I met Nat many years ago at an SAP industry conference. We reconnected in 2019 and Nat told me about the Mindful CIO Community and its focus on improving people-centricity into leadership in the IT world. Through my career journey I have always wanted to see more people-focussed and authentic leadership. As I have moved on to take roles with greater responsibility for teams and outcomes, I seek to find ways of demonstrating the type of leadership I have sought from others. Joining the Mindful CIO Community was an easy decision for me given its objectives. The simple structure Nat has created for like-minded leaders in the IT industry to come together once a month to share our experiences, frustrations, successes and knowledge has been a nice way for me to meet other eminent leaders and learn through sharing. Through the roundtable meetings, common themes became clear quickly - everyone has more work than ever before, stress levels are high and the balance between work and life has blurred greatly and it is hard to see where one ends and the other begins. Each of us in the Mindful community is facing similar challenges. Being authentic and human-centric is becoming harder than ever before due to the tremendous pressures we face to keep delivering quality outcomes faster and cheaper. The roundtables and the Mindful community at large, create an ecosystem that allows us to pause for just that little while and reconsider how we might re-ignite understanding, compassion and diversity in our thought processes as we lead. I am very happy to support, promote and continue to contribute in any way possible to further this fantastic cause that the Mindful CIO Community champions in the years to come. I wish Nat, Michael and everyone involved the best.

Mindful CIO roundtables has proven to be immensely beneficial, significantly influencing my personal development. These sessions create a safe environment that brings together exceptional individuals and serves as a valuable platform for sharing experiences, insights, and best practices. The networking aspect of the roundtables has been particularly noteworthy and stands out as my favorite part of the experience. It has provided an invaluable opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, fostering the exchange of ideas and thought-provoking discussions. The entire experience has been enriching! Thank you Nat!

I thank Nat and team for organizing the sessions as part of 'The Mindful CIO Community'. The workshops that I've been part of, have helped me get better perspectives on the significance of human centric approach in our day to day working life. To be able to interact with experienced leaders in the industry who have been kind enough to share real life stories is quite enriching. Once again thanks Nat for the work you and team have done. Happy 2024, and speak soon!

I heard about the Mindful CIO Community and Nathalie from my colleague, Lisa Peters, who is a regular attendee at the Community’s monthly connects. Having then attended the sessions myself, I can say Nathalie brings together a community for open discussions aimed at making a difference in the workplace. Hearing from the guest speakers and discussions in breakout groups makes the sessions insightful and engaging. The sessions also offer an opportunity to connect with and learn from other attendees. Thanks Nathalie for your continued efforts to keeping this community going!

The Mindful CIO Community is a truly remarkable initiative. I had the pleasure of meeting Nathalie in 2021 and I was immediately drawn to become a Contributor, having long believed in the importance of emphasising human interactions within the IT sector. The Mindful CIO Roundtables are a standout feature. These gatherings offer a unique chance for IT leaders like myself to engage in meaningful discussions about enhancing our ability to listen, understand, collaborate, and influence. For anyone eager to hone their leadership skills and expand their network among like-minded professionals, these roundtables are invaluable. They consistently provide practical insights and the opportunity to encounter diverse perspectives.

I had the pleasure of attending The Mindful CIO 2nd anniversary event. It was truly inspiring to witness a community of CIOs who prioritise their teams wellbeing and are actively striving to enhance their workplaces and the quality of work life.

In early 2023, I became a member of The Mindful CIO Community and engaged in several round table discussions. As the CIO of a prominent bank in Kenya, I frequently participate in forums centered around technology. However, what sets The Mindful CIO Community apart is its focus on the non-technical aspects and mindfulness within the CIO role. During these roundtable discussions, speakers openly share their personal journeys, emphasizing how mindfulness has helped them address empathetic issues with employees, peers, and senior leaders. The breakout sessions offer valuable opportunities to learn from global CIO peers, exchanging experiences and insights. I've successfully implemented some shared experiences within my own company, contributing to seamless goal achievement. I extend my gratitude to Nathalie and the team for welcoming me into this impactful initiative.

I started working with Nathalie as my Executive Coach, and she introduced me to the CIO Roundtables. These roundtables are not just meetings; they're catalysts for change. In these forums, we delve into strategies for a more integrated approach, which is crucial for staying relevant and driving positive change in our communities. It's these kinds of initiatives that make a real difference in today's world.

