We help organisations, leaders and managers lead with empathy, compassion and emotional intelligence. A purpose that’s more important than ever.

In the challenging landscape of a university leadership role, I grappled with a toxic culture marked by competitive communication, manipulation, and a lack of authentic conversation. People were trapped in a cycle of asserting opinions rather than listening, which often stifled progress. and left them feeling unheard and defensive. Additionally, feedback was harsh, and appreciation was almost non-existent, leading to a culture where mistakes were met with judgment and humiliation- which I found hugely problematic for the students and other staff members. These dynamics came at a significant emotional and economic cost. At times, issues escalated into costly legal complaints.

Nati’s courses, including a 9-month NVC leadership training, transformed my communication and leadership approach. Her teachings unveiled elegantly simple yet profoundly impactful skills that have reshaped my approach to communication and connection. Guided by Nati, I came to recognize the profound power of looking beyond individual perceptions and focusing on needs, and, most importantly, how to use this to accomplish change. I learned practical and profound empathetic skills that reshaped how I viewed needs, resources, and trust-building.

The results of my practice have been nothing short of remarkable. Equipped with NVC insights, I resolved university complaints with grace and empathy, resulting in substantial cost savings. Every complaint found resolution at stage one, fostering positive outcomes and sparing the university from extensive legal expenses. When Nati asked me how I managed to do this, I responded “I just did what you told us to do: listen openly and understand people’s needs”  The power of empathetic listening and NVC techniques allowed me to connect with individuals, find common ground, and collaboratively devise solutions.  My new approach has earned me the nickname ‘Jedi Knight,’ the methods are subtle, but the effects noticeable. As I underwent this transformation, I found that my personal life was also enhanced, gaining a deeper understanding of my emotions and significantly improving my overall well-being.

I fully advocate for these core skills of empathic listening and emotional awareness as essential for leaders aiming to make a positive impact. I encourage you to embark on this transformative journey with Nati Beltrán to unlock your full potential as a compassionate and impactful leader.

My journey with Nati Beltrán began when I embarked on her Empathic Leader 12-week program. At that time, I had taken on a new role in a secondary school that aimed to promote sustainability and peace. The school consisted of over 200 students from diverse backgrounds, both culturally and socio-economically, along with a teaching and residential staff equally as diverse. Despite our good intentions, we faced challenges in relationships and communication due to this cultural diversity.

Nati facilitated a series of NVC workshops for students, staff, and the executive team, all with the shared goal of embedding what we later came to call “a language of peace” into our organizational culture. She worked with both the adult and student leadership teams, introducing us to systems of restorative justice, conflict resolution techniques, and effective communication methods. Through these workshops, we learned to speak to one another in ways that honored our values and ethos while embracing individuality. Nati helped us reframe our communications and protocols, emphasizing partnership, collaboration, responsibility, and accountability.

The transformation we witnessed in our community has been remarkable and ongoing. The young people who embraced these practices began to lead by example, even running their meetings and offering workshops to others to tackle specific problems they faced, such as “cancel culture” or “disagreeing with respect.” Some teachers also became involved in using and spreading these tools. We are in the process of providing training in these skills to the entire community and setting up a system of internal trainers to enable more sincere and connected relations and communications. Nonviolent Communication (NVC) has proved to be a powerful means to help us move closer to our objective of facilitating cross-cultural understanding and collaboration, crucial for our pursuit of a more sustainable and peaceful world. Moreover, it is equipping our leaders with effective tools for open dialogue and learning, fostering mutual respect and humane leadership practices. We have now inspired other organizations in our network who want to join us in this effort.

Nati’s guidance has had a profound impact on our community, helping us navigate our differences with empathy and understanding, while also empowering us to work collectively towards a more peaceful and sustainable future.