Beyond The Corporate Mask: Embodied Leadership, DEI, Well-being

Doors Open - Institute for Corporate Sociology
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Tired of having to act like someone you’re not at work? Beyond the Corporate Mask helps you lead without leaving parts of yourself behind. Through real stories and practical tools, we explore the unspoken rules shaping leadership, DEI, and well-being. From the team at Doors Open – Institute for Corporate Sociology, it’s time for a new way of working: the embodied way.

Episodes

  1. OCT 15

    8. Beyond the Critic - a personal story of embodied leadership

    In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Mask, Suzanne sits down with Nadine, a learning and development advisor who shares her personal story of growing up with a relentless inner critic, and learning to make peace with it through embodied leadership. From being bullied at school to pushing herself to prove her worth at work, Nadine’s story reveals how the inner critic can take over our bodies, not just our thoughts. Together, she and Suzanne explore what happens when self-doubt becomes a habit, and how somatic tools can help us move from pressure to presence. You’ll hear: How early experiences shape the voice of the inner critic The link between striving, overachieving, and self-criticism What it feels like when the inner critic takes over your body (tight chest, shallow breath, frozen posture) Why you can’t think your way out of it, and what helps instead Simple, body-based practices to quiet the noise and reconnect with yourself Resources & Tools Mentioned: Centering: A grounding practice that helps you return to calm and presence by noticing your breath, posture, and gravity. The White Space Visualization: A way to create inner distance from harsh self-talk and find clarity. Eye Stretch: A short somatic practice that relaxes the vagus nerve and helps your nervous system settle. Advice from our guest: “The critic never fully disappears. But when I meet it with curiosity, instead of trying to silence it, it loses its power. I can breathe again.” – Nadine Links: 🎧 Listen to all episodes of Beyond the Corporate Mask 🌿 Learn more about embodied leadership 🎧 Related episode: 7. Taming the Inner Critic - how embodied work changes your relationship with self-doubt

    37 min

  2. SEP 17

    7. Taming the Inner Critic - how embodied work changes your relationship with self-doubt

    “You’re not ready. Don’t speak up. They’ll think you’re not good enough.” That voice? That’s your inner critic. The relentless whisper that second-guesses your ideas, rewrites your sentences, and makes you shrink before you even open your mouth. In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Mask, Emma and Suzanne explore where the critic comes from, how it shows up in your thoughts, body, and voice, and what you can do to meet it differently. Instead of fighting it, you’ll learn how to recognise it, calm your nervous system, and choose another voice. You’ll hear: Why the inner critic develops in childhood, and why double standards make it louder for certain groups of people. The disguises the critic takes: the Perfectionist, the Doubter, the Harsh Motivator, the Shame Whisperer. How the critic speaks through your body: tight jaw, racing heart, shrinking posture. Why arguing with the critic doesn’t work, and what to do instead. Simple, body-based practices to soften the critic’s grip in the moment. Resources & Tools Mentioned: Spot the entry line - notice phrases like “Sorry, but…” and drop the apology. Name it to tame it - locate the tension in your body and say it out loud (“My chest feels tight”). Show compassion - instead of fighting, thank the critic for trying to protect you. Centering practice - feet on the floor, lengthen your spine, open your posture, breathe toward the sensation. Try This: The next time the critic shows up, pause. Where in your body do you feel it? Is it in your jaw, chest, stomach, shoulders? Place your hand there, breathe slowly, and whisper to yourself: Thanks for looking out for me. I’ve got this. Links: Learn more about Doors Open - Institute for Corporate Sociology Follow us on Instagram / LinkedIn for more on embodied leadership Beyond the Corporate Mask is a podcast by Doors Open - Institute for Corporate Sociology.

