About Birgitte
If you want to know more about who I am and my background.
Consultant, speaker, author & podcaster
I empower leaders to make an impact using themselves, their story, and their message—with the mental strength and calmness required to perform at their best—so they can have the best possible impact on the world around them.
I am a great match for ambitious leaders, whether you have official stars on your shoulders, are in charge of a communication situation, or perform informal leadership.
From theatre to presentation and storytelling
I have taught leaders and senior executives in 500+ Danish and international companies to improve their presentation skills, storytelling, body language, and personal impact.
My roots are in theatre as an actor. I have been a drama teacher and theatre director at the Danish Arts School Odense for 15 years. So, I know what it takes to get your message over the edge of a stage, soapbox, or wherever you need people to listen to you and act on your words.
From 2008 to 2013, I was a personal advisor to former Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and part of the team supporting the election of Denmark’s first female prime minister.
From hostage survival to mental robustness
In 2005, I joined the Danish Defence’s hostage survival training when they needed an actor to teach people how to play hostage-takers in a hostage-taking simulator. This work made me the only civilian in the program’s management team until 2013.
Here, I helped develop and implement the Danish Armed Force’s knowledge and methods for best surviving a hostage situation, teaching it, and handling immense pressure.
I have used my collective experience in handling pressure and mental robustness to coach, teach, and talk on mental robustness in 200+ Danish and international companies as well as the Danish Defence, police, emergency services, and hospitals.
From book to podcast
The essence of my experience of mental robustness is summarised in the book ‘Bevar dig selv – robust i en uforudsigelig fremtid’ (“Preserve yourself – robustness in an unpredictable future”), which was published by Gyldendal Business in 2017 and was nominated for management book of the year. I am also the publisher of the podcast ‘Bevar dig selv’ (“Preserve yourself”), rated 4.8 stars on Apple and 5.0 on Spotify.
My approach
1
I value a safe and challenging learning environment that sparks curiosity, the desire to take risks, learn new things, and, not least, get to know yourself.
2
I prefer to use practical training and exercises because your knowledge becomes a skill only by doing.
3
I value authenticity and presence in my interactions with the people I work with, allowing them to feel safe and open to the individual feedback I strive to provide.
4
I value a fresh and open outlook, constantly seeking the latest knowledge and relating to the wider world, not just the Danish duckpond.
Highlights from CV
- CEO of my company, since 2002
- Drama teacher, The Danis National Academy of Theatre, Odense, 2001-2015
- Personal advisor, former Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt, 2008-2013
- Developer, trainer and coach, The Royal Danish Armed Forces, CAC section 2005-2013
- Author of the book ‘Bevar dig selv’, Gyldendal Business 2017
- Publisher of the podcast ‘Bevar dig selv’ 2020
Selection of courses and training completed
- Trained actor, Chekov Studio
- Dramaturgy, University of Copenhagen
- Rhetoric, University of Copenhagen
- Dramatic Pedagogy, University of Copenhagen
- Coach, Dispuk
- Biodynamic therapist with Peter Kofoed
- Postgraduate course in shock, trauma & robustness, with Ulla Rung Weeke