Transitions Facilitator

MindBlackout

Lisbon | Portugal

My name is Kai, I am a 25-year-old Portuguese and a curious explorer of human, social, and ecological transformation. Across my journey, I have been drawn to a central question: how can we navigate change in ways that foster compassion and flourishing for both people and the systems they inhabit?

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business and a Master’s degree in Societal Transitions from Erasmus University Rotterdam. During my Master’s, I specialized in systems analysis, reflection, and ritual-based approaches to navigating change in individuals, communities, and organizations. My thesis, Navigating Transition Pain in the Dutch Agricultural Sector: A Ritual’s Perspective, explored how rituals can support actors facing uncertainty, loss, and transformation during transitions. Alongside my research, I collaborated with the Dutch Research Institute for Transitions (DRIFT), hosted the Navigating Transition Pain podcast, and facilitated workshops supporting marginalized communities in partnership with organizations such as SWAD and TABOER.

Professionally, I have worked across diverse contexts where transformation, learning, and human development intersect. I supported a leading Portuguese presidential campaign by conducting political research, shaping strategic narratives, and translating complex societal issues into accessible and meaningful communication. Today, I am part of the early team of Voilà, an e-learning startup, where I help design onboarding experiences, improve user journeys, coordinate between users and product teams, and contribute to the development of AI-powered language learning systems. In parallel, I collaborate with Mind Blackout, supporting initiatives that foster conscious leadership, personal growth, and systemic awareness.

Beyond formal work, some of my most meaningful learning has come through lived experience. During a self-directed 6-months in Colombia, I worked as a photographer, tutor, facilitator, and volunteer while immersing myself in local communities, hospitality environments, and contemplative practice. I spent time living in an Ayurvedic Ashram, studying yoga and meditation, facilitating conversations on grief and life transitions, and exploring how different cultures make sense of change and wellbeing.

I am also a photographer, traveler, writer, yoga practitioner, and nature lover. My creative work explores themes of vulnerability, identity, belonging, and our relationship with the more-than-human world. As a transgender person, facilitator, and lifelong learner, I bring both personal and professional experience of navigating uncertainty and transformation.

I attended the Inner Development Goals Masterclass in Stockholm, which reinforced my belief that meaningful systems change requires inner development alongside external action. I join this program with humility, curiosity, and a desire to deepen my capacity to accompany individuals, communities, and organizations through the challenges and possibilities of transition.