Now is the time
We are making our way through these times; co-creating an emerging future
It is in our hands. It is up to us; to be working together, for a future of our own making.
For making the changes that we need to made
For making transitions
For making decisions and choices
For making steps
For making connections
For making stronger bonds
For making our communities stronger
For making places and spaces
For making what needs to be made
For building what needs to be built
For weaving what needs to be woven,
For making repairs
For making amends
For making a difference
For making waves
For making a stand
For making good, that which is needed
For making a brighter future
For ourselves
For each other
For future generations
And for mother earth
Making my way to a brighter future
As a specialist in the design, curation and production of experiences and resources, with an emphasis on truth, wisdom, open-hearted communication, innovation for high ideals and the multidimensional aspects of our existence; it is my work now to catalyse the process of making a brighter future; at this turning point for humanity and for mother earth.
A journey of change
Officially breaking away from 'commercial corporate work in 2007; my commitment was to 'use change management to create more positive change'; a journey that led me to work with communities, charities, social enterprises, wellbeing practitioners, change-makers, CSR, placemakers, councils, partnerships. businesses, leaders and in schools and education.
Cycles of burnout through these years, called for a deeper inquiry into the underlying cause; and a gradual recognition that my body was signalling a warning; catalysing a letting go, a consolidation and a departure from professional practices, paradigms, communities and customers; opening to a deeper level of alignment with wellbeing, positive change and the creation of a brighter future; a gradual, instinctual the intense purification of that work; another breakaway from overt and covert agenda-driven change harvesting the best of the expertise, knowledge and tools to assist in pure change, led by people connected with source.
Gathering the best from tools & techniques
| facilitation | project & programme directorship | project management best practice processes and mentoring | visualisation | leadership development | leadership counsel | advisory | project design and development | needs analysis and mapping | empathic co-design | presentations and proposals | process design & improvement | inquiry & action learning | creative problem solving | visual thinking | visual dialogue | visual research methods | planning | mapping | mind-mapping | design-thinking | creative decision making | creative direction | ideation | work breakdown structures | rich picture problem solving | innovation | social innovation | insight | research | product and service development and improvement | portfolio management | creative engagement | curation | experience design | social sculpture | participatory process | e-learning design | copywriting | editing | poetry and prose | partnership facilitation | ideation & concept development | user journeys | collaboration | interior design | crafts | game design |
Energy & engagement
A multi-award-winning experiment with a focus on tending to energy and wellbeing in a growing team; phenomenal results in profit, reputation, innovation, talent attraction/retention and catalysing conscious business in an online agency; a catalyst for a change of direction for me too with regards to leadership, 'awards' truth, alignment and the deeper meaning of democracy.
Seeing through the eyes of love
The gold from this was the experience of a deeper way to inquire about change; purely through the heart, through the eyes of love; with no desire or movement to 'change' anything; to be fully present 'with what is' and follow that which arises in awareness, that beckons for change; an unusual experience in 'design for change' circles!
Being part of UnBox was profoundly inspiring and rich by way of cross-pollination of practice and ideas for social change through design.
A turning point in placemaking
Practical insights into placemaking with a multi-disciplinary team of a leading architect, london city planner and development project broker; with my contribution for the resident experience = for a design proposal for a new garden city; catalysing a dawning realisation of the commercial priorities in traditional placemaking, and in town and city planning; a turning point, marking my departure from mainstream projects and practices; gathering what was useful, to assist in forming and developing new places for democratic and decentralised communities, in harmony with nature and with love and deep care for people and the earth at the heart of design process and the development.
"Leela Karen is utterly unique; I know no-one else like her. Each time we meet or work together, the experience leaves me inspired. She is so giving of her knowledge, her energy and unparalleled authenticity - that I find myself, as a storyteller, short for words. Leela Karen is a firebrand, a soul-counsellor and superlatives aside, a great person to work with."