    21 min

  3. SEP 3

    6. Unseen Pressure - how impostor feelings show up in your body

    “Any second now, they’ll find out I don’t belong here.” The smile on your face looks convincing. You’ve prepared. You’ve earned your seat. But inside, your body tells a different story: clenched jaw, shallow breath, tense shoulders. That creeping fear of being exposed. In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Mask, Emma and Suzanne explore impostor feelings not just as thoughts in your head, but as patterns deeply wired into your body. From freezing in front of senior leaders, to over-preparing until exhaustion, we unpack how the impostor voice shows up in your body, and how to work with it instead of against it.   You’ll hear: Why impostor syndrome isn’t only “in your head” How environments like competition, jargon, and exclusion amplify impostor feelings The body’s survival responses (freeze, shrink, overcompensate) and how to notice them Simple practices to calm your nervous system when impostor feelings rise Why embracing a beginner’s mindset and experimenting with imperfection can shift the cycle We also share personal stories of moments when impostor syndrome hit hard, and how embodied practices helped us move from collapse into presence. This is an episode about learning to stay with yourself, even when the voice of doubt whispers the loudest. Resources & Tools Mentioned: Somatic practices – Calming the nervous system and opening space in the body Beginner’s mindset – Claiming both what you know and what you’re here to learn Experimenting with imperfection – Training your body to survive “good enough” Embodied leadership retreat – Practicing presence, boundaries, and belonging in community Try This: Next time impostor feelings rise, pause and scan your body. Where do you feel it? Is it in your jaw, chest, stomach, shoulders? Place a hand there and breathe slowly, telling your body: It’s safe to feel this. Notice what shifts. Links: Learn more about Doors Open - Institute for Corporate Sociology Follow us on Instagram / LinkedIn for more on embodied leadership   Beyond the Corporate Mask is a podcast by Doors Open – Institute for Corporate Sociology.

    31 min

  4. AUG 20

    5. Beyond Saying No - the courage to hold your boundaries

    "A boundary isn’t a wall; it’s an act of presence." You finally say no. You draw the line. You set the boundary. But what happens when it’s met with tension, pushback, or even silence? In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Mask, Emma and Suzanne explore what it really takes to hold a boundary after you’ve set it. From freeze responses and people-pleasing to emotional overshadowing and group dynamics, we unpack why staying with your truth, especially under pressure, can be so challenging. You’ll hear: Why systems often resist change when you shift your role What makes holding a boundary harder than setting it How your nervous system might override your good intentions What to do when you’ve ‘lost’ your boundary in the moment How to stay in relationship and stay true to yourself We also share Sarah’s story, a listener who set a boundary at work and was met with guilt-tripping and backlash, and reflect on what we can all learn from it. This is an episode about repair, return, and resilience. Boundaries don’t expire. You can always come back to your centre.   Resources & Tools Mentioned: Emotional Overshadowing – How group dynamics and dominant emotions can drown out your inner voice Relational Boundaries – Staying in contact with yourself and the other person Nervous system responses – Why silence or freeze isn’t failure, it’s your body’s way of protecting you Repairing a boundary – Simple steps to return to your boundary after the moment has passed   Try This: Think of a moment when you didn’t hold your boundary. Pause. Reflect: What was your truth? What did you want to say? Now, write it down, or speak it aloud to yourself. It’s not too late.   Links: Learn more about Doors Open – Institute for Corporate Sociology Follow us on Instagram / LinkedIn for more on embodied leadership Subscribe to Beyond the Corporate Mask on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Other platforms   Beyond the Corporate Mask is a podcast by Doors Open – Institute for Corporate Sociology. Let’s lead without hiding ourselves.

    21 min

  5. AUG 6

    4. The Cost of Saying Yes - why boundaries matter more than ever

    "Every time you say 'yes', you're also saying 'no' to rest, to presence, to yourself." Why is it so hard to say no, especially at work? In this episode of Beyond the Corporate Mask, Emma and Suzanne unpack the hidden costs of always saying 'yes'. From blurred roles and people-pleasing to social pressure and freeze responses, we explore why setting boundaries feels so uncomfortable… and why it matters more than ever. You’ll hear: - Why “being nice” can lead to self-abandonment - What your body knows before your mind catches up - The STAND framework to help you recognise and honour your boundaries - How centring practices can help you speak up, even under pressure Real-life stories of boundary failure, and what we can learn from them Plus, Suzanne shares a vulnerable personal story that highlights how power dynamics and survival responses can keep us silent, even when everything inside says “no.” This episode is a powerful reminder that boundaries are not walls: they’re invitations to real connection. Resources & Tools Mentioned: - STAND Framework (Sensation, Thinking Space, Affect, Narrative, Do I have a voice?) - Centring Practice: Working with length, width, and depth to ground yourself before setting a boundary - Embodied Leadership Retreat – For leaders ready to pause, reconnect with their bodies, and lead with clarity (details below) Try This: Set one small boundary this week. Notice how it feels in your body before, during, and after. Links: - Learn more about the Embodied Leadership Retreat - Follow us on Instagram / LinkedIn for more embodied leadership insights - Subscribe to Beyond the Corporate Mask on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | other podcasting platforms Beyond the Corporate Mask is a podcast by Doors Open – Institute for Corporate Sociology. Let’s lead without hiding ourselves.

