Aflevering #45 | Veroniek Vermeulen | "Choosing Presence"

#45 Veroniek’s quest for presence: what if real success begins when you stop ticking boxes and start listening within? In this episode, I connected with Veroniek Vermeulen, founder of Silatha, who turned her own search for meaning into a mission to bring more psychological safety into workplaces. Moving from a career in engineering and corporate leadership to meditation retreats and entrepreneurship, Veroniek is reshaping conversations around taboo topics and creating cultures where people can show up as their full selves. Deep dive talking points: ???? Breaking taboos: why topics like menopause, monthly cycles, and men’s emotions belong in the workplace; ???? Psychological safety: the invisible Wi-Fi every organization depends on; ???? From ticking boxes to presence: leaving the picture-perfect life behind; ???? Meditation and monasteries: lessons from sitting with pain and living in the now; ???? Leading with respect: why dignity and connection must guide change. Nuggets of empowerment: ???? Real change begins when you dare to sit with discomfort instead of avoiding it. ???? Psychological safety is not a one-off workshop, it is a cultural foundation that requires ongoing care. ???? Presence is not found in achieving more but in learning to let go and simply be. Veroniek’s empowering quote: “I would love we really treat every human with dignity and respect” Books mentioned: ?? Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: a timeless reflection on freedom and response to life. ?? Go Figure by Lisa Falco: a powerful exploration of women’s bodies through science and storytelling. ?? The Female Body Bible: understanding and living in tune with the female body. ?? The Authority Gap: uncovering gender bias and pathways toward equity. ?? Humankind by Rutger Bregman: a hopeful case for the goodness of people. What if the freedom you seek isn’t in proving yourself but in allowing yourself to simply be human? Connect with Veroniek: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veroniek/  Company website: https://silatha.com    A word from our sponsor: https://neotopia.nl           Great strategies don’t fail because of process, they fail when behavior doesn’t follow. Neotopia helps teams turn change into lasting action, through positive reinforcement that actually sticks.