Welcome to The Mindful CIO!
Supporting IT Executives to reach their full potential.
As the founder and Principal Coach of The Mindful CIO, my mission is to help conscientious and talented C-Level IT Executives achieve optimum performance in work and life.
For over a decade, I held demanding roles globally at IBM, Accenture, EY and AGL Energy and as such, I understand the challenges of working in the tech arena. Witnessing the increasing pressure on executive leaders, I developed and facilitated corporate mindfulness programs for blue chip organisations like HP, ASIC, BP, Bendigo Bank, Air Services, Peugeot and Mars Petcare.
In 2018, I released The Mindful CIO Manifesto. It outlines my vision for how tech leaders could embrace a new style of leadership that helps them deliver strong results within a healthy workplace culture. Today, I lead The Mindful CIO’s global community advocating for sustainable, ethical leadership.
Through The Mindful CIO, I am privileged to work with C-Level IT Executives who wish to embrace change or growth, rediscover their energy, reconnect with their goals, and realise their full personal and professional potential.
If you’re a Tech Leader looking for support, guidance, challenge or change, I’d love to hear from you. The Mindful CIO is anchored around realising your growth journey and success.
The emerging C-Suite leadership style
The Mindful CIO knows that top leaders are focused, calm and clear under pressure. They foster a dynamic workplace culture that others are eager to be part of. They no longer take pride in multi-tasking and working late, because they know how to focus on critical and strategic initiatives and delegate to others. Most importantly, they have embraced mindfulness – acknowledging the importance of their own and others’ mental health in the workplace.
The benefits of being a Mindful CIO
The Mindful CIO framework is our unique approach to developing the capabilities, mindset and practices required by successful IT executives.
As a Mindful CIO, you can expect to:
● Find your work more meaningful, purposeful and rewarding
● Enjoy a surplus of energy and time to do things you love
● Build rapport easily with your excellent listening skills
● Know how to quickly re-establish balance when under stress
● Have the courage to speak up and stand by your views
● Strengthen the relationship with your team, peers and leaders
● Develop wise, compassionate leadership, with the ability to make hard decisions in a human way.
As a Mindful CIO, you’ll feel like you’ve achieved work-life harmony, are making a valuable contribution to your team and organisation, and are building a legacy for future generations.
Professional Profile
Empowering tech industry leaders
Nathalie Heynderickx is a certified Executive Coach who enables IT Executives to reach their full potential and live more fulfilling lives. She supports new and experienced CIOs, CTOs and CDOs to find their purpose and meaning, master their mindset, reset their health, and lead with clarity and self-confidence.
With a multifaceted nature, Nathalie is unique in the coaching space. She is a former tech industry expert with a natural interest in human behaviour; an analytical thinker who taught yoga for many years; and a strategic leader with empathy for individuals. It is this balance of the human and the technical that makes Nathalie’s coaching style and approach so compelling.
Qualifications
- Certified Executive Coach, IECL
- Master Coach, The Coaching Institute
- Holistic Lifestyle Coach, The Chek Institute
- Accredited Mindfulness Consultant, Potential Project
- Certified Change Management Practitioner, Change First
From professional executive to industry coach
Nathalie worked globally in the tech arena for over a decade at IBM, Accenture, EY and AGL Energy. She has managed professional development programs sponsored by CEOs, CIOs and CFOs in blue-chip companies such as HP, ASIC, BP, Bendigo Bank, Air Services, Peugeot and Mars Pet Care. Nathalie designed, oversaw and evaluated leadership development initiatives for Pitcher Partners, and implemented the enterprise-wide People & Culture dashboard at AGL Energy.
Over a decade ago, Nathalie’s professional career shifted from working with technological systems, to supporting the people behind them. She now focusses on coaching Tech Leaders, with a vision to create a ripple effect that has a positive impact beyond the individual being coached.
Blending reflection and action
Nathalie embodies the three qualities of great leaders* that she helps her own clients cultivate: mindfulness, compassion and selflessness. She draws from her direct corporate expertise to take Tech Leaders on a journey of enquiry. Nathalie is gifted at reframing perceived challenges and roadblocks so that corporate leaders have the space to reflect, experience new insights and activate solutions.
Nathalie’s coaching process is underpinned by adult learning frameworks, the neuroscience of mindfulness, and positive psychology. After the passing of her father while in her teens, she first explored the benefits of philosophy and spirituality – while still acting out as the bass player in a grunge girl band in Brazil! Years later, during a particularly stressful period in her corporate career, she returned to mindfulness practice and embraced yoga.
