🌍 Holding Paradoxes as Leaders | Nonviolent Communication & Conscious Leadership

Leaders On Purpose Podcast – Episode 63

In this episode, host Manal Bernoussi sits down with Amal Mekouar, President of the Board of the Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC), to explore how leaders can navigate complexity, tension, and paradox with greater clarity and humanity.

This is a deeply grounded and personal conversation. Amal introduced Manal years ago to practices that profoundly transformed the way she communicates, leads, and holds space — both in high-pressure professional environments and in life.

Together, they explore what leadership looks like when it is rooted not in control or fear, but in presence, self-empathy, and conscious choice.

In this conversation, we explore:

• What Nonviolent Communication (NVC) really is — beyond common misconceptions

• Why leaders often react from survival mode under pressure

• How to balance results and relationships without choosing one over the other

• Why others are a stimulus, not the cause, of our emotions

• The role of self-empathy in navigating stress, responsibility, and decision-making

• How fear shuts down creativity, trust, and innovation

• What it truly means for leaders to hold space

• Why burnout, blame, and rigidity are signals

• How presence and deep listening unlock long-term performance and impact

This episode is an invitation to rethink leadership — not as authority or performance, but as a practice of presence. To slow down in order to see more clearly. And to lead in a way that honors both humanity and results.

🎧 Whether you are a CEO, entrepreneur, executive, or emerging leader, this conversation will offer perspective, language, and practical insights to navigate today's complexity with more alignment.

🔔 Don't forget to:

✔️ Subscribe to the channel ✔️ Like this episode if it resonates ✔️ Share it with someone navigating leadership pressure ✔️ Leave a comment — we'd love to hear what stayed with you

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Leadership, Nonviolent Communication, Conscious Leadership, Leadership Presence, Holding Paradoxes, Emotional Intelligence, Self-Empathy, Leadership Under Pressure, Burnout, Psychological Safety, Trust in Leadership, Purpose-Driven Leadership, Leaders On Purpose Podcast

This episode of the Leaders on Purpose Podcast focuses on the importance of reflection at the end of the year and the practice of setting a single-word intention for the year ahead, rather than traditional New Year's resolutions.

As the final episode of 2025, Manal Bernoussi shares a moment of reflection on the year that just passed — a year that was demanding and emotionally heavy for many, and at the same time filled with growth, connection, and meaningful milestones.

Manal shares a simple but powerful reflection practice she returns to every December, and explains why clarity is the foundation of intentional growth — especially when life feels overwhelming or scattered.

She also revisits a practice that has guided her for years: choosing one word as an intention for the year ahead. Not a rigid resolution, but an internal compass.

You'll hear how her 2025 intention of Expansion unfolded through new countries, new stages, greater responsibility, and deeper inner work — and why her intention for 2026 is Transmission: a shift toward consolidation, sharing what has been embodied, and taking Leaders On Purpose beyond herself.

This episode is an invitation to reflect inward and name the season you're in.

As you step into 2026, what one word will guide you through the year ahead?

In this solo episode, Manal Bernoussi shares a honest reflection about those moments when life gets intense and we slowly lose our rhythm. She talks about the seasons of expansion and contraction we all experience, and why contraction isn't a setback — it's often what protects our balance.

Manal also shares how many people around her felt the same this October and November, and why this period — right before the end of the year — is the perfect moment to slow down, breathe, and come back to our center.

She opens up about her own anchor, rooted in intention, alignment, and service, and invites listeners to reconnect with theirs. The episode ends with a set of simple practices to regain clarity, presence, and focus.

In this episode, Manal shares:

• Why busy seasons can pull us away from ourselves
• The role of contraction moments in our well-being
• The importance of finding your anchor again
• Simple grounding habits to recentre
• How to end the year with clarity and intention

If this episode resonates, share it with someone who may need it today. Thank you for being part of the Leaders On Purpose community! Join us on the Instagram Leaders On Purpose broadcast channel. See you there!

