Newsletter June 2025
Welcome to our June newsletter
Halfway through the year already and our 25-year celebrations are in full swing – more about that later! This time we explore the diversity of TetraMap in every sense – what’s the secret to creating that inclusive environment to welcome such diverse perspectives, knowledge and experiences?
The latest TetraMap Meet-Up highlighted the issue of neurodiversity and the unique role TetraMap can play in generating a deeper understanding for those of us who experience life differently. We report on the insights shared by TetraMap Facilitator, Kate Jenkinson, who specialises in helping people to engage and inspire the power of neurodiversity.
We are extraordinarily proud to offer the Jan Alley scholarship and as the application process is due to open once again, we look back to last year’s recipients and the hugely diverse interests and expertise from Africa, Asia, New Zealand and Europe that earned them a scholarship.
You are invited to experience the highlights of our special event in Berlin where we celebrate our 25th anniversary with our colleagues in Europe. The sense of shared community created a truly joyous experience for a diverse group of attendees from Germany, Poland, the USA and beyond.
Trust the Process takes you back to basics – dedicating time to wrap up your TetraMap session. How do you make sure every person leaves the workshop with a sense of raised self and team esteem?
Neuroinclusion – creating a learning environment that reaches every learner
May’s Community Meet Up explored neurodiversity and inclusion – what is the secret to facilitating our workshops to make them a neuroinclusive learning environment? What a learning experience it was for those who attended!
TetraMap’s Global Head of Learning, Emma Mauger, organised the event and wanted to learn from one of our own TetraMap community members first-hand about neurodiversity.
“We were thrilled to welcome guest speaker, Kate Jenkinson, who is also a renowned poet and speaker. One of Kate’s areas of specialty is helping people to engage and inspire the power of neurodiversity. Her knowledge of TetraMap combined with her personal and professional experience of neurodiversity made her the perfect guest.”
In the true spirit of TetraMap, Kate’s session used the metaphor of a garden – ‘Flourishing in a Neurodiverse World Using Nature’ – and took the meet-up participants on a journey to explore how to recognise the environment where people will thrive best and what we could do differently. In the garden does a lily or a sunflower grow the same way as a rose? If it doesn’t, is it just a flower in the wrong environment? And what about the weeds – shouldn’t we be moving past the thought that we see the neurodivergent person as a problem – the weed in the garden?
“When a flower doesn’t bloom you fix the environment where
it grows not the flower.”
– Alexander Den Heijer
Kate is self-diagnosed with having ADHD/autism and has aphantasia which means she doesn’t have a visual imagination. She believes we should be celebrating neurodiversity instead of medicalising it, and instead accept that everybody is different and we all make a valuable contribution to a team.
Emma continued: “We were fascinated to hear some of the statistics from Kate – for example entrepreneurs are 400% more likely to be neurodivergent and teams are 60% more successful when they include people with neurodiversity. Her wisdom as a TetraMap facilitator was invaluable in helping raise our awareness of the differences when we are running a TetraMap workshop. For example, some people cannot visualise things, where others may struggle with metaphors – or people with ADHD might need to move around more.”
As a unique blend of research scientist, experienced HR professional, and published spoken word poet, Kate has coined the phrase ‘business poet’ through her unwavering belief in the transformative power of words and their ability to catalyse human-centred leadership and cultures. This was beautifully illustrated for our TetraMap meet-up with a poem:
Be more meadow
The definition of a weed is a plant in the place you don’t want it to be
The definition of a garden are plants only where you want them to be
The definition of a meadow is plants where they want to be with insects happy to see them
Emma added: “Kate’s shared insights really widened our understanding and perspective and our breakout discussions raised some really interesting questions. It was reassuring to see as TetraMap facilitators many of us naturally embrace difference and Kate has certainly paved the way for us to offer neuroinclusive spaces with a lot more confidence.”
TetraThoughts from the meet-up
- Ask participants – what is the environment you thrive in best?
- Provide a ‘pass card’ for everyone so people can hold it up if they need support
- Recognise we don’t need to label anyone
- Set the environment by giving people permission to say what they need at the start of the session.
Trust the Process – dedicating time to the wrap up
One of the key messages from any TetraMap Facilitation experience, is that every person should leave the workshop with a sense of raised self and team esteem.
Time given at the end of a workshop – or even a meeting – for a proper sense of completion really matters. Good facilitation does more with less. Less content, more connection.
Louise Duncan, Global Brand Ambassador, advises: “Use the wrap up time for a reflection of what’s happened and identify some key learnings you have observed. This time also provides an opportunity for an appreciation of everyone’s contribution. A rushed ending can detract from a great learning event – remember no-one wants to hear that the time allocated to close the session has evaporated.”
