We Are Passionate About Creating Workplaces Where People Thrive

The average salaried employee spends 45 hours per week working.  That translates to roughly 81,900 hours for those who retire at age 60.  We make sure you spend these hours thriving instead of surviving. 

We Are Passionate About Creating Workplaces Where People Thrive

The average salaried employee spends 45 hours per week working.  That translates to roughly 81,900 hours for those who retire at age 60.  We make sure you spend these hours thriving instead of surviving. 

2022.09.02_0094-min

Our Business Philosophy

Meaningful and fulfilling professional careers are cultivated in supportive environments. We create these for you and your organisation using psychological strategies to tackle issues inside out.

Our Mission

To provide bespoke solutions to help organisations deepen their talent pool, support executives to flourish in C-Suite roles, and develop leaders through a solution-focused, emphatic and authentic style of assessment and coaching.

Our Purpose

To build flourishing organisational enviroments through psychological stratergies and interventions in the workplace, we build leadership visions that center around accountability, empowerment, innovation, agility, and authenticity.

Our Vision
To equip organisations to recognise and celebrate cognitive diversity at senior leadership level and create emotionally mature leaders through an approach of positive psychology, brain-based coaching methodologies, and cognitive behavioural modalities.

Hi, I am Rebekah Ockens

My work is anchored in scientific and evidence-based psychological approaches to leadership, motivation, productivity, and well-being, thus serving the needs of both the individuals I coach, and the organisations they serve. 

This sits alongside the commercial awareness and a pragmatic understanding of leaders’ challenges gained over my years working with global corporations and leaders in Asia and in Europe.

As an experienced business psychologist and leadership performance coach, I help organisations identify and develop leadership capability using psychological concepts and strategies.
I have extensive experience designing and delivering talent management solutions, including designing competency frameworks, assessment and development centres, and leadership development programmes in Asia and Europe. 
I also have significant experience of in-depth leadership profiling assessments with senior candidates at Director/VP/Partner and C-suite levels.

If you think you have reached your full potential, remember even the ocean has not been completely discovered.

“I adore the work we do here, because we make meaningful changes to peoples’ lives by giving them a renewed sense of self-awareness and collective purpose.”

Meet Mae-Ziele

Mae knew the meaning of diversity even before uttering her first words. Born to a Malaysian father and a Filipina mother, Mae spent her childhood growing up and living in multiple countries.

The exposure to different cultures and personalities through her formative years fascinated her. She was intrigued by subtle variations in colour, imagery, and design and became an expert at getting the toys she liked by simply pointing her mum to the right kind of ad that was promoting it. Mae had a lot of toys growing up!

This curiosity only grew as she got older, which lead her to pursue a career in understanding the psychology behind visual communication. This passion was the start of her career within the mental health space specifically at the workplace.  Mae’s talent lies in translating these concepts into playful yet impactful themes and activities. She incorporates elements like gamification, narrative framing, and visual storytelling to create an engaging learning environment.

By injecting humour, fostering a sense of discovery, and even tapping into the participants’ inner child, Mae crafts experiences that link learning with positive emotions.  As the creative force behind our thematic workshops and our graduate programme, she designs learning experiences that encourage introspection and growth.

Come Around The World With Us and See What We've Been Up To

Hover over the pins and travel through our past 15 years

Realised my professional skills were worth a RM35,000 flight

Delivered intense one-day assessment centres for C-suite leaders. Humbled to be one of the few trusted consultants flown in from Asia. San Francisco's non-judgmental, warm people won me over - I even got a free tram ride. 

Assessed senior leaders, made friends with squirrels and bought lots of dresses

Spent the days working with senior leaders in the semiconductor industry. Discovered that squirrels in Austin were friendly, some even posed for a picture. I also met a lovely local designer who makes beautiful dresses that I still order from.

Fell further in love with the aviation world

Realised English could be spoken in so many different native ways!  Truly enjoyed meeting such a diverse group of people when conducting recruitment assessments for an aircraft manufacturing company.

Ate way too many chocolatines across my 5 years of working and living here

Every year between 2015 and 2020, I would spend 7 and 10 months of my time living in and working in Toulouse, assessing senior leaders for an aircraft manufacturing company. During this time I explored the streets hunting for the best pastries which required more time on the yoga mat. I now continue to work for this client virtually, allowing me to continue to work with some of the most amazing minds without expanding my waist line.

Watched Liverpool beat Bayern Munich on my German colleague’s iPad in the middle of the French Alps

Designed and delivered a global high potential workshop and assessment centre involving participants from 18 countries where development plans were officially laid. Got a chance to impress my Italian clients with how much I know about football, especially Italian football.

Best Christmas markets (only slightly biased)

Amidst conducting coaching sessions and delivering assessment centres for clients, I enjoy exploring the Christmas markets as well as creating snow angels and building a snowman during winter in Germany! It is also my second home.

Coached a senior leader through a promotion and a great job offer within a year

Still conducting executive coaching (almost two years) for a client who has achieved so much in our time working together - a promotion and a senior leadership position in a new company.  My favourite German city, Hamburg, has the nicest German accent. They also have Franzbrötchen, a cinnamon and raisin pastry that tastes divine, and that you can only get in this part of Germany.

Learnt the importance of respect and loyalty at the workplace

Coached and assessed senior leaders whilst learning so much about the remarkable culture. On a visit to a bamboo plantation, I was taught that bamboo shoots take 3 years before they sprout. In the 4th year, they grow up to 80 feet in six weeks. I found this story incredibly inspiring and use it in my workshops and coaching sessions until today!

