Growing Resilient Leaders
Helping you channel your full potential
our story
My family and I spend many weekends walking the remote beaches in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. From the rugged shoreline with crashing waves, to deep into the dunes in places like Mgwalana and Cintsa. I am always intrigued that despite the harshest conditions, the sand dunes are home to some of the most incredible plants. In hostile conditions, with gale force winds and hardly a drop of water, these plants take root and grow. How do they do this? Their adaption to stress and disturbance continues to fascinate researchers who study their response to limited resources like water and nutrients. They do not simply survive, they actually thrive. Their resilience is astonishing.
In the Xhosa language of the region, this can be described as i-ya-mila. “to take root and grow”.
We too, use this word – Mila – to describe the remarkable journey of human growth against continual change and resistance.
In a turbulent world, the route we follow often requires a tenacity and determination that seems impossible to imagine.
Mila programmes are the catalyst to enabling both individuals and organisations to find their meaningful roots, uncover their limitless potential, and thrive and adapt positively on a clearly mapped journey to success.
our approach
Transformation, at a personal or organizational level, requires that you hold up a mirror and have the courage to be honest. Our process involves reflection, perspective taking, engagement, collaboration and action. And all the emotions that go with that.
We use the Six Seconds Change Map developed by Josh Freeman as the framework for all our interventions.
our founder
Carey-Lyn Kurten
As an internationally accredited EQ Practitioner and Assessor, I consult with companies, schools and non-profits at the intersection of strategy and organization. I help leaders to navigate change, lead diverse teams and build healthy dynamic cultures. I assist my clients in defining and achieving their most important goals, managing transitions, and improving efficiency and leadership effectiveness.
My client engagements range from strategic planning, organisational design and change management to leadership development. I work within a broad range of industries, including engineering, automotive, financial services, retail and education.
My most rewarding and memorable project is a current Talent Pool project, where we are developing thirty seven emerging leaders to be used within the organization for succession planning. Entering its third year, this projects duration has enabled me to see the powerful impact that a combination of emotional intelligence, performance coaching and tracking can have on both organizational productivity and in changing people’s lives.
Professional Qualifications and Accreditation
BEd Honours Degree in Leadership & Management (Cum Laude)
HDE – Edgewood College
Six Seconds EQ Assessor – SEI Leading Through Change
Six Seconds EQ Practitioner – Change Map©
Six Seconds Network Leader – EQ Cafe’s
Whole Brain Practitioner – Neethling Brain Instrument
Denison Culture – High Performance Organisations – Culture Change
driven by our values
Growth
I leverage the fundamental principles of Emotional Intelligence to create safe spaces for people to take route. My interest and passion for learning and sharing with others has spanned my whole life and I use these gifts in a focused way to get the best from those who cross my path.
Connection
When reflection, hard work and good strategies, are combined with an enabling support network, I have seen ordinary people achieve great things – as individuals, as teams and as organizations. I have worked across industries in sectors like engineering, automotive, mining, finance and education. The organizations that are thriving in those sectors have resilient leaders who value connection and see their people as gifts with possibilities.
I am an advocator of the power of community and believe that relationships are the foundation to high performance. I draw strength and inspiration from connecting positively with others in all areas of my life.
Vulnerability
I grew up to believe that vulnerability was a weakness. Only in my early forties, when I was pushed into a space where I could not tackle the world on my own, did I discover the strength in vulnerability. In surrendering to vulnerability, I opened new doors. Practicing this value daily means reflecting on my behaviours when I feel at risk or uncertain and being comfortable, not only that I can never master this, but that it makes me human.
Authenticity
Showing up in an honest and courageous way, for me, means sharing some of my darkest moments. We all have stories of every day choices and being authentic allows me to talk about real stuff with confidence. I use stories from my own life to shape my material.
Gratitude
I challenge myself to find one new thing every day that I can be thankful for and this filter gives me perspective. I love to take long walks on the Eastern Cape beaches where I choose to live. Our beautiful oceans and their endless shorelines are a great source of energy for me.
“Only I can change the world I created”
Irwin Yalom