Rodney Reynders – Grounded Leadership, Lived Experience
Rodney Reynders is a counsellor, executive coach, author, and emerging psychologist whose work sits at the intersection of leadership, emotional intelligence, and resilience. Drawing on lived experience and formal training in business and psychology, he supports individuals and organizations navigating complexity with clarity and integrity. His work emphasizes values-led decision making, psychological safety, and the disciplined practice of self-leadership.
A Moment That Changed Everything
At a moment when most lives are shaped quietly, Rodney Reynders’ life pivoted loudly on the side of a busy road, watching cars pass at speed. He was young, without stability, direction, or the safety many take for granted. His childhood and adolescence had been defined by constant movement, interrupted education, and periods of homelessness where survival took precedence over certainty. Yet in that moment, standing alone with nothing promised and nothing guaranteed, he made a decision that would become the organizing principle of his life. I will do better. For myself, and for others.
That promise did not erase hardship. It did not create instant opportunity or comfort. What it did create was choice. Over time, Rodney learned that leadership is not born from control or privilege, but from the discipline of choosing clarity over chaos, responsibility over resentment, and meaning over circumstance. That discipline now defines his work as a counsellor, coach, speaker, author, and emerging psychologist.
Learning to Lead Without Stability
Rodney grew up in South Africa, moving frequently with no single place or school to anchor his early years. Instability was not an exception in his childhood; it was the environment. From an early age, he learned to observe people closely, read situations quickly, and adapt without relying on certainty. These were not lessons learned in classrooms, but through lived experience where awareness and emotional intelligence became tools for survival.
During his teenage years, periods of homelessness disrupted his formal education and reinforced a reality few understand. When safety is not guaranteed, progress often depends on the decisions made when no one is watching. Rodney learned early that responsibility could not be outsourced and that integrity mattered most in moments without witnesses. These experiences shaped his belief that leadership is less about authority and more about presence, empathy, and the ability to create psychological safety for others.
One principle that emerged from this time continues to guide his work today. “This is not good information. This is not bad information. This is just information.” By separating events from emotional judgment, Rodney learned how to reduce reactivity and reclaim agency. This mindset would later become central to his approach to coaching, counselling, and leadership development.
Early Work and the Dignity of Earning
Rodney’s first source of income came not from a traditional job, but from making and selling candlewicking quilts at a local market. With minimal resources and flexible hours, it was a practical way to earn while navigating uncertainty. Although peers mocked him for doing needlework, his response was simple. He preferred substance over appearance and responsibility over performance.
The income was modest, but the lessons were lasting. That small, self-run venture taught him the fundamentals of enterprise: accountability, customer service, production discipline, and the dignity of earning. It also reinforced a belief that meaningful progress rarely begins with ideal conditions. Instead, it begins with making the best use of what is available and committing fully to the work at hand.
These early lessons would later underpin his respect for work ethic, resourcefulness, and values-led decision making across every stage of his career.
From Business Leadership to Human Development
Rodney’s professional path spans business management, compliance, safety, and people development. He has held leadership roles across multiple industries, thriving in high-stakes environments where clarity, accountability, and calm decision making were essential. Over time, he became known for his ability to navigate complexity while maintaining a strong ethical compass and a people-centered approach.
Alongside his professional experience, Rodney pursued formal education with discipline and intent. He completed a Master of Business Administration in Finance and later returned to academia to deepen his understanding of human behavior. He is currently completing a Bachelor of Psychological Sciences with a double major in Psychology and Counselling, maintaining an academic average that earned him placement on the Dean’s Honour Roll for Academic Excellence.
This blend of commercial acumen and psychological insight became the foundation for his transition into coaching and counselling. As an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation, Rodney works with individuals and leaders to navigate stress, complexity, and change. His approach is trauma-informed, grounded, and practical, helping people move from emotional overwhelm to intentional action.
Creating Safety, Clarity, and Growth
Rodney’s impact is best understood through the experiences of those he works with. Across sectors including healthcare, education, finance, and executive leadership, his clients consistently describe an ability to create safety while challenging thinking patterns that no longer serve them.
One senior leader described Rodney as someone who brings people together and delivers impactful experiences through clarity and presence. Another reflected that his coaching provided alternative perspectives that transformed how difficult situations were approached. A healthcare professional noted that Rodney’s guidance helped translate emotional awareness into practical tools for decision making, resilience, and fulfillment.
A recurring theme across these endorsements is his ability to listen deeply and respond with intention rather than prescription. As one client shared, “Rodney stands out as a life coach, skillfully blending empathy with practical advice. He listens carefully and offers guidance that makes a real difference.”
Another described his influence more broadly, stating that his journey exemplifies resilience and authenticity and that anyone who crosses paths with him is better for it. These reflections mirror Rodney’s own belief that leadership is not about fixing people, but about creating environments where clarity and self-trust can emerge.
Thought Leadership and Creative Expression
Beyond one-to-one work, Rodney extends his impact through writing, speaking, and creative media. He is the host of the podcast Your Truth Explored, a reflective space where loss, identity, and meaning are examined with honesty rather than forced optimism. In its opening episode, he explored the value of loss not as something to overcome quickly, but as a teacher that can deepen self-understanding when given space.
He is also the author of children’s books designed to introduce emotional literacy at an early age, helping families and educators normalize conversations about stress, feelings, and resilience. His creative work includes psychology-informed music and his widely followed Thoughts for the Day series, where he distills complex psychological concepts into accessible reflections for daily life.
Across these platforms, Rodney maintains a consistent voice. It is calm, grounded, and anchored in lived experience rather than abstraction. His work invites reflection rather than reaction, encouraging audiences to slow down and engage with their inner world thoughtfully.
Vision for the Future: Leadership Beyond Title
At this stage of his journey, Rodney’s focus is centered on consulting, counselling, and coaching engagements that support leadership development, emotional intelligence, resilience, and values-based decision making. This work runs alongside his continued psychology education as he progresses toward full registration as a psychologist in Australia.
He is also actively developing ventures at the intersection of psychology, education, and creative media, with the aim of making emotional literacy accessible across the lifespan. From early childhood resources to adult leadership development, his vision is grounded in the belief that emotional understanding is not a luxury, but a foundational skill.
While he is not pursuing traditional executive employment, Rodney remains open to strategic advisory and board roles with organizations aligned to mental health, education, community impact, and purpose-driven enterprise. He views governance and advisory work as a meaningful way to contribute lived experience, ethical insight, and long-term thinking to organizational outcomes.
A Philosophy Rooted in Choice
Rodney Reynders’ story is not defined by where he began, but by how consistently he has chosen responsibility, clarity, and integrity in the face of uncertainty. Having experienced homelessness and instability firsthand, impact carries urgency and meaning beyond commercial aspiration for him. His work reflects a deep respect for the human side of leadership and a belief that progress begins internally.
As he often reminds those he works with, “This is not good information. This is not bad information. This is just information.” In that perspective lies the freedom to choose response over reaction and purpose over circumstance.
Editorial Note
Rodney Reynders represents a new generation of leadership grounded not in performance, but in presence. His journey demonstrates that resilience is not something we inherit, but something we practice through disciplined choice. For leaders, organizations, and individuals navigating complexity, his work offers a reminder that clarity, integrity, and emotional intelligence remain the most enduring forms of power.
