Berkman Academy
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Berkman Academy
What Is Embodied Leadership?
Embodied leadership means leading with your whole self, body, mind, and presence, not just words or ideas.
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Working with horses makes this real: horses respond only to genuine presence, clear boundaries, and attuned communication.
That same skill set translates directly to human leadership.
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Through hands-on practice you’ll learn to:
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Build psychological safety in your team
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Lead with empathy and attunement
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Communicate clearly without force
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Manage stress and avoid burnout
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Create trust that drives productivity and retention
​Outcomes You Can Expect
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Leaders leave our programs with:
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Greater presence and confidence in high-stakes moments
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Stronger, safer team culture
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Improved communication and trust
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Tools to manage stress and sustain wellbeing
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A leadership style that inspires loyalty, growth, and performance
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Who It’s For
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Executive teams
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People & Culture leaders
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High-potential managers stepping into bigger roles
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Organisations wanting to improve safety, reduce churn, and build stronger workplace culture
Our Embodied Leadership Program
Our program is designed to give leaders both the theory and practice of embodied leadership in one immersive experience.
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1. Around the Firepit: Conversation & Reflection​
We begin gathered around the firepit for a facilitated conversation. This sets the tone for the day: open, grounded, and reflective.
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Review the core elements of effective leadership.
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Explore how embodied leadership works in practice.
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Identify the specific challenges and opportunities within your organisation.
This creates a shared language and clarity of focus before we move into experiential learning.
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2. In the Arena: Embodied Practice with Horses​
Next, we move into hands-on exercises with the horses.
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Leaders practice presence, clear communication, and setting boundaries.
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The horses provide instant, honest feedback, responding only to authentic, grounded leadership.
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Theory becomes practical: leaders embody trust, empathy, and authority in real time.
3. Integration: Connecting Insights to the Workplace​
We close by drawing the lessons back into the organisational context.
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How to build safer, more trusting teams.
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Practical strategies for improving communication and avoiding burnout.
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Anchoring new leadership behaviours that strengthen culture and performance.
Outcome: Leaders leave with more than insights. They leave with embodied skills to create trust, connection, and growth in their teams.