Martin Deakin - Leadership Storyteller & Communications
...'Leela Karen's approach is creative, leftfield, technically excellent all wrapped up in great stakeholder management. She is a refreshing change from the 'formula' approach in her field.”
Bill Dudman
How to describe working with Leela Karen Grace?! Imagine the most creative, boundary-less brain, inside a whole-hearted human with a deep deep curiosity and care. And then add in a large dose of systemic and organisational nouse, and relaxed confidence with the senior leaders in any organisation; Leela Karen is brave in saying she sees the world differently and what an incredible perspective you will gain if you listen up.”
Aly-King-Smith - Leadership Development
“Over 6 sessions Leela Karen helped me strengthen my own resilience and that of my team; 6 months on and I have now instigated a team resilience programme, tackled performance-related issues across my team, supported others struggling with change management, and most importantly have a confidence in myself to continue navigating us through the growth of my organisation. I recommend her to anyone wanting to strengthen their leadership and create resilience in their team or organisation.”
Lucy - Global Leadership Team (nda)
'Leela Karen is like no-one else I have ever met; she's quite simply brilliant. She is a unique blend of creativity, intuition and smarts.
Her crystal clear process took me on an amazing journey starting from a spark of an idea - and ending in a fully formed business plan. Like a spiral, Leela Karen's questions led me deep into the core of the idea. One of the keys of the process is the visual map that she creates for each session. These maps helped me to link things together in new ways, and see new possibilities - ultimately coming up with a better concept."
Dawn Gosling - Director
“Leela Karen is a joy to work with. A high spirit and drive are allied to a thoughtful planned approach and she is always looking for more; more aspects, more avenues and especially more marketing directions; Leela Karen worked on a wellbeing project with me and I would have never got it up and running without her.”
Brent Curless - Entrepreneur
"I had some business coaching with Leela Karen some 18 months ago - it illuminated and released the potential of the thoughts, dreams and dynamics of my business. We created a visual structure which allowed me to see my business more deeply, and from new perspectives - and I immediately saw clearly where it needed to go.
Leela Karen facilitated clarity for the future and in our session and mapped out a visual roadmap with intentions and next steps; this vision has been coming to fruition ever since and has become my reality.
Her way of working is very magical and unique. I can honestly say that that this is the absolute best money I have ever spent in terms of life and business coaching and encourage anyone at a crossroads, looking for direction, needing to make conscious decisions and being clear about next steps to embark on, you won't be disappointed, you will be blown away."
Emma Jackman - Founder of Conscious Chocolate
"Thank you for your listening, creativity and knowledge all in a realm of authenticity and potency. What I got out of our sessions was the opportunity to create new out of chaos; to create future out of things that were ending; to give a new meaning to ambition.”
Annemieke Jonas - Pilates Specialist & Studio
"I never had such an experience before. I think many peoples in India need such coaching to take out their hidden dreams and show to them. And also showing them the possibilities and way forward.”
Shiva Prakash - Ayurvedic Practiitoner
"We greatly enjoyed working with you to create a visual representation of what we do. Leela Karen and the team really helped us think carefully about the how we wanted to share the artefact and who it was for – and this ensured the end result is great and represents us very well."
Steve Gray - CEO Earthwatch
"I was fortunate enough to have the pleasure of working alongside Leela Karen; memorable, fun to be around and always happy to be “on-point” and accountable, Karen always demonstrated the key traits that make a great change manager; tenacity, commitment, extraordinary drive and professionalism.
Within a few minutes of meeting Leela Karen you will start to see these characteristics coming through. Her high levels of confidence and clear communication skills always gave me the confidence to know that any project she was running was in safe hands. Anyone looking for a committed, professional and trustworthy individual won’t go wrong by choosing Leela Karen; highly recommended.Ian Dickson - former colleague
‘The sessions were thought-provoking and created ideas that were able to be implemented on a practical level; meaning that the new insights had an immediate effect.’
Richard Reid - Pinnacle Therapy
