In the realm of leadership and business, much attention has been given to external factors like strategy, innovation, and performance metrics. But beneath the surface, unseen emotional patterns often influence our decisions, relationships, and overall effectiveness. One of these deep-rooted patterns is the mother wound—an emotional imprint formed through our early relationship with our mother or maternal figures.

While the father wound often relates to achievement, discipline, and validation, the mother wound speaks to our capacity for connection, care, and self-worth. It shapes how we nurture ourselves and others, how we balance giving and receiving, and how we build relationships in both personal and professional contexts.

Leadership as we know it is evolving. In a world of rapid change and increasing complexity, the old paradigms of command, control, and competition are giving way to a new kind of leadership—one rooted in authenticity, opportunity, collaboration, and purpose. But what does this shift truly look like in practice?

To explore this transformative journey, we’re excited to share a powerful dialogue between the creators and facilitators of A New Kind of Leadership, Rudy de Waele and Rowan Andrews. In this video, Rudy and Rowan introduce the core concepts of the program, offering an inspiring glimpse into the tools, insights, and practices that make this course so impactful.

In today’s fast-changing and complex business landscape, leaders are constantly faced with decisions that have far-reaching consequences—not just for their organisations but for society and the planet. Yet, how often do we stop to examine the why behind our decisions? Are we acting out of fear or love?

Many businesses and organisations carry unseen legacies that profoundly impact their culture, decision-making, and leadership styles. Known as the "father wound," this dynamic often stems from unresolved emotional issues or unmet needs experienced by key leaders. These wounds manifest in various ways, influencing workplace behaviours, relationships, and organisational health—often without anyone fully realising it.

In today’s fast-changing world, traditional models of leadership and masculinity are becoming obsolete. For decades, business ‘men’ were taught to lead with dominance, power, and control, believing that success is defined by wealth, status, and competitive advantage.

But with global challenges like environmental crises, social injustice, and mental health issues, this model of leadership is no longer sustainable. The future demands leadership that blends strength with empathy and compassion, vision with purpose, and masculine action with feminine intuition and creativity.

This evolution in leadership isn’t just about business success; it’s about shaping a future where humanity and the planet can thrive. To navigate this complexity, leaders must go beyond knowledge, cultivating personal adaptability and self-awareness to lead effectively in the NewNow.

The old masculine leadership, which often relied on power, control, and the pursuit of wealth and status, is becoming redundant. These outdated models have left many leaders feeling empty, burnt out, and disconnected from their true purpose.

We need a new narrative that integrates core energies, honours relationships with all living beings, and creates a culture of service, compassion, and responsibility. This new form of leadership is less about ego and self-serving goals, and more about contributing to a greater good—shifting from a survive to a thrive mentality.

When HBR starts writing about Men’s Mental Health at Work we better start paying attention. For too long, traditional ideas of masculinity have focused on power, competitiveness, and aggression. This has led to a culture where men are often afraid to show vulnerability and emotion, and where they are discouraged from seeking help or support. This outdated notion of masculinity is harmful not only to men, but to business and society as a whole.

Here's a great in-depth interview with Sudhir on Ibiza Refuge for Dreamers on his +30 years experience with men's work and the work we do with Unconditional Men

Because you’ve been the world’s prototype for success, but also the archetype of entitlement. But it doesn’t seem to make you happy, does it? Because the world around you doesn’t want that anymore. And so the man you’ve become doesn’t make sense anymore. Therein lies the wound.