worlds of corporate leadership and deep inner work. Her expertise lies in crafting innovative programs, developing strategic objectives, and aligning organizational structures with human-centered growth.
As a senior facilitator at the Sankofa Institute for Collective Wellbeing, Octavia curates and leads healing circle gatherings, fostering spaces where personal evolution and collective healing intersect. She is also a visionary leader in corporate wellness, having served as Head of Wellness & Spirituality within multi-billion-dollar organizations. In this role, she has spearheaded initiatives that cultivate a culture of holistic well-being, integrating psychological, emotional, and spiritual wellness into the corporate fabric.
Having studied under international pioneers in energy work and human consciousness, Octavia brings a profound understanding of the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. As a counsellor, strategic facilitator, and life coach, she helps individuals and organizations uncover the emotional, psychological, and physical roots of dis-ease – guiding them toward transformation, balance, and true empowerment.
Octavia’s mission is clear: to create meaningful change by helping people and organizations unlock their full potential, fostering healing, and cultivating a life and workplace rooted in authenticity, wellness, and purpose.
I’m Thulani DeMarsay, and for nearly three decades, I’ve worked at the intersection of leadership development, contemplative science, wellness, and technology and innovation. Over the past 25 years, I have consulted with leaders from diverse sectors across the United States and, more recently, in West and Southern Africa. My mission is clear: to help leaders and teams maximize effectiveness while honoring well-being. I firmly believe that our ability to be effective is directly tied to our emotional, spiritual, psychological, and physical health.
I earned my PhD in Human Development, with a concentration in Technology, Media, and Innovation. My dissertation research focused on contemplative leadership, exploring how reflective practices such as mindfulness, meditation, silence, yoga, and other practices build resilience in leaders and help them thrive during times of disruption. My research revealed how these practices enhance decision-making, emotional intelligence, and organizational well-being, equipping leaders with the tools they need to navigate complexity and foster both individual and organizational resilience. My concentration further explored how organizations can leverage technology to advance their mission effectively.
An Evening with Thulani: Wednesday, February 28th
Time: 10:00 AM (EST), 1:00 PM (PST), 8:00 PM (SAST) Duration: 1 Hour
Location: NY, 222-3344
Some content about this event