Innovation for the Future is Within
Rudy de Waele
Innerpreneur | Regenerative Leadership Guide | Keynote Speaker | Founder, Unconditional Men | Co-host, Voices of Emergence | Facilitator of Inner Work & Systemic Change | Curator of Transformative Learning Journeys
Our greatest innovation isn’t technological, it’s the return to inner truth
People often ask me, “Why do you do this work with men, leadership, and transformation?” It’s a fair question. From the outside, it might seem like a radical shift, from a career focused on innovation and future trends, advising global leaders and tech companies, to now sitting in circles, facilitating workshops and online programs.
But this work is about something deeper: guiding men through their inner landscapes, holding space for emotion, grief, shame, guilt, and breakthrough, towards a new kind of leadership.
An embodied, integrated leadership rooted in presence, not just performance.
One of the most important things I’ve learned in my life is that division doesn’t begin out there, it begins within. When the mind is fragmented, reactive, or shaped by fear and conditioning, it unconsciously seeks more division, more separation, more enemies. This internal fragmentation creates a false sense of security, reinforcing identity at the cost of connection.
By observing our thoughts and actions without judgment, we can bring about an intrinsic order, one that arises from within, not imposed by external systems.
The real work begins with finding peace of mind, becoming aware of the many ways we split ourselves: between thought and feeling, action and presence, self and other. Only when we begin to reconcile these inner divides can we see that a unified, interconnected world is not only possible, it’s already here, waiting to be remembered.
This is what fuels my deep commitment to working with regenerative systems and leadership, not as abstract ideals, but as living practices on the path to wholeness, both personal and collective.
“If we do not believe within ourselves this deeply rooted feeling that there is something higher than ourselves, we shall never find the strength to evolve into something higher.” - Rudolf Steiner
But my path didn’t begin with an idea. It began with a series of ruptures, moments that cracked something open in me and made it impossible to go back.
I didn’t set out to lead men’s work. I set out to understand what it means to be human again, beyond all roles, strategies, identities, and ideas of success.
It started when the speed of my life, and the world I had helped shape, could no longer match the depth I craved. After years of future-facing strategy and non-stop doing, I hit a wall. Or rather, my soul hit the brakes.
Then came the defining moments. Moments of loss. Of disillusionment. Moments where I had to confront the pain I had long ignored. Moments of unexpected silence. Moments where my body spoke louder than my thoughts. Moments of sitting in circles with other men, not needing to fix anything, but simply to be witnessed.
Each of those moments left a mark. And slowly, a new path began to emerge, not forward, but inward.
That’s when I understood: The most important contribution I can make to humanity is to serve to other men and help them connect to their inner truth and authenticity.
Because more integrated, powerful-yet-gentle men will lead us toward a more balanced future..
This is why I believe: Innovation isn’t external. It’s internal. And real leadership transformation begins by reclaiming the parts of ourselves we’ve hidden, denied, or forgotten.
Today, I do this work because I know what it means to feel disconnected from your truth, your body, your sense of purpose. I also know what it takes to come back.
And I believe that when men come back to themselves, fully, honestly, without shame or ego, the world changes.
This is why I sit in circle. This is why I offer these spaces. Not to teach, but to remember. Not to fix, but to feel. Not to lead from the front, but to walk beside.
And perhaps, in sharing my story, you’ll recognise something of your own.
Evolving Masculinity in a Time of Transition
Evolving masculinity is not a theory, it’s a living practice. It’s the movement away from rigid, outdated roles toward something more integrated, inclusive, and emotionally attuned. It's a shift from performing masculinity to embodying presence, from dominance to relational awareness, and from isolation to belonging.
Masculinity, as we see it, is not fixed. It’s a dynamic expression, shaped by inner growth, cultural change, and the deepening of self-awareness over time.
Together with Dave Pendle, we created a 6-week online journey designed to guide men into deeper self-awareness, courageous communication, and a bold reshaping of what it means to lead from the inside out.
In a world where outdated models of masculinity are collapsing, a new space is emerging - a space for men to speak their truth, connect deeply with their emotions, and live with authentic power and purpose.
In this online journey, you will experience a unique fusion of ancient wisdom and modern methods, blending Socratic Dialogue, Deep Listening, Action Learning, Liberating Structures, to reconnect with your voice, your purpose, and your way of being in the world.
