The Phoenix Frequencies

What do you do when the leadership style that made you successful for 25 years suddenly stops working? Drahomira Mandiková shares her phoenix moment in leadership. A big shift creates an impact in the workplace and is reflected in our personal behaviours as well.
That is the Phoenix lesson she brings in this episode: “Sometimes growth is not about adding skills. It’s about letting an old version of yourself burn - so a more adaptable leader can rise.  
And today, I know that leadership is not universal. And the most powerful leaders are those willing to be reborn”.

About Drahomira:

Drahomira Mandiková is the Group Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Asahi Group Holding, based in Tokyo. Her career in the beer industry began 26 years ago in Slovakia, her home country, and has since spanned roles at the company’s European headquarters, in India, and now in Japan. Her work is driven by a purpose to navigate a shifting business environment by broadening the conversation from short‑term profitability to long‑term sustainability. She brings a global perspective to how companies can remain successful and bring positive impact. In her current role, Drahomira is closely involved in facilitating the transformation of a Japanese company into a truly global organisation—bridging cultures, aligning leadership across regions, and supporting change at the enterprise level. She is known as a connector who brings people together around shared purpose and impact.
 Drahomíra Mandíková, a senior global sustainability executive, is one of the leaders recognised in Sustainability Magazine’s Top 250 Women in Sustainability (2026) list, ranked 68. You can see the full report here, and a link to the ‘Out Now’ post is here. 

LinkedIn 

We are all responsible for how we show up in the world, to others, ánd to ourselves. With Phoenix Frequencies, Nienke van Bezooijen shines her light on what we can do to be the best versions of ourselves based on how we show up and what we are willing to learn. It isn't about showing the way with pretended positivity, it is the heart-based vulnerability-sharing options. It takes courage to rise. See what is for you. Or share with others.  Perfect doesn't exist; curiosity can be the stepping stone to broaden your perspectives. 

Courage to move on from the past,
Trust to be with the present,
Rise to create a new future. 

If you want to be interviewed as a phoenix, write to  heartbraincoachnienke @gmail.com

Can you feel the shift? The world we once tried to control is moving beneath our feet. From the crumbling of old-guard power structures to the rigid KPIs that are draining the soul out of our organizations, we are standing in the "ashes" of a collapsing era.

But in this episode of The Phoenix Frequencies, we’re not just looking at the debris. We’re looking in the mirror.

As the "Old World" struggles with power, greed, and the rise of AI-driven thought, a new movement is breathing. It’s not a "Big Bang"—it’s the Butterfly Effect. It is the subtle, coherent change of direction within each of us that creates a totally different outcome for the collective.

In this episode, Nienke explores:

• The KPI Paradox: Why the pursuit of untamed profits is failing our humanity.
• Coherence vs. Chaos: How to move beyond "naming, framing, and blaming" to find true heart-centered intention.
• The Oxygen Mask Principle: Why your personal transformation is the only way to disarm the unsustainable world around you.
• Mirroring the Shadow: Are you creating from a place of anger and suspicion, or from an unshakeable force of love?

It takes courage to be a butterfly for change in a world that tempts you to become a drone. Are you ready to look into the uncomfortable mirror of your own "response-ability"?

We are all responsible for how we show up in the world, to others, ánd to ourselves. With Phoenix Frequencies, Nienke van Bezooijen shines her light on what we can do to be the best versions of ourselves based on how we show up and what we are willing to learn. It isn't about showing the way with pretended positivity, it is the heart-based vulnerability-sharing options. It takes courage to rise. See what is for you. Or share with others.  Perfect doesn't exist; curiosity can be the stepping stone to broaden your perspectives. 

Courage to move on from the past,
Trust to be with the present,
Rise to create a new future. 