The cashmere sweater

Assessed and coached pharmacists, vaccine researchers, aviation engineers, sales managers, and department leaders. I fell for a cashmere jacket on a trip. The mall cashier system had shut down and I was leaving the next day. The two lovely ladies that minded that store purchased me the jacket the next day with their own money and kept it for 3 months until I returned to Beijing for another business trip!

The sky line that changed every 6 weeks

Got to recognize first-hand the efficiency and productivity of Chinese culture. Whilst working with clients such as Bayer, Henkel, my favourite aircraft manufacturer, and Metro Group on their senior talent assessments. In Shanghai and only in Shanghai, I love falling asleep with my curtains open so I can watch the skyline.

My first ever international business trip

Designed a readiness assessment for young graduates entering the workforce. I also conducted job profiling for an Oil and Gas company there. It was fun learning the technical aspects of the upstream and downstream field. Whenever in Hong Kong, I indulge in dim sum while enjoying the skyline.

I learnt to be grateful Delivered assessor training and workshops for Shell managers. I noticed a client had his car full of canned food. When I discovered why, I joined him to visit and distribute the canned food to underprivileged villages.

How I became the Bangkok Spa Expert

Worked with geologists, chemical engineers, pipe engineers, I trained them to conduct and deliver assessment centres. To recuperate from the long days, I visited spas frequently for massages.

Where it all started, my entry into the consulting world

The beginning of my consulting career, learnt the fundamentals of talent management consulting practices. Designed and delivered scholarship programmes, assessment and development centres, leadership frameworks and competency modules for local and international clients. Currently, I am coaching the investment and fund managers for the Malaysian National Sovereign fund. Yes, Malaysia has its own Wendy Rhoades.

Home to 23 key industries all within 728.6 km²

Designed and delivered assessment centres for middle managers in the pharmaceutical industry, manufacturing, aviation, oil and gas, whilst staring at a skyline so dense with great talent, prominence and opportunities.

Discovered Kolo Mee Conducted a series of interview and assessor workshops for Pipe Coating Engineers, Chemical Engineers, and Geologists. Ate copious amounts of Kolo Mee!

Wardrobe Mal-Function

I conducted competency-based interviews and Personality workshops for oil platform executives, chemical engineers and geologists. My formal dress was deemed improper for a lady due to cultural differences. I learnt the importance of these differences in workplace attire. Despite the wardrobe mal-function incident, I adored being invited to dinner by clients and their hospitality was impeccable.

I learnt to make crêpes on my first ever business trip I was so excited about this, I even got myself a new suitcase. I was a training associate for a fast food chain, my first real job. I trained the new franchise owner's team on SOPs and work ethics. I also learned how to make some delicious crêpes.

Our Strategic Partners

We work with like-minded individuals and organisations to offer our clients a comprehensive experience. Our alliances allow us to ensure relevance and to remain competitive.
Illuminairre
A forward-thinking consulting firm rooted in inclusion and purpose. Their in-depth values in Ikigai serves as the compass for their services in strategic communications, public relations, specialised writing offerings and millennial coaching.
Mucca Papers
Handmade is a word that describes them, but attention to detail is the word that explains how these crafters have put together a thoughtful array of products that support individuals' expression and journeys in their professional and personal lives.
PeopleSpace
PeopleSpace is a homegrown outfit with a focus on executive search. They are also a licensed provider of psychometric tools for the workplace. They partner with global technology providers to provide cutting edge Human Resource systems to their clients.

My Journey so Far

how it all started

My curiosity about human behaviour began when I was a child. Even at a young age, I recall being puzzled at a young age observing by how my parents reacted completely differently to my behaviour. Something that would cause my mum to go ballistic, my wouldn’t even elicit a reaction from my dad wouldn’t even bat an eyelid at.
I learnt that while we may observe the sane behaviour, we respond differenttyour responses can differ. This really fascinated me, leading to me to pursue my tertiary education in and so I studied pPsychology. I had a particular interest in how cultures shape behaviours.

the cultural influence

As a 4th generation Malaysian of the Indian ethnic minority, I also found was also intrigued by the way that the intricacies of culturoleinfluences shape behaviornormously intriguing.
I am fortunate to grow up in a multi-cultural country, and this has certainly shaped me as a person and informed the work that I do.

Scars And Pushing Factors

This is also the reason why 1 am extremely passionate about the concept of raising awareness of Cognitive Biases. This is also the reason why I am extremely passionate about the concept of raising awareness of Cognitive Biases.
I do recall battling some of the biases my share of those that were associated with my own ethnicity color, hair color, and – literally – the shape of my nose

my first exposure to organizational psychology

I have spent my entire career in the consulting world. Starting out, I was lucky enough to be joining the company that had created what is widely regarded as the Gold Standard in assessments. In my role there, I am fortunate that one of my earliest experiences were with a company know for having the Gold Standards in assessments. I learned the fundamentals of designing and assessing behaviors at the workplace, as well as alongside managing clients and projects in my role here.

2021 & beyond

Is where my clients can start to experience my group Masterminds – based around my most successful client blueprints. My dream is now to be able to impact and serve more of the clients that I love.
EP Human Resources
Together, we're no longer just ripples in the talent pool; we're a tidal wave of expertise, surging across borders and barriers. We tap into the unique cultural nuances and market complexities of each European region, ensuring our leadership and talent development solutions resonate deeply with diverse needs and aspirations. No more cookie-cutter strategies – we tailor success to each local rhythm.
CnetG
CnetG's extensive network is like a map of possibilities, connecting us to diverse talent and opening doors to new ventures. Their dedication to women's leadership initiatives mirrors our own, creating fertile ground for fostering inclusivity and amplifying diverse voices. Together, we're a powerful force for positive change.