Dr. Svea von Hehn
Certified Search-Inside-Yourself trainer (the mindfulness program developed by Google) and long-time student of Zen master Migaku Sato Roshi
Keynote speaker and author of various books on mindfulness and emotional intelligence in organizations
Mindfulness retreats with Jack Kornfield, Thichhat Hanh and others; trained yoga teacher
Strong business background (founder and CEO RETURN ON MEANING GmbH; former McKinsey consultant)
Psychologist specializing in systemic therapy and neuroscience.
Coach, mother, and experienced mindfulness trainer
Click here to view Svea's consulting profile
Click here to view Svea’s speaker profile
How did you get into mindfulness and why did you stick with it? What role does mindfulness play in your life?
I got to know mindfulness and meditation at the age of 15 and have been practicing ever since. Initially in various traditions, with stays in the Buddhist monastery in Taiwan and sometimes longer retreats with Buddhist teachers. I have been practicing Zen for over 15 years now, starting with Thich Nath Hanh and now mainly as a student of Zen master Migaku Sato Roshi.
The implementation of the practice in everyday life with a secular understanding, i.e., making a concrete contribution to society beyond religious beliefs, is central. The actual monastery is everyday life.
I have been practicing yoga (especially Ashtanga) regularly for over 25 years and have trained as a teacher, including workshops and retreats with Grischa Steffin, Michael Hamilton, Chad Herst, Richard Freeman, Reinhard Gammenthaler, Radha and Pierre and many others, to whom I am grateful for their teachings.
I have also noticed the effectiveness of the body-mind relationship in training courses in Shiatsu, foot reflexology, Thai Chi and Qigong, some of which have been ongoing for many years.
The question of why I stuck with it: I know the difference between how life feels with or without practice and when it is possible to show the better side of myself: With practice it's definitely better!
What is your motivation/purpose for your work as a MOMENTUM trainer?
It is a great honor and pleasure to provide a framework in which people can grow through “inner work” - especially on the levels of clarity and connectedness - and connect with oneself and others differently - which we ensure with the MOMENTUM program.
I believe that the world of work is an extremely effective lever for driving social and ecological change. If the world of work becomes a place of human-centered business, where mindfulness is lived, we can better master the major challenges of our time.
A clear mind is open to the insight that arises when mindfulness techniques are practiced regularly: that everything is impermanent and interrelated, i.e., that all things exist in interdependence. Through this insight and compassion, we include other people - all possible stakeholders - more strongly in our thinking and thus also reflect on our daily actions in larger contexts. This includes the consequences of our actions for the well-being of all, for the environment, and for society. I believe that this can make a significant contribution to peaceful coexistence at a private and professional level, but also at a global level and to the preservation of our ecosystem.
What do you think makes the MOMENTUM program unique?
Each individual teacher is unique to me, especially due to the wealth of experience both in the corporate world and in their own practice.
What unites them:
a strong connection to the corporate world,
a serious and long-standing mindfulness practice beyond religious beliefs the depth of conversations that are facilitated
an excellently presented mix of positive psychology, neuroscience and mindfulness
the humor and love of the subject
our own top-class training and
many years of practice as a mindfulness trainer
In addition, our dyad work - i.e. meeting in pairs in their own rooms in the workshop - is what participants often perceive as unique.