Join a collective of committed men determined to reshape expressions of masculinity in a chaotic and confusing world.
This is a practical, transformational, and profoundly human program for men who are ready to evolve.
PRACTICAL: 🗓 Wednesdays, June 4 – July 9 🕒 7:30pm CET / 6:30pm UK / 1:30pm EST 🌀 Info & Registration: https://www.unconditionalmen.com/evolving-masculinity
Using AI as a Mirror, Not a Therapist
In March alone, TikTok saw over 16.7 million posts discussing how people are using ChatGPT as a kind of digital therapist. Users share prompt ideas and joke that the AI is “the only one I can tell my deepest feelings to.” It reflects a growing cultural reality: people are turning to machines to explore their inner world.
There’s potential here. With long waiting lists for mental health support, especially for young people, AI could offer a first layer of psychological reflection, acting as a buffer or early-warning system. A place to begin when human help feels far away.
But there are also risks. Without guidance, presence, or awareness, AI can easily become a projection screen, a mirror into the abyss of our own unconscious material. OpenAI recently updated its Model Spec to clarify that AI systems should never replace therapists and must be designed to avoid serious harm.
At Unconditional Men, we believe we are entering new terrain, where the machine becomes mirror. But this only works when we bring ethics, embodiment, and relational depth to the interaction.
That’s why, together with Timothée Brès, we created this 6-week AI Integration Circles Practice Group for men.
This is not therapy. It’s an experiment in relational technology, exploring how AI, when paired with somatic awareness, group dialogue, and emotional anchoring, can help men uncover unconscious patterns and reconnect with their inner truth.
For coaches, technologists, facilitators, healers, and curious men walking the edge of transformation. For those who sense that leadership today demands not just intelligence, but integration.
👉🏼 We begin Monday, June 9 with a special guest session featuring Ruben Daniels, diving into Regenerative AI and Self-Governance, followed by personal and group inquiry. Each session will bring its own emerging surprise and invitation into deeper inquiry and reflection.
🔗 Join us for AI Integration Circles, a 6-Week Practice Group 🗓️ Monday, June 9 – July 14 | Online via Zoom 🕢 7:30pm CET / 6:30pm UK / 1:30pm EST 🌀 Guided by Rudy de Waele & Timothée Brès and special guests. 🎟️ Learn more and register: unconditionalmen.com/ai-integration-circles
This is not a theory lab. It’s an experiential journey, one that blends the modern with the ancient, the digital with the deeply human. Book a call to learn more.
“It's the responsibility of each human being to bring about his own transformation, which is not dependent on knowledge or time.” - Krishnamurti
A Global Gathering of Men
In our latest Unconditional Men Circle, brothers joined from across the globe: Brazil, Turkey, Nigeria, Tanzania, India, and across Europe, reminding us of the growing resonance of this international brotherhood.
Each man arrived through a different path, via my newsletter, word of mouth, a LinkedIn or a social media post. Yet what unites us is a shared longing: to explore what it means to be a man in today’s complex and rapidly changing world. We offer each other a space for silence, connection, and emergence.
As always, we came without an agenda. The question for the evening arose from the collective field. This organic, intuitive approach often takes us to unexpected places, yet always to what is most needed.
We sat in presence, spoke from the heart, and listened deeply. In our diversity, we found threads of common humanity; in our differences, we met parts of ourselves. What emerged was not a search for solutions, but a collective remembering: of presence, connection, and a more embodied form of leadership that chooses depth over division.
These circles are not just conversations. They are spaces of healing, witnessing, and deep remembering.
If you haven’t joined an Unconditional Men circle yet, we warmly invite you. Bring your questions, your discomfort, your truth. Come as you are.
PRACTICAL:
A monthly free online men’s circle to connect with your essence. 🗓 Every last Thursday of the month. Next session: June 26. 🕒 7:30pm CET / 6:30pm UK / 1:30pm EST 🌀 Info & Registration: https://www.unconditionalmen.com/circles
That’s it for this week.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch directly if you have a question about a program or have an idea to collaborate.
Stay true to yourself and take good care of your loved ones.
With gratitude and appreciation of life,
Rudy
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