Mindfulness Retreat
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keynote speaking
Keynote Speaking
Most leaders are trained to react to what’s visible.
Great leaders learn how to see what’s happening underneath.
- Signature Keynote -
The Hidden Psychology of Leadership
Why leaders react to symptoms instead of understanding,
what drives behaviour underneath
Keynote Overview
Most leadership problems are not what they appear to be. Leaders are often responding to:
- conflict
- resistance
- disengagement
- burnout
- performance issues
- communication breakdowns
But these are often symptoms of something happening underneath.
Drawing from her lived experience, leadership work, and deep observation of human behaviour, Deb Maes helps audiences shift from reacting to visible problems to understanding what is actually driving them.
Her keynote explores:
- pressure and performance
- fear of failure
- human behaviour under stress
- organisational dynamics
- leadership awareness
- navigating change and uncertainty
Audiences walk away with
“I’ll never look at leadership—or people—the same way again.”
Audiences walk away seeing beyond behaviour and surface-level problems, understanding the unseen human dynamics driving performance, conflict, resistance, and connection.
“I now realised, influence starts
long before words.”Audiences gain a powerful awareness of how their presence, emotional state, and nervous system impact the people around them—at work, at home, and in leadership.
“I finally get why some conversations shift and others don’t.”
Audiences leave with practical insight into how to stop reacting to symptoms and begin influencing what is actually driving behaviour, engagement, and results.
Reels | deb Maes
MEET
deb Maes
Deb Maes is a keynote speaker, leadership coach, and facilitator known for helping leaders understand the hidden human dynamics driving behaviour, conflict, pressure, and performance.
Drawing from more than 30 years of leadership work, neuroscience, behavioural patterns, and lived experience, Deb creates thought-provoking conversations that move beyond surface-level leadership and into what is actually happening underneath.
Her speaking blends strategic insight, human behaviour, emotional awareness, and practical leadership reflection — helping audiences see leadership, communication, and influence through an entirely different lens.
Equal parts compassionate mentor and uncannily accurate truth-teller, Deb is known for creating conversations audiences keep thinking about long after the event ends.
Ready to bring a deeper conversation
about leadership to your audience
Please include details about your event, including:
- Location
- Audience size
- Type of event (In-person or virtual)
- Preferred date
- Main challenge/topic
- Desired outcome for audience
deb is available for keynote presentations, leadership events, executive workshops and corporate programs across Australia.
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three-minute stillness practice
Three-Minute Stillness Practice
Fixed-Point Attention
Arriving
- Find a comfortable place to sit where you feel safe and supported
- Set a timer for three minutes
The first minute is simply to arrive — to settle - Close your eyes and notice how the mind usually looks out at the world from the position of the eyeballs
Most of us live in our eyeballs - Bring gentle attention to the breath
No need to change it — just notice it - Allow yourself to settle.
Re-locating Attention
- With an inward breath, invite the mind’s eye to
- move back behind the eyeballs — towards the centre of the brain —
- and then forward again, looking towards the back of the eyeballs
- Let the point of attention rest between the two eyeballs in the centre of the forehead — often referred to as the third eye
- Invite the mind to stay here
Stillness
- Now give a clear instruction:
- Do not move
- Do not wiggle
- Do not brush anything away
- Do not scratch an itch
- Simply: be still
- The mind will behave like a little puppy — it will wander. When it does, gently but firmly say: “Come back. Be here. Stay.”
- Return attention to the centre of the inner forehead
- Repeat this as often as needed:
- Stop
- Be still
- Focus here
- Stay with this until the timer sounds
Completion
When the three minutes are complete, comfortably and easily open your eyes and continue with whatever you choose to do next.
Read more …three-minute stillness practice
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Auslan accessible
Your Full Potential, In Your Language
The journey to mindset mastery is deeply personal. For members of the Deaf community, that journey requires more than just an interpreter—it requires a direct connection with your coach in your language.
I am proud to confirm that all my Mindset Coaching Programs, including Mental Clarity & Brain Reset, Ultimate Mindset Mastery, Peak Performance Mastery, and 'Stay The Course' Performance Mastery are fully available in Auslan.
Your Full Potential, In Your Language
The journey to mindset mastery is deeply personal. For members of the Deaf community, that journey requires more than just an interpreter—it requires a direct connection with your coach in your language.
I am proud to confirm that all my Mindset Coaching Programs, including Mental Clarity & Brain Reset, Ultimate Mindset Mastery, Peak Performance Mastery, and 'Stay The Course' Performance Mastery, are fully available in Auslan.
