Workplace Insights by Adrie van der Luijt
Careers aren’t really ladders, they’re more like messy scribbles with occasional moments of clarity. I’ve spent decades watching talented people waste years chasing what they thought they should want rather than what actually suited them.
The posts in this section reflect what I wish someone had told me thirty years ago: that the most successful careers are built on knowing your strengths, acknowledging your limitations and having the courage to navigate workplace politics without becoming what you despise.
Whether you’re just starting out or questioning decades of choices, you’ll find honest reflections on creating a career that works for you rather than burning yourself out for an organisation that sees you as replaceable.
Discover how trauma-informed communication in rejection emails can protect candidates’ mental health while acknowledging the realities of modern hiring processes in today’s challenging job market.
Discover Rembrandt Editor, an innovative tool for creating trauma-informed content that goes beyond basic accessibility. Learn how this free AI assistant helps content designers identify potentially harmful language patterns to create safer digital experiences for vulnerable users.
International Management Assistants’ founder Sonia Vanular wanted trainers and speakers to really challenge Executive Assistants to evolve their role, not just have them nodding along.
Job titles in management support often mask the real strategic responsibilities we have taken on, suggesting that we are merely assisting rather than proactively shaping the workplace.
A DfE content designer with 40 years’ government experience examines the 2025 digital roadmap. Strong on transparency and talent, but measurement gaps around vulnerable users risk turning transformation into structural exclusion. Includes what trauma-informed design would actually look like.
A review of Rebekah Barry’s “Considerate Content” by a trauma-informed, vulnerability-aware veterian, exploring accessible digital design through the lens of trauma-informed content creation for vulnerable audiences.
The people training your AI chatbots are telling their children never to use them. They’ve seen the rushed timelines, inadequate training data, and ignored safety concerns. They’re experiencing PTSD, moral injury, and relationship breakdowns from the work. If the insiders won’t trust these systems with their 10-year-olds, how are you meeting Consumer Duty obligations by deploying them with financially vulnerable customers?
A government content designer explores how to build trust in AI-driven public services through trauma-informed approaches, transparency and ethical design principles.
Authencity is key for Executive Assistants in an AI-driven world. Executives don’t want a flawless automaton. They want someone who understands the unspoken context, who can read the room, who knows when to push back and when to step in. They want someone real.
If AI is taking over administrative tasks, where should EAs focus their energy? The answer lies in developing strategic, commercially valuable skills that make them indispensable.