A big supporter of Nathalie’s program, passion and relentless drive to humanise IT. I gained a lot of insights and perspectives from the Mindful CIO Community that allowed me to try new ways to develop myself and my team. I enjoyed hearing from experts and peers on mindfulness and on the relentless act of balancing priorities, team dynamics, performance and wellbeing in the space of digital and IT technology function. I learnt from stories, engaging speakers, discovered different strategies and practices that I can apply at work and in personal life to be a better person. I appreciate the opportunity to share my experiences and opinions in a safe and open environment, and to receive constructive feedback and challenge from others. The sessions are very engaging, informative, and inclusive yet providing diverse perspectives. I love the format where each participant is drawn into discussion. Great forum to engage to prioritise human-centered organisational culture.

The Mindful CIO Community is absolutely the best forum I have taken part in focused on improving the lives of those working in the IT industry. The community all share the common belief that a human-centric approach to IT delivers the best results. Nat brings together fantastic and diverse IT thought leaders from of range of industries and the sessions she moderates are always engaging, open and insightful.

Being part of the Mindful CIO community has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience and a marked difference from the majority of IT oriented groups. This group’s unique focus on soft skills within the tech landscape is refreshing, enlightening and sadly often overlooked. In an industry where technical prowess often overshadows the ability to lead with empathy, this community seeks to elevate the often-overlooked human element of leadership. The approach, centred around the Mindful CIO Manifesto, provides a breath of fresh air by prioritising psychological safety, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills. The roundtable events, coupled with insights from accomplished senior executives, have expanded members understanding beyond just focusing on technology challenges. It’s about honing the skills that truly differentiate a leader, technical or otherwise—compassion, communication, and mindfulness. This community doesn’t just advocate for these values; it lives them. It creates a space where IT leaders evolve not just as tech experts but as empathetic and insightful guides, fostering healthier team dynamics and innovative problem-solving. For anyone seeking a shift from the traditional, purely technical approach to leadership, the Mindful CIO community is a beacon of transformation. It’s where technology meets humanity, and where soft skills aren’t just appreciated but celebrated.

I joined the Mindful CIO Community because I have always tried to lead in a humanistic way and the four pillars in their Manifesto really resonated with me. The Roundtables are a great opportunity to hear different perspectives from experienced leaders, and to discuss the topics with peers in the breakout rooms, gaining multiple perspectives on the subject matter. The topics are varied and diverse and delivered by people with experience in that particular field, bringing the subject to life. The upshot is, there are like-minded leaders out there and the problems you face are not unique to you and the Mindful CIO Community is a great vehicle to help you understand and address these issues.

In 2022, I was invited by Nathalie Heynderickx to join The Mindful CIO Community. I think the key learning or takeaway from attending The Mindful CIO Community roundtable events has been the realization that everyone goes through the same challenges, other people are experiencing similar problems, and that you are not alone. I really like the format of The Mindful CIO Community events (guest speaker, break out rooms etc). I also enjoy the content posted on LinkedIn and reading Nathalie’s book, The Mind of the Leader. The program offered is fantastic and I think that people in technology-based industries often struggle with understanding these sorts of concepts. It's great to hear from experts. It's great to talk to peers in the industry that are going through the same challenges and it's just really good to know that it's okay to stop and be mindful of the situations that you're in. Keep up the great work!

I met Nathalie some 15 years ago and we worked together, implementing SAP. Nathalie then took a path of doing executive coaching and teaching. Through being connect to Nathalie on LinkedIn, I came across the Mindful CIO Community. I saw the community held monthly discussions so I joined to see what topics were discussed and who attended the events. I was so impressed by the guest speakers each month, what they had to say and most importantly what I learned. I loved the break out discussions and how open everyone was in sharing their experiences on how to create a mindful culture in the workplace. I became a regular in the monthly meetings and also became a champion as I felt a strong connection to this community and how we are collectively evolving workplace culture. I would encourage others to join and experience an event with the community and be part of an open, honest group of people willing to discuss workplace challenges, share ideas, discuss and put into action how we can improve the workplace for everyone!

The Mindful CIO Community - what a great initiative! Nathalie and I met in 2021, soon after Nathalie had launched the Mindful CIO community as an initiaitve to foster mindful, human centred leadership of IT people and teams. I decided to become a Contributor as I had long believed that, in traditionally technical disciplines such as IT, there is always a need to boost the focus on human interactions in our leadership practices. The monthly Mindful CIO Roundtables provide a rare and welcome opportunity to talk with other IT leaders about how we can listen to, understand, collaborate with and influence the people around us. They are highly recommended if you are looking to develop skills and networks among people who care about understanding, responding to and influencing the humans they work with. There is always something concrete to learn and interesting people and perspectives to hear. Join us!