If you want to be interviewed as a phoenix, write to  heartbraincoachnienke @gmail.com

If you are feeling the density of the world right now—the politics, relationships, work, the stress, or your own health challenges—ask yourself: Am I trying to fight the noise, or am I ready to conduct the music?
Destiny is what happens when you stop resisting the density and start leading the collaboration. It’s about awakening the healthy parts of your life—your joy, your resilience, your inner peace from inner ease—and letting them play so loudly and so purely that the 'ashes' of the past simply fall away.

Like Nienke saw on her walk this week, a winter forest at dawn, thick with fog and frost. That is density in its purest form—heavy, cold, and obscuring the path. Ice on the ponds, but a ray of light does the mystery work. Alchemy of light, warmth and frost. 

Does the sunlight 'attack' the fog? Does it 'command' the frost to leave? No. The sun simply rises. As its frequency increases, the density has no resistance. It doesn't fight; it simply resolves. It dissipates because it cannot exist in that higher state of light.

From what frequencies are you the conductor within yourself? Density or Destiny is just flipping the letters like a ray of light. 

We are all responsible for how we show up in the world, to others, ánd to ourselves. With Phoenix Frequencies, Nienke van Bezooijen shines her light on what we can do to be the best versions of ourselves based on how we show up and what we are willing to learn. It isn't about showing the way with pretended positivity, it is the heart-based vulnerability-sharing options. It takes courage to rise. See what is for you. Or share with others.  Perfect doesn't exist; curiosity can be the stepping stone to broaden your perspectives. 

Courage to move on from the past,
Trust to be with the present,
Rise to create a new future. 

If you want to be interviewed as a phoenix, write to  heartbraincoachnienke @gmail.com

What is the secret of a good listener? They can hold space:
 "In the process of rising from the ashes, holding space is the stillness between the fire and the flight. It is the quiet, steady frequency that allows the 'redesign' of a life to take place in a safe and honest environment."  
Here is a checklist for you, "Holding Space to Rise".
It includes the 7 key steps for clearing your own mental noise, listening for the speaker's "spark," and using silence to help others find the frequency to rise from the ashes.
1. Empty the Vessel: Take a 'breath of transition' to clear your own mental noise and biases before the conversation begins.
2. Set the Frequency: Intentionally decide to provide a non-judgmental, safe container for the speaker's true self to emerge. Listen from neutrality.
3. Honour the Ashes: Practice radical honesty by validating the weight of their struggle without rushing into 'fake positivity' or advice.
4. Listen for the Spark: Ignore the 'static' of the story and focus on shifts in energy, tone, and check if it's safe for them to rise or not yet.
5. Utilise Sacred Silence: After the speaker finishes a thought, wait: allow seconds to be silent. Allow the insight to land in the space for both of you.
6. Reflect the True Self: Mirror back the strengths or realisations you hear emerging, rather than enforcing the problems being described: non-judgmental, without the focus on yourself. 
7. Check the Heart-Brain Connection: Notice if the speaker (or you) is stuck in the head (logic) and gently ask questions, reflections to include the heart (feeling).

Are you listening?
Or as Manu Keirse describes it—if you think you’ve listened: listen again

We are all responsible for how we show up in the world, to others, ánd to ourselves. With Phoenix Frequencies, Nienke van Bezooijen shines her light on what we can do to be the best versions of ourselves based on how we show up and what we are willing to learn. It isn't about showing the way with pretended positivity, it is the heart-based vulnerability-sharing options. It takes courage to rise. See what is for you. Or share with others.  Perfect doesn't exist; curiosity can be the stepping stone to broaden your perspectives. 

Courage to move on from the past,
Trust to be with the present,
Rise to create a new future. 

If you want to be interviewed as a phoenix, write to  heartbraincoachnienke @gmail.com

As we look at the world today, we see a rapid shift in the global worldview regarding the pursuit of control. We are moving away from claiming power based on the past and toward an attempt to control a new paradigm—one that is often as substantial as the "emperor’s new clothes."

Think of the T. rex: an "eat or be eaten" mentality, focused on controlling everything you dislike. But dinosaurs are extinct. Why? Because they could not adapt to a changing environment.