TetraMap facilitators understand this already and have a range of activities they use:
TetraThoughts is one way, using sentence starters which can be found in your slide pack. Ask your participants to sit in a circle, and choose one of the following statements as a starter.
- Ask each person to share something meaningful for them
- One thing I will DO as a result of today is …
- Something that I’m CLEAR or CLEARER about is…
- How I’m feeling is …
- A possibility I see is…
Another option is to ask participants to grab a partner or work in pairs or threes and call out a particular topic from the session. Discuss:
- What stood out for you or surprised you?
- What questions do you still have about…?
- What might you do, or do differently as a result of that session?
- What emotions surfaced for you?
They can then swap partners and repeat on a new topic. Allow some time for ‘aha’ moments to be captured.
There are many variations of good wrap up activities. The KEY to SUCCESS is factoring TIME in for them in the programme.
The Jan Alley Scholarship reopens for this year
In August 2021, one of our community’s most experienced Master TetraMap Facilitators, Jan Alley, passed away. TetraMap played a central role in her life and work for over 20 years and her legacy is played out every day through the people she engaged with, and the lives she touched in her many workshops. Her life was full of people she loved and causes she was passionate about.
The Jan Alley Scholarship was launched to honour Jan’s passion for people, education, diversity, inclusion and activity-based learning. As this year’s scholarship application process opens, we look back to last year’s recipients and why they wanted to make a difference through TetraMap.
Elynn Pang from Malaysia is a school director and certified life coach committed to improving team performance within the education sector. With the support of this scholarship, she was able to enhance her skills and capabilities, ultimately contributing to a more harmonious and interconnected world.
Kirsty Doyle, New Zealand, Aotearoa, first learned about TetraMap during her tenure at Science for Technological Innovation, where she was actively involved in the Science Leaders Program. She was particularly intrigued by TetraMap’s holistic approach, which integrates elements of nature to illuminate fundamental aspects of human behaviour and interaction.
Maria del Pilar from Zurich is a Biomimicry Practitioner, Permaculture Designer and freelance facilitator, providing hands-on workshops on biodiversity and nature related topics in a permaculture community garden. She wants to use her influence to have a positive impact in the world contributing to the environment, human behaviour and wellbeing through a restorative and regenerative handprint.
Zahra Habib from Tanzania first learned about TetraMap through her mentor and coach who played a key role in her professional and personal development. From the outset Zahra could see how TetraMap would be invaluable in fostering effective communication and teamwork. It now helps her in primary education listening to cues which help her to understand the children better and tailor her approach to teaching.
Louise Duncan, TetraMap Global Brand Ambassador, said: “In the fifth year of offering the scholarships, we have been so excited to bring a whole new generation of people who otherwise could not have joined our TetraMap community. I truly believe education is for everyone, learning is for life and I know Jan Alley, in whose name the scholarships are offered, would be enormously proud to see TetraMap developing teachers and others all over the world.”
If you know anyone who may benefit from the Jan Alley scholarship please spread the word.
25 years celebration in Berlin
It was a warm welcome in Berlin to a unique 25-year celebration, greeting guests from Germany, New Zealand, UK, Poland, and the United States who all gathered to show their appreciation of TetraMap.
Expertly hosted by Master TetraMap Facilitators Anja Doil and Sabine Gruner, the theme ‘My Success is Your Success – Building community in the German speaking countries’ – really set the tone for two days of festivities for all ages, stages, and preferences.
Louise Duncan, TetraMap Global Brand Ambassador, said: “It really was a fantastic event with an incredible commitment from all over Germany and beyond. People gave up weekends, and even postponed a holiday to be at this event. Everything was planned perfectly – the agenda, room ambience and the indoor and outdoor space which really set the scene. All rounded off with birthday cake, a firepit and even New Zealand wine!
“It was leadership in action from all. We all benefited from new learning activities and people were so generous and creative in sharing their skills and knowledge. It showcased a real appreciation for TetraMap – what it means in the world – and as we often do with TetraMap experiences, we came as strangers and left as friends. Thank you, Anja and Sabine and everyone who made this learning experience so special.”
And to add an extra special touch, Jon and Yoshimi Brett ‘zoomed in’ from New Zealand to join everyone!
Ruth Robinson, General Manager, TetraMap Europe, said: “I felt truly fortunate to spend the weekend surrounded by so many dedicated and passionate TetraMap facilitators all working to bring TetraMap’s message of nature as teacher, diversity as strength, and connection as our future to others.”
Why not join us in London on 10th September 2025? Spaces are limited, so be quick. If you have only ever experienced TetraMap online, now’s the time to connect in person – for learning, celebrations and cake!