About Us
Learning and development spaces that place mindfulness, dialogue, and collective strength at the center.Scientifically grounded methods that take effect immediately in practice.
Grounded in practice
focused on solutions
Our methods from mindfulness, dialogue, and conflict work are combined with deep insights into group dynamics. This creates spaces in which trust grows, creativity unfolds, and genuine transformation becomes possible.
„Wo andere nicht weiterkommen, beginnt meine Arbeit“
"Ermöglichen statt erlauben"
Christiane
Leiste
“My work begins where others get stuck.”
Christiane is the first Lewis Deep Democracy Trainer and Elder in the German-speaking world, and she built the entire training pipeline for German-speaking Lewis Deep Democracy and Co-Resolve trainers. She taught for eight years at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and continues to teach at Heliopolis University in Cairo, where she also serves on the Board of Trustees. Her work brings together Mindful Leadership, Theory U, mindfulness and conflict facilitation into a holistic approach to change and dialogue.
Drawing on years of experience in schools, higher education and international projects, she guides leaders, teams and organisations through change processes. Her style is warm, funny and grounded in practical solutions, with a sharp instinct for the dynamics — and the “hot topics” — simmering beneath the surface.
She brings extensive international experience in teacher training, having led projects in Morocco, Bulgaria, Beirut and Lutsk/Ukraine. Alongside her academic work, Christiane is co-founder and CEO of Lean-In GmbH and co-founder of LIFE – Lean In for Education e.V.
Christiane is Project Leader for Happy Schools Ukraine. As lead trainer, she designed and delivered the programme’s training modules.
Her book, Deep Democracy – Turning Polarisation into Connection, will be published in September 2026 by Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
Training & Qualifications (Selected):
- Myrna Lewis – Lewis Deep Democracy (Elder, Advanced Facilitator, “I Know Me” Coach, accredited Trainer Level 1–4)
- Otto Scharmer – Theory U (accredited Facilitator)
- Jack Kornfield – Mindfulness Meditation Teacher (certified)
- Ha Vinh Tho – Gross National Happiness Facilitator (certified); collaborated on Gross National Happiness trainings with Dr. Ha Vinh Tho
- Friedrich Glasl – Conflict Facilitation
- LI-Hamburg – Intercultural Coordinator (accredited)
- First and Second State Examination for Teaching (Germany)
Prof. Dr. Andreas Bertram
„Enable rather than permit“
He served for many years as a university president and was responsible for “Digitalization in Teaching and Research” within the German Rectors’ Conference for several years. He is an expert in Mindful Leadership and Deep Democracy. His understanding of leadership is based on participation, trust, and diversity as a strength. In his work, he combines mindfulness, conflict competence, and organizational development with a clear, future-oriented stance.
His professional training, among others with Myrna Lewis, Otto Scharmer, and Dr. Ha Vinh Tho, strongly shapes his work. His strength lies in creating spaces where diversity, dialogue, and collective action enable extraordinary development to emerge.
