Mark Mieras
“Together we are not merely speaker and audience, but also researchers and test subjects – the room is our laboratory.”
Mark Mieras is fascinated by psychology and takes his audience on a miraculous journey through the human mind
A science journalist with an enormous fascination for the human mind and the passion to inspire others with his insights. Mark Mieras is a speaker and as a science journalist often in the media. He is also the author of ‘Ben ik dat?’, ‘Liefde’, ‘Heftige Hersens’ and ‘Voor de Leeuwen’, books on neurobiology and psychology, and then made understandable for the general public.
Mark Mieras was born and raised in Amsterdam and always wanted to understand everything as a child. He graduated cum laude in 1988 in Theoretical Physics. Because he missed the connection with the social field there, he decided to take a different path. He started working as an environmental journalist and consultant at IMSA and later at the science editorial board of Intermediair.
He has a broad interest in science, developing a particular enthusiasm for neuropsychology, about which he has now been writing for over 20 years. In his articles and lectures he makes scientific research results accessible to a wide audience. Mark Mieras is convinced that it is helpful for people to know how things work up there.
“We witness ourselves every day and yet we have little understanding of how we function ourselves and why. Organizations often seem to think that people do perform regardless of psychological conditions – as if we are some kind of robots. Mistakenly.”
During his lectures, Mark Mieras lets his audience experience – and be amazed at – how people behave. Together, they are not only speaker and audience, but also researchers and subjects in a live experiment – the room is their laboratory. This makes for a surprising and unforgettable experience.
Mark Mieras is fascinated by psychology and takes his audience on a miraculous journey through the human mind A science journalist with an enormous fascination for the human mind and the passion to inspire others with his insights. Mark Mieras is a speaker and as a science journalist often in the media. He is also the author of ‘Ben ik dat?’, ‘Liefde’, ‘Heftige Hersens’ and ‘Voor View more…
Mark Mieras addresses people's personal discomfort and proudness - two important requirements for dealing with setbacks and stress.
"Feelings of powerlessness make us slow to change, and we can't always afford that."
How our purpose and beliefs play a role in our behavior
Why do I do what I do? That, if you ask Mark, is a key question for everyone. Your personal intent, and your intent as a team and organization, plays an important role in your own resilience, and that plays through to the big picture in a surprising way. Organizations that tap into this are more agile, inclusive and future-proof. Take the climate challenge:
“A topical issue that calls for a collective change in behavior. In this matter you will find those who are proactive, those who resist and those who just accept the circumstances willingly. Powerlessness causes us to change slowly and we cannot afford that in such important matters. Understanding why people experience resistance or helplessness is the key to getting everyone to move in the same direction.”
Neuropsychology can also be used within organizations to gain insight into people’s ability to change. And even in our personal lives – in a relationship for example – how do the male and female brain differ? Why does a teenager act (and react) the way he or she does?
According to Mark Mieras, a better world starts by taking into account the different ways people function, work and change. Among other things, he draws inspiration from nature, cultural and healthcare organizations – pioneers who fulfill a social role and are people-oriented rather than commercial-oriented.
“These types of organizations really have a different kind of DNA; they show that ‘soft’ parameters are ultimately the hard preconditions for existence.”
The traditional way of dealing with a problem – such as high workload – for example is to work faster, harder and more efficiently. But too much efficiency can actually make us helpless, rigid and ineffective by putting processes and not people at the center, says Mark. That’s how organizations move down a dead-end path.
With his lectures, Mark Mieras wants to make a difference for people and organizations, by reminding them what their purpose is, their intent. And showing them what beliefs get in the way of being effective and meaningful.
Book Mark Mieras for your event
Would you like to book Mark Mieras as a speaker for your next event? Ask for the possibilities and his availability.
Why invite Mark Mieras as a speaker for your event?
1. Varied audience
It is valuable for everyone to understand how your mind and that of others work. From teachers to politicians, from managers to healthcare professionals, from general managers to technical service providers.
2. Joint impulse
If you get back to your desk after being inspired by one of Mark’s lectures, not much will change. By attending one of Mark’s lectures as a team – or even with your entire organization – a collective impulse is generated, which creates broader acceptance for change within your organization.
3. Interactive
Mark turns his lectures into an experience. With surprising images, exciting live experiments and, above all, lots of fun. As he says himself: “The venue is our laboratory, so we get to experience science from up close”.
