Play It By Your Rules

What if the traits we label as “too much” — too intense, too detailed, too sensitive — were actually your team’s biggest untapped advantage?

In this episode of Play It by Your Rules, I sit down with Xenia Matthies — business psychologist, systemic consultant, and founder of NeuroSynergy® — to explore how neurodivergence can become a competitive edge in leadership and team design.

We dive into:

✨ Practical takeaways you can try today

Because the future of leadership isn’t just about emotional intelligence - it’s about neuro-intelligence.

🎧 This episode runs a bit longer to give space for a deeper dive into concepts such as co-regulation - what it is, how it works, and why it might just be the next leadership frontier. Tune in and see how these insights could reshape the way you lead, live, and collaborate.

🔗 Explore Xenia’s work - mostly in German:

🎥 Online Keynotes:

Führung braucht Klarheit (Online recording – paid): Watch here

Abenteuer Neurodivergenz – Mein Survival-Kit für ein selbstbestimmtes Leben (Free): Watch here

📚 Books:

Playbook Neuroinklusion — practical guide to neuroinclusion: Read here

Manifestieren aus dem Nervensystem: Amazon link

Mein Kind hat ADHS – und jetzt?: Amazon link

🎧 NeuroLeadership Podcast:

What if midlife isn’t a crisis — but the ultimate leadership accelerator?

In this episode of Play It by Your Rules, I sit down with Aneace Haddad — global nomad, tech-entrepreneur-turned-coach, and author of Soaring Beyond Midlife — to explore why your 40s, 50s, and 60s might just be your most powerful chapter yet.

We dive into:

✨ Practical takeaways you can try today:

This episode is for anyone in midlife — or approaching it — who’s felt doubt creeping in. Too late, too slow, too stuck. It’s here to flip that script and remind you: midlife can be your most expansive chapter yet.

🔗 Explore Aneace’s work:

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🎧 Listen now on all major podcast platforms. Just search Play It by Your Rules or Meggi Rombach and hit follow!

👉 Inspired? Share this with someone who needs a midlife reframe.

#PlayItByYourRules #Podcast #MidlifeReinvention #Leadership #RebelEnergy #CareerTransitions #MindfulRebellion

What if the real key to success isn’t doing more - but remembering who you were before the world told you who to be?

In this episode of Play It by Your Rules, I sit down with Shivangi Walke - leadership coach, entrepreneur, speaker, and author of Wander Woman. From corporate boardrooms to founding global mentoring platforms, Shivangi’s mission is clear: help people - including high-skilled immigrant women - reclaim their voice and own their unique strengths.

We dive into:

If you’ve ever felt boxed in by the “shoulds” - too quiet, too bold, too young, too old - this conversation is your reminder: there’s no one right way to live or lead.

🔗 Explore Shivangi’s work:

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From redefining ambition and walking away from the climb, to finding your non-negotiables and building a career with joy and presence - this is for anyone standing at a crossroads and craving more freedom, flow, and fun.

🎧 Listen now on all major podcast platforms. Just search Play It by Your Rules or Meggi Rombach and hit follow!

💬 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps spread the vibe.

👉 Want more?

In this special teaser episode, I flip the mic to my voice coach, Helen von Dadelszen, who interviews me about the story behind the podcast rebrand.

We talk about:

From redefining ambition and walking away from the climb, to finding your non-negotiables and building a career with joy and presence — this is for anyone standing at a crossroads and craving more freedom, flow, and fun.

🎧 Listen now on all major podcast platforms. Just search Play It by Your Rules or Meggi Rombach and hit follow!

💥 Curious? Inspired? Ready to claim your space and write your own rules? Let me know what landed in the comments.

💬 Enjoyed this episode?  Leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps spread the vibe. 

👉 Want more?

Check out my website: https://mindset-mastery.ch

As we transition from Leadership Insights to Play It by Your Rules, I’m delighted to welcome another inspiring leader for this in-between chapter. And what better topic than Play - fitting perfectly with where this podcast is headed.

This month, I talked with Diego Adame, Head of LEGO Ecosystem Collaboration at the LEGO Foundation. Diego’s career spans P&G, an MBA in International Organization Management, and more than a decade driving impact across sectors from nutrition at GAIN to creating global play initiatives at LEGO. Our paths have crossed more than once, and I’m thrilled to bring his story to you.

What stands out about Diego? His conviction that work should have space for play, and for boundaries.

In this conversation, we dig into:

The power of play - why it matters not only for kids, but also for adults, workplaces, and leadership.

Boundaries as non-negotiables - from keeping a private phone to deciding what you will - and won’t - compromise on.

Environments that enable or disable you - from incentive structures to toxic cultures, and why leaders must shape spaces where people thrive.

Challenges with clear outcomes - how defined goals at work or in sports help you build confidence and resilience.

A practical exercise for transitions - track what sparks joy for four weeks to clarify your own non-negotiables.

It’s a conversation about designing work and life on your terms - through play, clarity, and courage.

💡 Whether you’re navigating a career shift, figuring out your non-negotiables, setting boundaries at work, or stuck in an environment that drains you—this episode offers clarity and practical tools to move forward.

🎧 Listen now on Play It by Your Rules (formerly Leadership Insights) on all major podcast platforms - or search Meggi Rombach and hit follow!

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps spread the vibe.

This month, Leadership Insights is becoming Play It by Your Rules  - and we’re kicking things off with a guest who’s done exactly that.