Leading the way for CIOs and the tech industry
Nathalie is truly committed to ensuring technology, and tech leaders, make a widespread, positive impact on the world. She is the founder and leader of The Mindful AI Manifesto, which brings together senior professionals who advocate for ethical, responsible and humane AI. Nathalie is also the author of The Mindful CIO Manifesto, which has given birth to a global community of IT Executives interested in a more sustainable, mindful style of leadership in the tech industry.
A commitment to the whole individual
Today, Nathalie retains a thirst for learning, self-development, and wholistic wellbeing. She seeks out new, evidence-based solutions and undertakes her own research to continually hone her craft. She lectures at Monash University in post-graduate Professional Development and Positive Psychology, and is an Associate of Potential Project, a global firm specialising in organisational leadership and mindfulness.
A coaching program with Nathalie often leads to revelations, mindset and behavioural shifts that have a positive effect beyond the workplace. Her greatest joy is receiving feedback from a client on the unexpected impact their work has made on personal aspirations, wellbeing, and relationships with family and friends.
* Hougaard and Carter, The Mind of the Leader (2018)
Testimonials
I had the pleasure of working with Nath as my executive coach for three months. I was searching for an executive coach who could understand the unique challenges I faced as a tech leader in the non-profit sector, and I found Nath to be the perfect fit. Her approach, using the mindful leadership framework, was particularly effective in helping us achieve all the goals we set during our time together. I highly recommend Nath as an executive coach, particularly for those in the tech industry seeking to lead more mindfully and purposefully. Thank you, Nath, for your guidance and support.
I had the opportunity to work with Nathalie to go through an experiment that I always wanted to do, which was work towards meditation that could help me with managing stress at work. So we started this program called ” Mindfulness at work” for 10 weeks and I can not explain how great I feel at the end of it and already looking forward to go through the next 2 phases of this program. Nat was amazing throughout the program and have even customized the program to fit my needs, which really worked for me. I will strongly recommend this program to anyone who is looking to balance the emotions at work and bring the best out of yourself. Thanks Nat and can’t wait to start the next level with you in few weeks time.
I had the opportunity to work with Nathalie in her capacity of executive coach, one on one. It was a really great experience where she provided clear guidance and challenged me on several levels. She provides a safe environment, a level of external accountability that is felt, but not oppressive. Nathalie introduced me to the practical application of mindfulness in my day-to-day work, which has since become another tool in my toolbox to deal with the pressures of my position. Her straightforward and effective coaching style is something I genuinely appreciate. I highly recommend Nathalie to anyone looking to enhance their professional approach, she combines frameworks with her extensive experience to deliver a tailored experience!
I’m thrilled to recommend Nathalie, an exceptional executive coach. Her dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment make her an invaluable asset in executive coaching. Nathalie establishes trust and collaboration, creating a safe space for clients to share challenges and aspirations. Her deep understanding of leadership development helps executives gain new perspectives and develop innovative solutions. Nathalie’s support and challenge approach enables clients to reach their full potential. She excels in group workshops, fostering collaboration, and creating unity. Nathalie’s commitment to ongoing learning ensures cutting-edge insights and strategies. I highly recommend Nathalie as an executive coach for personal and professional growth. Connect with her to unlock your full potential and thrive in your career.
Working with Nathalie has given me a renewed sense of clarity, and has been instrumental in my ability to survive the pandemic. Nathalie was there whenever needed, and with curiosity and care was able to help me work through a number of areas of opportunity – topics from time management & communication, to understanding my values, to strategy & vision and ultimately to purpose. Nathalie shows true care in her coaching, and with a focus on action planning we were able to tease out a number of changes I could make quickly to become a better person (& leader), and some longer term habits to work on. Most importantly I recognised I was in control…I would absolutely recommend Nathalie for anyone looking for support from a coach.
About The Mindful CIO Community
The Mindful CIO is a global movement inspiring and influencing tech leaders in all industries to lead more mindfully. It is driven by The Mindful CIO Manifesto, which was initially written by Nathalie as a call-to-action for Australian tech professionals to build a human-centric culture. Today, The Mindful CIO is emerging as a community for tech leaders to unite around a shared vision for a more collaborative, values-driven, mindful style of sustainable leadership.
About The Mindful AI Manifesto
Still in its early days, The Mindful AI Manifesto is an ambitious grassroots movement advocating for human values in AI. The Mindful AI Manifesto empowers people to create and consume AI more mindfully. Ambassadors from around the world have signed up to the Mindful AI Manifesto.