Susan Quirke

Why Meditation for Leaders?

Meditation is increasingly being used by senior leaders and decision makers as a practical support for clarity, sound judgement, emotional steadiness, wellbeing, presence, power, and sustained high performance. It also helps create more perspective around work and life, supporting a healthier sense of balance and what truly matters in your life.

Many global leaders now speak openly about their meditation practice, reflecting a wider shift. Meditation is no longer viewed as an optional wellbeing extra, but as a core resource for modern leadership. A consistent daily practice supports leaders to think clearly under pressure, respond rather than react, and remain grounded while holding significant responsibility. Meditation also improves depth of sleep which helps in day to day life.

It is now integrated, supported, and encouraged within organisations such as Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, LinkedIn, Unilever, Goldman Sachs, and Nike, as well as within public bodies and international organisations including the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the National Health Service. It is also widely used across NGOs and humanitarian organisations operating in high pressure environments. 

“I would recommend anyone working in high-pressure jobs to learn from Susan.”
Stephen Kinsella, Professor of Economics and Head of Department of Economics at University of Limerick
 

The Practice

The meditation taught within Susan’s leadership programmes is a Being Meditation technique, drawn from a contemplative tradition thousands of years old and refined for modern life.

It is a simple, seated practice with back support (sitting comfortably is key), practiced for twenty minutes, twice a day. It is a simple, profoundly powerful, easy and effortless practice. There has never been a person could Susan could not teach. See testimonials from senior leaders below to get a sense of how it helps.

Rather than asking leaders to manage stress cognitively, the practice allows the nervous system to release accumulated stress, fatigue, and anxiety naturally. Over time, this creates more spaciousness in awareness and cultivates a deeper internal steadiness, from which clearer sharper thinking, wiser decision making, and greater ease naturally emerge.

Many participants notice benefits immediately, with deeper and more sustained changes unfolding over time.

For those seeking a more traditional, lineage based approach, Susan also offers standalone Vedic Meditation teaching outside of her leadership and organisational programmes.
 

Benefits

Leaders who practice meditation regularly often report:

• A greater sense of happiness and wellbeing, not dependent on external circumstances
• Improved ability to make clear, accurate decisions under pressure
• Greater presence
• Calmer in high stress situations
• Improved sleep quality and relief from insomnia
• Increased energy levels, creativity, adaptability, and self-confidence
• Reduced stress, anxiety, and fatigue
• Improved concentration, focus, and memory
• Deeper states of awareness
• Reduced reactivity and greater emotional stability

These outcomes are supported by a growing body of research referenced by organisations such as Harvard Medical School, the NHS, the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, and the American Psychological Association.

Programme Structure

Each programme or engagement is bespoke, carefully held, and tailored to the specific context and lived realities of the individuals or team involved, whether delivered as a leadership programme, workshop, talk, or retreat experience. Susan can tailor an offering that best suits you or your team.

A typical leadership team programme may include:

1. Private one to one introductions

Susan meets participants individually in confidential conversations to understand personal pressures, leadership context, and what each person is navigating. This ensures the programme is grounded, relevant, and held with care.

2. Small group or individual training sessions

The meditation practice is taught over three, two hour sessions (ideally over three consecutive days taught at the same time each day), in a clear, supportive way, in an environment that allows participants to learn with ease. This can be on site or in an external location.

3. Integration and ongoing support

Follow up session one month after the training supports consistency, address questions or challenges, and help embed the practice into daily life.

4. Ongoing community and weekly live interaction

All participants are invited to Susan’s free weekly live online meditation gathering which takes place every Sunday morning, offering continuity, ongoing connection, community, and a steady anchor for long term practice. All part of the offering.

5. Direct access for guidance

Susan provides ongoing support via email or voice notes, ensuring participants feel supported as the practice integrates over time.
 

Additional Offerings

In addition to executive meditation programmes, Susan offers talks, workshops, and retreat experiences for leadership teams and organisations. These range from keynote style talks and experiential workshops to half day, full day, or retreat based formats.