4. No lecture is the same
Mark is always open to new themes and as an experienced speaker he knows how to adapt his interactive lectures effortlessly to a diverse audience.
5. Energetic and personal
Mark Mieras is a storyteller and does not hesitate to intertwine his personal experiences in his stories. With a relaxed attitude, calm yet energetic, with humor and vivid examples, he finds a way to connect with everyone in the audience and keep them intrigued.
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1. Varied audience
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It is valuable for everyone to understand how your mind and that of others work. From teachers to politicians, from managers to healthcare professionals, from general managers to technical service providers.
-
-
2. Joint impulse
-
If you get back to your desk after being inspired by one of Mark’s lectures, not much will change. By attending one of Mark’s lectures as a team – or even with your entire organization – a collective impulse is generated, which creates broader acceptance for change within your organization.
-
-
3. Interactive
-
Mark turns his lectures into an experience. With surprising images, exciting live experiments and, above all, lots of fun. As he says himself: “The venue is our laboratory, so we get to experience science from up close”.
-
-
4. No lecture is the same
-
Mark is always open to new themes and as an experienced speaker he knows how to adapt his interactive lectures effortlessly to a diverse audience.
-
-
5. Energetic and personal
-
Mark Mieras is a storyteller and does not hesitate to intertwine his personal experiences in his stories. With a relaxed attitude, calm yet energetic, with humor and vivid examples, he finds a way to connect with everyone in the audience and keep them intrigued.
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Five questions for:
Mark Mieras
For Good: what does it mean to you?
“It all starts with who I am and what I stand for. For example, I personally haven’t been on a plane in 15 years. But the biggest difference I make for people from my own field – by showing and experiencing how their minds influence their behavior. By doing so, they develop a level of resilience and willingness to change, which is not only important within organizations, but a core requirement to address the big challenges in society.”
Walk the Talk: what is your added value?
“My starting point is the organization and the people sitting in the room, because everyone needs to feel seen in order to set something in motion. So my lectures are accessible and understandable for everyone. In fact, it is important that all links in a system are included, that means all employees have to be inspired at the same time. This creates a sense of unity and makes it easier to get people on the same page.”
What do you love and what is typically Mark?
“Each morning I take a swim in natural water, in the canals of Amsterdam behind the Scheepvaartmuseum. This feels very primal to me and it is kind of an exercise in overcoming my own personal discomfort. It makes me feel better about myself all day long. I see people around me feeling the need to be entertained all the time. I don’t feel the need to do that, I’m happy just walking alongside the waterfront and spending time in my garden. In the summer I like walking through the mountains. Also I am currently writing another book and in those moments I can take enormous pleasure in learning things I am curious about. I am very proud of my curiosity!”
What can the audience expect from you?
“I love to challenge and be challenged and I love to speak for organizations and people who have a desire to change. That desire often arises from a certain discomfort or friction, something feels wrong. I demonstrate that this discomfort is not your enemy, but can actually be your friend.”
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For Good: what does it mean to you?
-
“It all starts with who I am and what I stand for. For example, I personally haven’t been on a plane in 15 years. But the biggest difference I make for people from my own field – by showing and experiencing how their minds influence their behavior. By doing so, they develop a level of resilience and willingness to change, which is not only important within organizations, but a core requirement to address the big challenges in society.”
-
-
Walk the Talk: what is your added value?
-
“My starting point is the organization and the people sitting in the room, because everyone needs to feel seen in order to set something in motion. So my lectures are accessible and understandable for everyone. In fact, it is important that all links in a system are included, that means all employees have to be inspired at the same time. This creates a sense of unity and makes it easier to get people on the same page.”
-
-
What do you love and what is typically Mark?
-
“Each morning I take a swim in natural water, in the canals of Amsterdam behind the Scheepvaartmuseum. This feels very primal to me and it is kind of an exercise in overcoming my own personal discomfort. It makes me feel better about myself all day long. I see people around me feeling the need to be entertained all the time. I don’t feel the need to do that, I’m happy just walking alongside the waterfront and spending time in my garden. In the summer I like walking through the mountains. Also I am currently writing another book and in those moments I can take enormous pleasure in learning things I am curious about. I am very proud of my curiosity!”
-
-
What can the audience expect from you?
-
“I love to challenge and be challenged and I love to speak for organizations and people who have a desire to change. That desire often arises from a certain discomfort or friction, something feels wrong. I demonstrate that this discomfort is not your enemy, but can actually be your friend.”
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