People, Culture & Leadership Talk

Expert, Schrijver / Auteur

1,5 uur

NL, EN

Leiderschap,
Werken / Werkgeluk,
Diversiteit / Inclusie,
Mentale gezondheid

Verbinden,
Inspireren,
Werkgeluk

Meet Iris de With and Mae Zaal – the authors of "Maar je lacht toch nog?" and former co-founders of the mental health foundation Let's Break the Shame. As engaging and impactful public speakers, they bring real-world experience and deep insight to organizations and educational institutions. Blending compelling personal stories with professional expertise, Iris and Mae challenge assumptions and ignite meaningful conversations on mental health, diversity and inclusion, inclusive leadership, psychological safety, and more. Their talks go beyond sharing knowledge — they resonate, inspire, and speak to the core of every organization: its people.

In today’s fast-paced world, where performance often overshadows people, it’s more crucial than ever to pause and reflect on the human experience within organizations. Iris and Mae create that moment of reflection — and transformation.

As sought-after speakers known for their authenticity and impact, Iris and Mae bring a refreshing mix of vulnerability, insight, and energy to every stage. Drawing from both personal experience and professional expertise, they invite audiences into a space where difficult topics become approachable, and real change becomes possible.

In a powerful 1–2 hour session, Iris and Mae weave together personal storytelling, interactive energizers, and essential knowledge on up to three of the following focus areas:

Mental Health (including burnout, depression, and anxiety)
1. Emotional Wellbeing
2. Psychological Safety
3. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB)
4. Personal Development
5. Inclusive Leadership
6. Self-awareness
7. Team Culture

Their approach is engaging, empathetic, and rooted in real-world relevance — making complex themes feel both personal and actionable. Looking to explore more topics or dive deeper? Check out our extended 4-hour sessions or full-day programs for a more comprehensive experience.

About Iris and Mae

Mae's upbringing in an international & sports-fanatic environment gave her a unique perspective on the importance of inclusivity. Growing older she observed the negative impact of exclusion on people's mental health, including her own struggles with depression. She earned both a BSc and MSc in Business Administration and Organizational Change & Development. With her academic background and personal experiences, Mae founded Let's Break the Shame in 2018 to foster inclusivity and mental wellbeing across social settings, schools, universities, and organizations. With deep expertise in training and development, organizational and cultural change, and diversity and inclusion, she has become a recognized voice in the field. to promote inclusivity and mental wellbeing in social settings, schools, universities, and organizations. Her journey continued at EY in Switzerland, where she focused on Cultural Transformation and Talent Management. Today, she remains committed to driving meaningful change — using advocacy to make a lasting, positive impact on people’s lives.

Iris faced several mental health challenges due to a lack of stability in her childhood, including an eating disorder, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Through these challenges, she learned valuable life skills, such as resilience, independence, and empathy. Iris's struggles taught her essential lessons about self-care, self-awareness, setting boundaries, and more. Iris focused her life on her own well-being and healing process and has through her experience, inspired many people to realize that there is no one right path in life. Every individual has a unique journey to follow, and there is always a way to make things work. Now, she uses her experience in people management, coaching & mentoring as well as diversity and inclusion to teach others the tools that she missed herself. Iris offers a great set of compassion, empowerment, and motivation to help others overcome their struggles and live fulfilling lives.

Together they have helped over 1.5 million people through the foundation's projects and activities. They have also authored 3 books on mental health, inclusivity & diversity and have worked with notable clients such as Vodafone, EVBox, and MCI Global, frequently engaging with over 500 employees.

Do you want to benefit from expert guidance on fostering a culture with allies for a safe and healthy workplace? Reach out now!

Deel deze pagina