An invitation to pause, feel, and reweave meaning

In the wake of recent and ongoing funding cuts affecting the UN, UN-affiliated NGOs, and the World Health Organization (WHO), many in the Geneva region—and far beyond—are facing not only professional uncertainty, but something rumbling beneath the surface that’s harder to name: a form of grief.

This grief may not look like bereavement. It might instead present as exhaustion, numbness, disconnection, or quiet resentment. It can show up in the body—tight shoulders, a clenched jaw, restless sleep—or in identity-level questions that bubble beneath the surface of daily life: Who am I now that this work is gone? Where do I belong? Does what I gave still matter?

For service-oriented professionals who have spent years—decades—committed to global change, the stakes are personal as well as professional. The loss of a role isn’t just a logistical shift; it can unravel identity, purpose, and one’s sense of belonging in the world. We all need to belong. We all need to know we matter—especially in times of upheaval.

A Broader Understanding of Grief

Grief arises not only after a death, but also in the wake of all kinds of endings:

• the dissolution of a team, mission, or organisation
• the erosion of shared purpose, co-created over time
• the seeping away of meaning from work that once felt enlivening
• the ache of witnessing suffering continue, without capacity or resources to respond

And for those who remain in their roles, “survivor’s guilt” is common—alongside pressure to stay productive, keep going, and not rock the boat. Burnout becomes more likely. Fear and anxiety spread. The pressure is now so great that suppression no longer works. Instead, we see eruptions—or numbness. We need spaces where neither is pathologised, but gently met with courage and compassion.

What Happens When We Turn Towards What Hurts?

When we pause to tend our grief, we open to a liminal space—an in-between—where renewal, in time, can begin.

Grief, when witnessed in safe company, becomes fertile ground. In circles and conversations, something softens. People begin to name what’s happening—without fear of being seen as broken. And in that, something shifts. A wise knowing arises: I’m not alone. I’m not broken. There is something here worth tending.

When we do this work—gently, intentionally, and with others—clarity returns. Energy begins to flow again. We remember what mattered, and discover what still does.

Left unprocessed, grief can entrench itself as fear, uncertainty, and doubt—FUD that fogs the way forward. But when we move with it, through it, we often find that we emerge more grounded, more resilient, and more able to lead ourselves and others well.

Even when there’s no “return to normal,” there can be a coming into more life, more energy, more capacity.

An Invitation for Individuals

If you’re experiencing this kind of grief—and especially if you’re questioning whether it’s “valid”—please know: it is.

I host small, supportive circles where organisational and professional grief can be named, held, and honoured. These are not therapy sessions, but sanctuaries for reflection, witnessing, and truth-telling.

• I offer separate circles for those whose roles have ended, and for those still employed but carrying grief, uncertainty or survivor guilt.
• Sessions will begin in June.
• Group size is intentionally limited to foster safety and depth.
• Suggested contribution: 35–50 CHF / 90-minute session
• Grounded in regenerative coaching, grief work, and systems awareness

An Offering for Leaders and HR Professionals

If you are supporting others, please know this: your people may be grieving—whether or not they say it aloud.

Tending this invisible terrain is not a “nice to have.” It is vital leadership. And doing so while you yourself may also be grieving—that’s courageous leadership.

When space is made for what’s truly present—grief, fear, disorientation—teams don’t collapse into navel-gazing. They begin to heal. They remember their “why.” Energy returns.

I offer tailored sessions for leaders, HR teams and whole functions to explore ways of:

• Holding space for what’s hard
• Navigating uncertainty with clarity and integrity
• Reweaving meaning and resilience amidst systemic change
• Honouring endings
• Recognising not just what has been lost, but also what remains

Questions for Reflection

These prompts may support you, your team, or your organisation in navigating these times:

• What grief—spoken or unspoken—is present in you or around you?
• What part of your identity feels most affected by recent changes?
• What do you find yourself pushing away—or over-performing to avoid?
• What might it mean to let some of that grief be felt, be seen?
• Who are your people—the ones who can hold space with you?

Shall We Talk?

If you’re feeling the weight of this moment, whether personally or organisationally, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s make space for what is true. There is wisdom to be found in the space in-between.

• Circles for grieving professionals begin in June.
• Sessions for teams and HR leaders can be arranged by request.
• You can explore more on my website or reach out via direct message.