    33 min

  6. JUL 23

    3. Conditioned Tendencies - why we react the way we do

    You meant to stay calm during the meeting, but you snapped at your colleague, just like it happened last time.  You swore you wouldn’t take on all the extra work again, but you stayed late anyway.    Why does this keep happening?  When we’re under stress or pressure, we fall back on old habits wired into our bodies: reflexes that once helped us get by, even if they don’t serve us anymore.  In this episode, corporate sociologist and embodied leadership expert Suzanne Mau-Asam explores, with learning and development expert Emma ten Veen, the science and stories behind these conditioned tendencies: the automatic reactions we all carry.  These patterns aren’t your flaws. They’re old survival strategies you simply don’t need anymore. And once you see them clearly, you can begin to change them.  This episode covers:  Why your nervous system leads the way (before your brain can catch up)  How your biology, biography, and context shape your reactions  A somatic exercise to help you recognise your conditioned tendencies and start to shift them  Learn more about our embodied leadership programmes on our website.  Follow us for more tools and episodes.

    39 min

  7. JUL 16

    2. The Shaping Story - how your past lives in your body

    You meant to speak up. But your voice caught.  You tried to take up space. But your body pulled back.  That’s not just nerves: it’s your shaping story.  In this episode, embodied leadership expert Suzanne Mau-Asam and her colleague, learning & development expert Emma ten Veen, unpack how past experiences, whether from childhood, culture, or early career, leave a deep imprint in the body. These patterns often go unnoticed, but they affect how we work, lead, speak, and relate.  We explore:  - What a shaping story is, and how it shows up in your leadership  - A personal story from Suzanne about invisibility and survival  - The six sources that shape your professional presence  - A guided practice to help you feel what needs to shift    Learn more about our embodied leadership programmes on our website  Follow us for new tools and episodes.

    36 min

  8. JUL 9

    1. The Corporate Mask - fitting in and what it costs us

    She did all the ‘right’ things: showing up, speaking up, staying visible.  But something still felt off.  In our first full episode, corporate sociologist Suzanne Mau-Asam shares a deeply personal story about trying to ‘fit in’ by performing a version of leadership that wasn’t entirely hers.  The shift didn’t come from learning more ‘tricks’.  It came from tuning into her body.   Together with colleague and learning & development expert Emma ten Veen, she explores:  The difference between performing leadership and living it  How the body shapes confidence, clarity, and connection  A practice to feel what it’s like to take the mask off—and lead from within  Learn more about our embodied leadership programmes on our website  Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more.

    40 min

  9. SEASON 1 TRAILER

    0. Taking Off the Mask - the start of a different way to lead

    Welcome to Beyond the Corporate Mask.  If you’ve ever walked into a meeting and found yourself adjusting your voice, your posture, or even your personality, this podcast is for you.  Corporate sociologist Suzanne Mau-Asam and learning and development expert Emma ten Veen introduce the heart of the series: embodied leadership. This is authentic leadership that includes your body, your senses, and the very human parts often left out at work.  In this teaser, we explore:  What the ‘corporate mask’ is, and how it shows up  Why presence matters more than performance  What embodied leadership really means (backed by science)  What to expect from the episodes ahead  Learn more about embodied leadership on our website  Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for practices, tools, and updates.

    4 min

Trailer

About

Tired of having to act like someone you’re not at work? Beyond the Corporate Mask helps you lead without leaving parts of yourself behind. Through real stories and practical tools, we explore the unspoken rules shaping leadership, DEI, and well-being. From the team at Doors Open – Institute for Corporate Sociology, it’s time for a new way of working: the embodied way.

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