My story
Who I am
‘Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river…’ The opening of the Leonard Cohen song after which my parents named me. Coincidence or not, it is near water that I come most fully into my own. I built a pond when I was eight years old. Days, weeks, years I observed what happened in that self-made pool. With two fish, a plant and an occasional intervention, life got going all by itself. Creating the context in which genuine development takes place — that is what I do. The emergence of collective wisdom and lasting direction is what follows.
What shaped me
I grew up as the daughter of a Limburgian, intelligent, rational CEO and a Hague-born, sensitive, creative artist. I found my place in the middle between two very different worlds. Growing up with a mother with bipolar disorder taught me how thoughts can get the better of us. I discovered that choosing who we want to be is closely connected to the ability to step back from those thoughts.
The images and paintings my mother made were an enriching window through which to understand the world as she saw it. Art became my source of understanding. Asking questions and listening deeply gave me something to hold on to in not knowing. These qualities became — unconsciously at first, consciously later — the foundation for my way of moving through complexity in life and career.
Career
After completing my studies in Cultural Sciences in Maastricht and Arts Management at City University London, I started out as an art advisor for the business world. I brought art into companies and work environments, connecting it to the larger challenges the organisation was facing. At 28, I became a senior leader at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. As a member of the interdepartmental management team for Youth Care under then-minister Rouvoet, I learned to build connection and give direction within political and administrative dynamics.
After seven years, a desire arose to be closer to those I was working for. I became executive director of the cultural organisation Pier K. Through an unorthodox, investigative approach, I led the organisation through complex budget cuts. It was here — and at home — that I discovered the power of dialogue. I specialised in all kinds of forms of communicating without power. In 2012, I started my own practice as a strategic advisor and executive coach.
Living Inquiry
In 2015, I opened the doors of the first Cabinet for Living Inquiry — a concept for collective research into complex challenges. With a hundred participants, ten dialogue facilitators and three artists, we set out on ‘living inquiry’. The lasting impact of this innovative way of researching with head, heart and hands proved deep and enduring for those who took part. In the years that followed, I tested many methods and interventions with one goal in mind: enabling people to make the movement they wish to see in the world.
In 2019, I was invited to conduct living inquiry for The House of Beautiful Business in Munich. The Cabinet of Curiosophy became a reality. Shortly afterwards, the world was overtaken by the pandemic. My response to this unprecedented complex challenge was to scale up what I have to offer: a way of moving through not knowing with wisdom. With the founding of The Curiosophy Collective, I continued this body of thinking with a group of artists, dialogue specialists, change practitioners and leadership experts. For more information, visit: www.thecuriosophycollective.com.
Sources
“Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way to the answer.”
Rainer Maria Rilke, uit: Letters to a Young Poet (1929)
Daughters
My daughters are my greatest teachers. And a constant source of inspiration. Through them, I learn most about listening, communicating without power and connecting through questions.
Art
Anish Kapoor (‘Sky Mirror’), James Turrell, Lucian Freud, Marc Mulders, Peter Rombouts, Kehinde Wiley, Wieki Somers, Nynke Laverman, Bill Viola, Marina Abramović and others.
Dialogue
David Bohm made an essential contribution to quantum theory, neuropsychology and philosophy. His plea for dialogue is the starting point for my work.
Overview
Positions (since):
2020 — Founder, The Curiosophy Collective
2012 — Independent strategic advisor, executive coach, dialogue facilitator, Suzanne Leclaire
2008 — Executive Director Pier K, Centre for the Arts
2004 — Head of Department, Directorate for Secondary Education and Youth Policy, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
2001 — Senior Policy Officer, Directorate for the Arts, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
1998 — Art & business consultant, Brink Kunstzaken
Additional roles (since):
2023 — Guest lecturer Executive Programmes, Nyenrode Business University
2020 — Member Social Creative Council
2020 — Founding Member Female Empowerment Network, United World College, Maastricht
2019 — Chair Hmore Business Platform
2019 — Member Advisory Board, Possibilize
2016 — Chair National Federation of Culture
2012 — Chair various committees Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie
2011 — Member Advisory Board Ymere
2009 — Member of the Board Stichting Leergeld Haarlemmermeer
2006 — Supervisory Board Member, Het 5e Kwartier
Education & training programmes:
- The Art of Listening — Prof. Dr. Anne Goossensen, University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht
- Visual Thinking Strategy, levels 1 and 2 — VTS Netherlands
- Transforming Systems — Future Search USA
- Supervisory Governance with a Sense of Reality — Stichting Sezen
- Nonviolent Communication — Equanimity
- Socratic Coaching — Denkplaats
- Conflict — Strange, Institute for Intervention and Strategy
- 4-year programme in personal leadership — Enneawise
- Storytelling in Leadership — Special Professor Gabriël Antonio, University of Apeldoorn
- Effective Communication — Thomas Gordon Training
- Experience Design — KAOS Pilots
- Dialogue Learning Pathway — Leerweg in Dialoog
- Young Management Programme, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science — De Baak
- MA Cultural and Science Studies — Maastricht University
- MA Arts Management — City University London