Letting Go of the Illusion you can control all...

What happens when you stop focusing all your energy on controlling your life, the lives of others, and the world to fit your personal standards? We often cling to these standards because they make us feel safe, but they are an illusion.

While A.I. provides us with truths based on past data, we must remain "fit" to trust our inner knowing and intuition (H.I., or Human Intelligence). We must learn to collaborate rather than relying solely on intellectual understanding.

It is collaboration that makes the difference, not control. The goal is to become the conductor rather than the controller. Become a master, Maestro, of adapting to the unknown and the unpredictable mystery of life. Or, you can continue to enjoy your "dinosaur life" until the world shifts even further away.

We are all responsible for how we show up in the world, to others, ánd to ourselves. With Phoenix Frequencies, Nienke van Bezooijen shines her light on what we can do to be the best versions of ourselves based on how we show up and what we are willing to learn. It isn't about showing the way with pretended positivity, it is the heart-based vulnerability-sharing options. It takes courage to rise. See what is for you. Or share with others.  Perfect doesn't exist; curiosity can be the stepping stone to broaden your perspectives. 

Courage to move on from the past,
Trust to be with the present,
Rise to create a new future. 

If you want to be interviewed as a phoenix, write to  heartbraincoachnienke @gmail.com

A new year, new intentions. Is that a habitual thing you can let go of, what doesn't work, and create something you love so much it goes deeper and stays real? 

If you lose weight because you don't like the scale now, be careful, weight might find you again.... 

Do you dare to change your frequency and step into what is a match for you in this moment? Free from comparison with the past, something you didn't like? 

Use what really sparks you to create what you love. Enjoy the journey of a new ride this year! 

Don't set intentions for the reason of setting intentions. Create actions you love to take! 

We are all responsible for how we show up in the world, to others, ánd to ourselves. With Phoenix Frequencies, Nienke van Bezooijen shines her light on what we can do to be the best versions of ourselves based on how we show up and what we are willing to learn. It isn't about showing the way with pretended positivity, it is the heart-based vulnerability-sharing options. It takes courage to rise. See what is for you. Or share with others.  Perfect doesn't exist; curiosity can be the stepping stone to broaden your perspectives. 

Courage to move on from the past,
Trust to be with the present,
Rise to create a new future. 

If you want to be interviewed as a phoenix, write to  heartbraincoachnienke @gmail.com

In this last podcast, Nienke invites you to reflect. 
What gifts did you get from this year, physically, mentally, emotionally spirtually/in behaviours?
In an honest share, she lists her gifts for 2025 across all areas. 
Gifts can occur as setbacks; we can take them as invitations to enjoy? Shift your perspectives?  
She ends with an inquiry as a gift to you. If you want, you can get it. Not only during this holiday and gift season, but whenever you want. 
It's an exchange of gifts for those who like to rise.

We are all responsible for how we show up in the world, to others, ánd to ourselves. With Phoenix Frequencies, Nienke van Bezooijen shines her light on what we can do to be the best versions of ourselves based on how we show up and what we are willing to learn. It isn't about showing the way with pretended positivity, it is the heart-based vulnerability-sharing options. It takes courage to rise. See what is for you. Or share with others.  Perfect doesn't exist; curiosity can be the stepping stone to broaden your perspectives. 

Courage to move on from the past,
Trust to be with the present,
Rise to create a new future. 

If you want to be interviewed as a phoenix, write to  heartbraincoachnienke @gmail.com

An existential crisis is a period of deep questioning about life's meaning, purpose, and values, often triggered by significant life events or a sense of meaninglessness, which can lead to feelings of anxiety and distress.
Existential growth is the positive transformation that can occur when a person navigates this crisis by reevaluating their life, gaining deeper self-awareness, and aligning their actions with their actual values, leading to increased resilience and authenticity. The crisis is the challenging process of questioning, while growth is the outcome of successfully moving through it. 