In this powerful episode of Leaders On Purpose, host Manal Bernoussi sits down with Dr. Ilham Kadri, a global business leader celebrated for her authenticity, resilience, and transformational vision.

Born in Casablanca and now leading one of the world's most innovative science companies, Dr. Kadri shares her remarkable journey — from her childhood curiosity and her grandmother's life lessons to redefining corporate leadership through purpose and impact.

Together, they explore:

• The role of curiosity, courage, and education in shaping a global leader
• How purpose can transform even the most complex organizations
• The difference between mentoring and sponsorship — and why both matter
• The inverted-pyramid metaphor of leadership
• What Africa's next chapter could look like through the lens of innovation and sustainability

Dr. Kadri also opens up about overcoming bias, building self-belief, and leading with both heart and mind.

✨ A conversation about leadership, legacy, and the power of staying human in a world of change.

🎧 Tune in, share, and tag us with your key takeaways — we'd love to hear how this episode resonated with you.

Follow on Linkedin and Instagram: @leaderonpurposepodcast @manalbernoussi @ilham-kadri

#LeadersOnPurpose #IlhamKadri #PurposeDrivenLeadership #Syensqo #WomenInLeadership #AfricaRising #Sustainability #Innovation

À 6 ans, il survit à un accident qui le brûle sur 70 % de son corps. Sans bac, il commence comme homme de ménage dans un hôpital… avant de devenir infirmier, vice-champion d'Europe de cross-country et entrepreneur social. Aujourd'hui, il a impacté des millions de vies à travers Banlieues Santé, School, Climat et Capital, et siège dans des conseils d'administration aux côtés de grands groupes et institutions.

Un témoignage inspirant sur la résilience, le leadership et la puissance de rester aligné avec sa mission de vie.

🎙️ Dans cet épisode, nous explorons : ✨ Comment transformer une épreuve en force et avancer sans se victimiser ✨ Les clés d'un état d'esprit orienté solution, même face à l'injustice ✨ Le rôle de la confiance (et de ceux qui nous la donnent) dans la réussite ✨ Pourquoi il n'a jamais ressenti le syndrome de l'imposteur, et ce qu'il en tire comme leçon de leadership Un épisode qui rappelle que ce ne sont pas nos diplômes ou nos titres qui font la différence, mais notre mental, nos valeurs et notre intention.

🎧 Épisode 59 disponible sur Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube.

In this solo episode of Leaders On Purpose Podcast, I dive into one of the most essential life skills: regulating our nervous system when we're triggered.

No matter how much personal growth we do, triggers never disappear — they show up in parenting, at work, in relationships, and even in daily interactions. What matters is not avoiding them, but learning how to return to balance, presence, and calm.

In this episode, I explore: ✨ Why we get triggered and what happens in the brain and body ✨ The hidden costs of staying dysregulated ✨ My personal experience with ice baths — and how controlled stress builds resilience ✨ Practical strategies you can use right away to regulate in the moment and prevent future dysregulation

This conversation is an invitation to see triggers not as enemies, but as teachers — pointing us toward growth and alignment.

💡 Special bonus: Leaders On Purpose listeners get 10% off an ice bath session with Othmane Benchekroun. Mention #LOP when you reach out to him on Instagram @othmanebenchekroun

If this episode resonates, share it with a friend, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review — it really helps this community grow.

🎙️ Kaïsse Ben Yahia : Chargé de mission au Cabinet Royal du Maroc, Ingénieur en chimie nucléaire et Poète

À la croisée des mondes scientifique, institutionnel et artistique, il incarne la liberté d'être et la richesse des identités plurielles. Nous parlons ensemble de spiritualité et de modernité, de la force de l'amour comme moteur de vie, des valeurs de la Tamaghribite, et de ce que signifie rester fidèle à soi-même dans un monde qui cherche trop souvent à nous mettre dans des cases.

