The Way of Contemplative Leadership

A Conversation with Thulani DeMarsay, PhD

Join Dr. Thulani DeMarsay—author of An Invitation to Contemplative Leadership, for a thoughtful conversation on what it means to lead in today’s world. In this 45-minute session, she will offer reflections on how leaders can navigate uncertainty with presence and wisdom, cultivate inner stillness, and foster resilience in their teams and organizations.

Event Details Date: Thursday, July 24th 
Time: Noon (EST) / 9:00 AM (PST)  
Duration: 1 Hour
Location: ZOOM

This Is A Virtual Event

key Takeaways

Cultivate Self-Awareness

Lead in Uncertainty

Foster Resilience & Belonging

Who Should Attend

Emerging Leaders

Individuals stepping into leadership roles seeking guidance in uncertain times.

Seasoned Professionals

Seasoned leaders navigating complexity and change. 

Leadership Teams

Teams that are seeking to cultivate cultures of presence and belonging. 

Anyone interested in Mindful Leadership

Coaches, consultants, facilitators, educators anyone drawn to contemplative Leadership 

Reserve your spot today and join this timely, meaningful conversation.

DESCRIPTION

In a time marked by disruption, uncertainty, and deep transformation, leadership calls for more than strategy—it calls for stillness, self-awareness, and the courage to lead from within.

Join Dr. Thulani DeMarsay, author of  An Invitation to Contemplative Leadership, for an intimate and timely conversation on what it means to lead in this moment. With nearly three decades of experience as an organizational development consultant and coach, Dr. DeMarsay brings a distinctive perspective rooted at the intersection of leadership and contemplative science. Her work invites leaders to slow down, reflect deeply, and reconnect with their inner wisdom.

Drawing from contemplative practices and grounded in the African philosophy of Ubuntu—which emphasizes our shared humanity and interconnection—Dr. DeMarsay offers a soulful yet practical approach to leading through change. In this 45-minute session, she will share personal reflections, insights from her work with leaders and organizations, and gentle practices for cultivating presence, resilience, and collective care.

Whether you are a senior leader, executive, entrepreneur, educator, consultant, or simply navigating change in your own life, this session will offer a moment of reflection and renewal—a space to pause, breathe, and reimagine the way we lead.

Stay Tuned for Upcoming Talks

Digital Well-being & Mindful Technology

This offering is where organizational wellness meets measurable, lasting results. We care deeply about the work we do—and about the people and organizations we serve. That’s why we intentionally track progress and evaluate the effectiveness of every engagement. Using a range of assessment tools and feedback methods, we measure growth over time—not just in performance metrics, but in the overall health, well-being, and cohesion of teams.

The most meaningful indicator of success? When individuals and organizations feel stronger, more connected, and more aligned with their mission. Our goal is always sustainable transformation—not surface-level change.

Digital Well-being & Mindful Technology

This offering supports leaders and teams in cultivating a more intentional, balanced relationship with technology. Using a mindfulness-based approach, we help individuals engage with digital tools in ways that reduce stress, prevent burnout, and foster presence. With a doctoral concentration in media technology and innovation, Dr. Thulani DeMarsay brings a deep understanding of how technology shapes modern work and well-being. She has led technology initiatives across mid-sized and large organizations to help them better serve their mission—while also witnessing firsthand how constant digital engagement can lead to overload and disconnection.

Through this work, we guide teams in rethinking their digital habits, using tech more mindfully, and creating a culture of clarity, focus, and purpose.

Energy & Flow for Sustainable Leadership

We see energy and flow as essential for sustainable, effective leadership—and for how individuals show up in every aspect of life. This offering is grounded in the science of flow by Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and the research of Dr. Jim Loehr, co-author of The Power of Full Engagement. It’s inspired by the idea of the “corporate athlete,” acknowledging that today’s leaders often work long hours with increasing demands, yet struggle to maintain energy and focus over time.

Combining insights from elite athletics and human performance science, we offer practical tools to assess personal energy, recover effectively from extended effort, and create the conditions for deep flow. Leaders gain strategies to stay clear, grounded, and resilient—no matter what the pace of life requires.

Integrative Nutrition & Vitality

Led by certified integrative health coaches, this offering provides personalized, holistic support to nourish the body, restore vitality, and sustain high energy levels. Rooted in the principle of bio-individuality, we partner with individuals and teams to co-create nutrition and lifestyle plans tailored to their unique needs and leadership goals. It’s not just about what’s on your plate—it’s about cultivating the energy, mental clarity, and resilience needed to lead with presence, focus, and strength. 

Holistic Health Coaching

This offering provides individualized support designed to meet each person or team exactly where they are. We begin with a guided visioning process to clarify your desired outcomes and long-term goals. From there, we work collaboratively to co-create a personalized wellness plan that supports your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Whether in one-on-one sessions or group settings, our coaching is rooted in a holistic, client-centered approach that honors each person’s unique path.

The result is sustainable growth and meaningful change aligned with what matters most to you.

Stress Resilience & Emotional Mastery

our approach to Stress Resilience and Emotional Mastery empowers individuals to stay grounded and clear-headed even in the most demanding situations. Participants learn to regulate their nervous systems, manage emotional triggers, and cultivate presence under pressure. Through mindfulness-based practices and science-backed techniques, we guide people to transform stress into strength—fostering calm, confident decision-making, emotional intelligence, and a deeper sense of inner stability.

This offering is ideal for teams and leaders who thrive in fast-paced environments but seek tools to prevent burnout and sustain well-being.

Kamogelo Maema

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.

Octavia Hendricks

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.

Dr. Thulani

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

Skip to content