This week, Nienke looks at how a dear friend shifted from existential crisis to existential growth. Also, she faced a life event that created awareness: from 'Impossible' to 'I am possible'. Talent doesn't get affected by physical disease. 

There is always space for existential growth, no matter what. 

We are all responsible for how we show up in the world, to others, ánd to ourselves. With Phoenix Frequencies, Nienke van Bezooijen shines her light on what we can do to be the best versions of ourselves based on how we show up and what we are willing to learn. It isn't about showing the way with pretended positivity, it is the heart-based vulnerability-sharing options. It takes courage to rise. See what is for you. Or share with others.  Perfect doesn't exist; curiosity can be the stepping stone to broaden your perspectives. 

Courage to move on from the past,
Trust to be with the present,
Rise to create a new future. 

If you want to be interviewed as a phoenix, write to  heartbraincoachnienke @gmail.com

Do you know these individuals who are incredibly loyal and work hard for everyone who asks? Those who become very upset by facing resistance tend to take critique extremely personally. But also comfort themselves with compensation food after serving half the world? Like Labradors. Friendly and social – Intelligent and eager to learn – Loyal and devoted – Gentle and patient –Playful and enthusiastic – Adaptable 

But also: A Labrador needs plenty of exercise and stimulation –Food-driven – Attention-seeking – (Can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone too long)– Boisterous or clumsy – Their enthusiasm can sometimes be overwhelming. Easily bored (if they have to entertain themselves without stimulation).

The human Labrador has difficulties with setting and enforcing boundaries; they often love to make others happy, but only until others set a boundary for them. They are so happy to make others happy, it's affecting their self-esteem if ít doesn't work as they envisioned. Then they become disappointed, trying to work even harder to please you by nature until they feel you don't deserve their trust. They try to solve the situations by dominating their desired pleasing outcomes. Being happy feels safe.....

There's nothing wrong with the Labrador syndrome as long as there is exchange based on mutual self-worth. If the human Labrador can't find their true inner drive, don't collaborate based on their conditions: don't blame the Labrador, love them with clarity and empowering boundaries.

How Loyal are you to controlling the outcome? 

We are all responsible for how we show up in the world, to others, ánd to ourselves. With Phoenix Frequencies, Nienke van Bezooijen shines her light on what we can do to be the best versions of ourselves based on how we show up and what we are willing to learn. It isn't about showing the way with pretended positivity, it is the heart-based vulnerability-sharing options. It takes courage to rise. See what is for you. Or share with others.  Perfect doesn't exist; curiosity can be the stepping stone to broaden your perspectives. 

Courage to move on from the past,
Trust to be with the present,
Rise to create a new future. 

If you want to be interviewed as a phoenix, write to  heartbraincoachnienke @gmail.com

Acceptance is not about giving up; it is about releasing resistance to what you cannot change, so you can move forward with clarity and purpose. While giving up is a cessation of effort, acceptance is a proactive choice to acknowledge reality as it is, which creates a foundation for progress and allows you to respond to challenges with strength and grace. 

Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity prayer says it beautifully.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

The perception of duality between acceptance and giving up is what we tell ourselves when we are blinded by the 'shouldy, wouldy, couldy' in our desired outcomes. 

What if the real power lies in embracing a perspective that aligns with who we are today? What if you start collaborating with the creator in you?  Not from what your mind told you by experience in the past, but by creating your future from the now, so you can rise.

We are all responsible for how we show up in the world, to others, ánd to ourselves. With Phoenix Frequencies, Nienke van Bezooijen shines her light on what we can do to be the best versions of ourselves based on how we show up and what we are willing to learn. It isn't about showing the way with pretended positivity, it is the heart-based vulnerability-sharing options. It takes courage to rise. See what is for you. Or share with others.  Perfect doesn't exist; curiosity can be the stepping stone to broaden your perspectives. 

Courage to move on from the past,
Trust to be with the present,
Rise to create a new future. 

If you want to be interviewed as a phoenix, write to  heartbraincoachnienke @gmail.com