Mike O'Connor

I bring together movement, science, and somatic practice to help teams grow more connected, resilient, and creative. With a PhD in embodied communication from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, my research explored how we perceive, imagine, and create “lines” as organizing principles for experience and sense-making. This work at the intersection of cognitive science and performance has shaped how I approach leadership training: translating deep concepts of perception, empathy, and metaphor into clear, practical tools for communication and collaboration. Alongside my academic work, I have over 25 years of international teaching experience in creative practice and contemporary movement. I’ve also presented my research on dance, neuroscience, and sense-making at conferences in Germany, Portugal, the UK, and beyond. My training goes beyond the studio: I am a certified Pantarei Approach bodyworker, experienced in Gabor Maté’s Compassionate Inquiry, and a long-time practitioner of non-violent communication. Since 2008, I’ve facilitated feedback processes using the Fieldwork method, helping people exchange constructive input without tension or conflict. Today, I channel this blend of research, artistic practice, and therapeutic training into Flow Shaped Leadership. Whether guiding teams in feedback culture, supporting managers in public speaking, or creating workshops on empathy and team dynamics, I draw on my background in movement, science, and somatics to help people lead — and listen — with presence and authenticity.