Anniek Gavriilakis

Speaker
Dutch
Anniek Gavriilakis

Who is Anniek Gavriilakis?

Anniek's extensive experience of interacting with people living in extreme conditions, such as refugees, prisoners, the homeless and people on the margins of society, has made her a seasoned leader in the field of personal leadership. She has a background in law (KUL) and cultural management (VUB).

As a former director of Bond zonder Naam, Anniek has acquired in-depth knowledge of guiding individuals and teams through the ups and downs, without judgement and with a sense of humour. In her role as a ritual designer, Anniek helps leaders and their teams through important transitions and to make their company more human and more aware. 

With her guidance, leaders and their teams are able to cut the cords and process what has been, celebrate and appreciate what is, and move more quickly to what will be, while remaining in balance with the company's ambitions and goals.

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    How would you describe human connections within your organisation?

    There are over 10,000 prisoners in Flanders. 98% of them will be released one day. The question is, how do we - as a society - want them to be released: as ticking time bombs or as a better version of themselves? Society doesn’t stop at the prison gate. It would be in everyone's interest - also that of victims - if detention were meaningful; this would help to improve safety.

    Figures for repeat offences are currently sky high. We think that brick walls alone can resolve the problem. But walls between people rarely resolve issues, and normally only make them worse. Society doesn’t stop at the gate of a prison or detention centre; in fact, it simply continues inside. Therefore, people on the outside should have the courage to learn more about life inside, and to connect with it. Not in order to support perpetrators, or excuse their actions. And certainly not to upset the victims. But based on the realisation that, when you come into contact with those we have incarcerated, you also come into contact with an integral part of who you are. As humans and as a society.

    Strong leaders know and use rituals

    It is my dream that leaders know when it is time for a ritual. They sense when the system, the company, their people need it at a tipping point and name it accordingly: 'It's time. For a ritual.'
     
    Today, rituals are the missing link in a lot of companies during important transitions. A forgotten commodity with great impact on business processes and results. An acquisition, goodbye to a leader, a resignation, a merger, the end of a collaboration, a rebranding, a move, a retirement, an old unresolved trauma, an anniversary, a team building, a new chapter. With rituals, you influence the relational intelligence of a system, connection, meaning, commitment, willingness to go along with change, agility, people's resilience and growth. Rituals put business as usual on hold for a while and mark a moment in time. Because, for instance, we cannot move forward if unfinished business lives under the table. The form of the ritual is always adapted to the corporate culture. Appropriate actions and symbols activate a different part of the brain so that emotions can be accessed more quickly. Sometimes a catharsis or discharge is needed, a ritual can provide that. The bold move every leader should consider.

Anniek manages to use rituals to create a safe but inviting field where what needs to happen actually does happen. It's amazing how quickly she can bring a group of leaders to the core and allow them to be vulnerable. The real magic lies in the fact that what is needed is expressed in such a way that individual and collective transformation can take place. What makes it all complete is that, despite the tense moments, it's also a lot of fun to do. Inspiring, playful and direct.

Ben Poelmans

Co-founder Merluno, Amazing Cultures en Amazing Ventures

Anniek speaks as she lives: from the heart. She translates her search for balance and beauty into a story that is passionate and driven, but also sensitive and vulnerable. She takes a refreshingly open look at those who remain under the radar of society, without avoiding any taboos.

Krist Pauwels

Partner at Choco

Foto van micro

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