Why Direct Communication Matters
Your inner experience, your beliefs, and your path to systemic change are complex. When you seek to transform your mindset, you deserve to communicate your deepest thoughts and feelings in the language and mode you feel most comfortable.
The ability to communicate directly, where every nuance is received and understood, cannot be understated. It eliminates potential communication gaps and builds the foundation of trust essential for true transformation.
Deb Maes: Fluent, Accredited, and Culturally Aware
You will work with Deb Maes, a Master Coach who is also a fluent Auslan user with a profound understanding of Deaf culture and its idiosyncrasies.
- NAATI Professional Level 3 Interpreter Accredited: As one of Australia's first to achieve this professional-level accreditation, I demonstrate a deep, trusted, and long-standing commitment to fluency and accuracy.
- A Safe Space for Inner Work: My programs rely on a strong, trusting, and safe communication environment. Fluency in Auslan provides that immediate, direct connection, allowing us to get straight to the deep work that matters.
"The benefits of being able to communicate directly about your inner experiences, with someone who understands Deaf culture and idiosyncrasies, cannot be understated."
Dedicated to Resources and Community
I am dedicated to continually creating culturally and linguistically appropriate resources. You can find my existing Mindset Matters reels in Auslan on the Resources page, and I frequently engage Deaf Auslan expert consultants to ensure the quality and cultural accuracy of future materials.
Ready to Begin Your Mindset Mastery Journey?
Access the power of one-on-one coaching and achieve clarity, overcome limiting beliefs, and step into your full potential.
Mindset Coaching Programs
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Mental Clarity & Brain Shift
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Ultimate Mindset Mastery
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Peak Performance Mastery
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'Stay the Course' Performance Mastery
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leadership coaching
Leadership Development For Systemic Organisational Change
For leaders of tomorrow, impacting globally, cognitive "nuggets" and behavioral "tips and tricks" are not enough.
Today's challenges—from global interdependence to the expectation gap—require a higher level of mastery.
Our Leadership Development program is specifically designed for Executive Teams and global influencers who desire to lead profound, systemic organisational change.
We move beyond traditional coaching to activate the existential wisdom needed to navigate uncertainty and unlock the true potential of your entire organisation.
Discover more in our dedicated website:
C-Suite Leadership
For leaders of tomorrow, impacting globally, cognitive "nuggets" and behavioral "tips and tricks" are not enough.
Today's challenges—from global interdependence to the expectation gap—require a higher level of mastery.
Our Leadership Development program is specifically designed for Executive Teams and global influencers who desire to lead profound, systemic organisational change.
We move beyond traditional coaching to activate the existential wisdom needed to navigate uncertainty and unlock the true potential of your entire organisation.
Discover more in our dedicated website:
Visit Compelling Leading Website
The Compelling Leading Program
This is a robust, custom-designed system that offers far more than a simple coaching session:
-
World-Class Expertise:
You engage with a global, multidisciplinary team, including world-class Coaches, R&D and Delivery Consultants, and Models of Excellence.
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A Proven Model:
Our approach is rooted in an intensive global modeling project that identified the '5 Nectars of Compelling Leadership'—the five common characteristics that mobilize people and create great results. -
Three Pillars of Mastery:
Your team's journey is built around three core components: One-to-One Mindset Coaching, Customised Learning (including Honing Sheets and Masterclasses), and Engaging with Models of Excellence.
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The Wisdom Advantage:
Unlike programs that focus solely on surface-level behavior, we cultivate wisdom—the set of mental skills and virtues that allow you to constructively solve complex problems and promote meaningful, ethical lives.
Results From Compelling Leading Program
Peter Moriarty
FOUNDER, IT GENIUS
A vast body of knowledge on wisdom. Every time, every session, my team and I make a paradigm shift and I don't have to read 300 books. We get the shortcut. Thank you thank you.
Jasmin Romic
CEO, QUIDDITY
Our average increase
has been 478% per year
a total of 3,374% over
a 7 year period.
Stephanie Cameron
CEO EAST WEST ENVIRO AG
I now lead a resilient
and resourceful team
A 3 week process, now takes 3 days.
From breaking even,
profits are now 14%.
Rob Scott
PROPERTY DEVELOPER
There's no BS!
No dancing around Mindset;
This simplistic way
is totally 'gettable'.
Ready to Be the Change That Leads to Systemic Impact?
The Compelling Leading system is dedicated to serving the 'greater good' by supporting leaders to develop deep wisdom and a profound level of mastery.
To explore how our global team can customize a program for your executive team, please visit our dedicated site:
Read more …leadership coaching
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