Au fil de la conversation, il nous partage : ✨ Les moments clés qui ont forgé son parcours ✨ La place de la poésie et de la musique dans sa vie ✨ Son regard sur l'histoire et l'avenir du Maroc ✨ Ses conseils pour cultiver sa flamme intérieure, même dans les périodes de doute

Un échange sincère, riche et inspirant, qui nous rappelle qu'au-delà des titres et des fonctions, ce qui nous relie, c'est notre humanité.

🎧 À écouter dès maintenant sur Apple Podcasts, Spotify et Deezer. 📺 Disponible en vidéo sur YouTube, le 2 septembre 2025.

What would you do if, in seconds, years of your work disappeared?

On May 19, my Leaders On Purpose Podcast YouTube channel was hacked — and everything was gone. In this solo episode, I share exactly what happened, how I navigated the shock, and the leadership lessons I learned along the way.

From staying calm in the storm to focusing on what you can control, this episode is a raw and real look at resilience in action. I talk about detachment, why nothing in life is permanent or guaranteed, and how leaders can turn unexpected blows into defining moments.

Whether you're a content creator, entrepreneur, or leader navigating your own challenges, you'll find practical strategies to rebuild, protect your work, and lead with clarity under pressure.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• How to respond constructively when crisis hits

• The power of detachment and perspective in leadership

• Why focusing on controllable actions speeds up recovery

• Practical steps to safeguard your digital presence

Keywords: YouTube channel hacked, leadership lessons, resilience, staying calm in crisis, digital security tips, detachment, navigating challenges, rebuilding after loss, content creator tips, unexpected setbacks

In this powerful episode, I sit down with the brilliant Anita Erskine, Executive Director of Erskine Global Communications and one of the most compelling voices in Africa's media and storytelling landscape.

Anita and I first connected as co-hosts at GITEX AFRICA last year, and since then, our paths have continued to cross in meaningful, intentional ways — a true reflection of shared purpose and aligned vision.

Anita opens up about her journey — from discovering the power of her voice to navigating the risks of building a media platform with impact at its core. Together, we explore what it takes to stay grounded in a fast-paced world, the role of doubt in shaping resilience, and the courage it takes to lead with heart.

This conversation is a deep dive into what it really means to lead with purpose, especially in high-pressure environments. It's also a celebration of storytelling as a force to shape Africa's narrative from the inside out.

🎧 In this episode, we explore:

• The moment Anita first recognized communication as a tool for change
• The entrepreneurial highs and lows behind building Erskine Global Communications
• Staying centered and connected to purpose amidst external pressure
• The making of Sheroes and how the project transformed her
• Reflections on navigating spaces where her presence and ambition weren't always fully seen
• What makes African entrepreneurs truly unique
• Why storytelling matters — especially the messy, behind-the-scenes version
• And her message to the next generation of African leaders

Anita's energy is radiant, her insights are hard-earned, and her voice is one that will stay with you long after the episode ends.

🎙️ Thierry Janssen – La posture juste : être en harmonie avec soi et le monde autour de soi

Ancien chirurgien devenu psychothérapeute, Thierry Janssen explore depuis plusieurs années la relation entre le corps et l'esprit pour tendre vers la « posture juste » : un état d'harmonie avec soi-même et avec ce qui nous entoure.

Dans cet épisode, nous revenons sur les principes de cette posture, en particulier dans le cadre professionnel, ainsi que sur l'approche développée au sein de l'École de la posture juste, qu'il a fondée à Bruxelles. https://edlpj.org/

« La justesse absolue est ce qui permet de s'adapter aux situations en agissant avec le maximum de respect pour la vie en nous et autour de nous », explique-t-il. Plus qu'un concept, cette posture essentielle est souvent mise à mal par nos comportements névrotiques. Elle invite à un véritable cheminement, à la fois psychologique, physique et spirituel.

Un échange profond et éclairant sur la transformation intérieure au service d'un leadership plus aligné.