I’m talking to Erik Cooper—adventurist, leader, and trailblazer who walked away from New York agency life to help run two of the craziest horse races in the world.

Erik lived my wildest dream: the Mongol Derby, a 1,000 km race on semi-wild horses across the steppe. Today, he’s part of the team managing the Derby and Gaucho Derby, and the founder of Erik Cooper Adventures, leading remote horseback expeditions through Mongolia and Patagonia.

But this isn’t just a story about horses. It’s about risk, responsibility, and redefining what matters.

Why he left behind comfort and certainty in New York

What riding 30 horses in 10 days taught him about mindset, emotion, and grit

How near-disasters shaped his leadership and decision-making

Why embracing discomfort is essential for growth

How to take bold steps—even when you don’t have it all figured out

Whether you’re sitting in an office, plotting your next pivot, or just feeling stuck - this episode will challenge you to think braver, live bolder, and reconnect with what truly matters.

Practical, real, and a little wild—this is exactly what Play It by Your Rules is all about.

Making unconventional life choices

Managing risk and finding your edge

Reinventing your career or life - your way

What leadership actually looks like when the stakes are high

Choosing discomfort with meaning over comfort without joy

What rule are you ready to break?

🎧 Listen now on all major podcast platforms – just search: “Leadership Insights: Navigating Career and Life” (soon to be Play It by Your Rules) or Meggi Rombach and hit follow!

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps ripple these insights further.

“Your patterns are not who you are—they're just what you learned to survive.”

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Inna Malaia—leadership consultant, certified Enneagram practitioner, and founder of Bevel World—to explore why deep self-awareness is the first step toward meaningful leadership and career choices.

From job transitions to personal reinvention, Inna emphasizes the importance of knowing who you are before deciding where to go next. We unpack the Enneagram as a tool for reflection—not labeling—and how understanding your patterns can unlock more intentional choices, clearer communication, and deeper alignment in both life and work.

💡 In this episode, we explore:

Whether you're facing a career crossroads, stepping into leadership, or simply feeling the pull to understand yourself better—this episode is a call to pause, reflect, and realign.

🔗 Learn more about Inna’s work: Bevel World & her charity Bevel ON.

🎧 Listen now on all major podcast platforms - just search “Leadership Insights: Navigating Career and Life” or Meggi Rombach and hit follow!

🔹 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps spread these insights further.

In this episode of Leadership Insights, we meet Heike Linnemann, former Chief Marketing Officer, brand growth expert, and now an independent consultant helping businesses to unlock profitable, sustainable growth.

Heike's story is one of bold career pivots, intentional choices, and striking a balance between ambition and well-being. From rejecting a full-time job in Germany to launching her career in London to turning around a near-bankrupt company in Italy, Heike shares what it means to lead with vision, grit, and a human touch.

💡 In this episode, we explore:

Whether you're contemplating a leap, balancing parenthood and leadership, or figuring out your next chapter, Heike’s journey will inspire you to trust your gut, embrace imperfection, and define success on your own terms.

🔗 Learn more about Heike’s work: heikelinnemann.com

🎧 Listen now! Available on all major platforms. Just search “Leadership Insights: Navigating Career and Life” or Meggi Rombach and hit follow.

🔹 If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a review—it helps more listeners find us!

“Speaking up isn’t just about volume - it’s about alignment. When your message and energy match your values, people feel it.”

In this episode of Leadership Insights, we explore how to speak with intention with vocal coach and speaker trainer Helen von Dadelszen.

Originally from New Zealand and now based in Switzerland, Helen blends theatre, mindfulness, and leadership to help professionals use their voice with clarity and confidence. Her clients range from humanitarian leaders to researchers. She’s also the creator of Present Potential - a training platform focused on authentic presence, vocal control, and performance.

💡 In this episode, we explore:

From Lion King impersonations to real-time coaching, we unpack the subtle yet powerful shifts that elevate your voice, and your leadership presence. You’ll even hear Helen coach me live!

Whether you’re a public speaker, team leader, or simply want to show up more confidently in meetings, this conversation will help you speak up, with purpose and on purpose.

🔗 Learn more about Helen’s work: https://academy.presentpotential.ch

🎧 Listen now! Available on all major podcast platforms. Just search Leadership Insights: Navigating Career and Life or Meggi Rombach and hit follow.

🔹 If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating and review—it helps more people find the podcast. And if you know someone who needs to hear this, send it their way. Let’s amplify what matters.

"Pausing is like adding salt to food; it brings out depth, balance, and texture." 

In this episode, I speak with Jean-Philippe Jacques, scientist-turned-mindfulness-trainer and co-director of Ressource Mindfulness, who has spent the past 30 years exploring meditation, flow, neuroscience, and leadership. Jean-Philippe, a former molecular biologist, humanitarian worker, and high-performance athlete brings a unique and deeply grounded lens to flow, leadership, and the human experience.

We explore what it means to work and lead with intention, presence, and authenticity, and how slowing down might just be the secret to performing at your best.

💡 Tune in to discover:

🌟 Plus:

Whether you're facing burnout, decision fatigue, or just too much noise, this episode offers both science-backed strategies and a much-needed breath of calm clarity.

Key Ingredients of Flow:

Clear direction and a motivating challenge

The right balance between boredom and anxiety

Feedback and presence in the task

A conscious pause; through breath, intention, and emotional awareness

Reduced distractions and a slower brainwave state (yes, really)

🎧 Listen now!

🔹 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating and review; it really helps more people find the podcast.

Let’s lead with more presence, purpose, and peace.