My name is Carla Maria Verwer and I am the founder of the School for Narrative Leadership. I am a specialist in Interaction Patterns & Collaboration, with a focus on psychological safety and well-being in the workplace. I support teams and their leaders to work towards a safer and more inclusive team culture. I mainly work in an academic and technical context and offer (mainly) training and support in English.
I am regularly described as perceptive, determined and light-hearted. And courageous. An equal and astute interlocutor who moves along when adequate, invites different perspectives on the table, and remains steadfast if this is more constructive to set the situation in motion in the desired direction.
Member of Professional Associations:
- NOBCO – Dutch Order of Professional coaches
- LVV – National Association for Confidentiality Persons
I have a background as an Internal Communication Advisor & Community Art Theatre Maker. I am trained and experienced in collectively opening up alternative outlooks as a way forward in complex situations. I easily move between different layers of an organization. Getting in touch with what’s going on by sometimes actively offering an impulse, lecture or working method, sometimes by having a coffee and open up a conversation. First move along and then connect or push back. For example. Always with the underlying and guiding end goal in mind: which could be a contribution to shaping a strategy or mission, or to the ‘act of participation of all’ for example. How do people also get to speak and become visible who are less likely to be heard or seen? In a safer climate, all people matter ánd participate: in dialogue and through dialogue.
What education and work experience do I bring?
I graduated from Radboud University with a master’s degree in Business Communication – specialization Internal Communication. I did my graduation research in South Africa with a research on cultural differences & persuasion in HIV/AIDS educational texts. I graduated from the Academy of Theatre in Tilburg as a teacher &theatre maker through a performance with and based on personal stories of Moroccan Youth in Schiedam.
I have worked as a strategic communication advisor, drama teacher, community-art theatre maker, assistant programmer International Community Arts Festival Rotterdam, artistic director Gouda Clownsschool, trainer Professional and Personal development, moderator meetings and (executive) coach. I am a certified Confidentiality Person.
I am also trained in Mediation, Strength-oriented Coaching by Fred Korthagen, Narrative Therapy & Assistance, Voice dialogue & Transactional analysis. I am certified to work according to the CSR Method: CSR stands for Chronic Stress Reversal and is an evidence-based method that focuses on reversing and restoring the (sickening) effects of chronic stress. I am certified trainer in: Jung Type Index trainer (MBTI), Real Drives, Disc & Drives. And finally, I am a Licensed Psychological Safety Practitioner, which allows me to use the Psychological Safety Index developed by Amy Edmondson as a tool.
Clients I have the pleasure working for:
- TuEindhoven – Technical University
- TNO – Innovation for life
- Sensorfact – slim energie besparen in de industrie.
- Sabic – innovative solutions for industry
- Divimove – now known as We are Era – your shortcut to every European Community