Each engagement is designed to support clarity, resilience, and presence in high pressure environments, and is tailored with care, depth, and integrity to the specific audience and setting.

Confidentiality and Integrity

Confidentiality and integrity are core principles of Susan’s work. All conversations and sessions are delivered in a warm, and respectful environment. Individual conversations and follow-up support are treated in high confidence, creating a space where senior leaders can engage honestly and without performance expectations. The intention is to best serve each individual with dignity, respect and care.

About Susan Quirke

Susan Quirke is an Irish meditation teacher, wellbeing facilitator, and multi-award-winning social entrepreneur in the field of mental health. She works internationally with CEOs, senior leaders, elite athletes, senior teams, companies and organisations to cultivate greater calm, clarity, creativity, wisdom, presence, power, and sustainable high performance through meditation.

She has delivered programmes, talks, and meditation experiences for organisations including the Ireland international men’s rugby team, ESB, Cisco, Fáilte Ireland, University of Limerick, Concern, the Law Society of Ireland, and many others.

Her work has been featured in The Irish Times, Sunday Independent, RTÉ, BBC, and international media. She is widely recognised for her ability to teach meditation in a way that is practical, grounded, warm, fun, and deeply engaging, particularly with high performing and time pressured audiences.

Susan is a certified meditation teacher, having trained extensively with the 1 Giant Mind Academy in New York, in the Himalayas in India, and Australia, and has spent over a decade and thousands of hours deepening her personal practice and study. She brings a blend of professionalism, depth, and genuine warmth, making meditation accessible to people who may be sceptical, under pressure, or entirely new to the practice.

Enquiries

Susan offers executive and leadership meditation programmes for individuals and teams, talks, workshops, and tailored corporate retreat experiences in Ireland and internationally, both in person and online.

For further information or to discuss a bespoke programme, please contact Susan here.

Testimonials

“Susan Quirke came into Irish camp to do a session with us before the World Cup. It had a profound impact on me. I then had one to one sessions with her which allowed me to reframe my approach to handling pressure. Susan also helped me over Zoom when Warren Gatland named me as the Lions Captain in 2021. Together, we turned this huge honour into something I could carry lightly.” 
- Conor Murray, Irish international rugby player and World Player of the Year, writing in The Irish Times

“The power of a mass meditation is unmatched. At Wanderlust, we’ve made it a core part of every major event, and time and time again, we hear that this experience was as powerful, if not more so, than the headline acts. Susan has led many of these deeply moving sessions for us. She doesn’t just lead mass meditations, she transforms rooms. The stillness she creates is electric. Susan is a force for good.”
- Radek Sali, Former CEO of Swisse, Executive Chairman of Wanderlust, Author of ‘How to Build a Billion Dollar Business’

'In these chaotic and turbulent times, to meditate is to truly and deeply come home to yourself. To learn meditation is a great wonder and to be taught and guided by Susan is a great and precious gift. Like playing music, it's a skill, once attained that is yours for life. No subscription required. Do yourself, and everyone you know, a favour and take a course with Susan. You will not regret it.'
- Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Composer and Musician

'Susan is the best meditation teacher I have ever worked with. Her knowledge of the practice and her skillfulness in how to teach it make you feel like you are in safe hands. But, it is her personality and warmth that is her magic. She has such a special way of teaching that it is easy and joy to learn from her. I have never been able to stick with meditation until now.  I cannot urge you strongly enough to learn to meditate or deepen your practice with Susan. In my opinion, she is one of the most important teachers in the world.' 
- Tony Griffin, All star hurler, Performance coach and Writer

“When Susan leads a mass meditation at large scale events, something extraordinary happens. The energy in the space shifts, minds quiet, and a deep sense of connection emerges. She guides people to experience the stillness beneath the surface, and in doing so, awakens something deeply human and profound.” 
- Jonni Pollard, Founder of 1 Giant Mind

‘Susan is a meditation master. She is the best teacher I’ve ever had. I’ve tried to learn meditation with many other teachers over the years but no one came close to Susan. Extraordinary presence, wisdom and insight. This course changed my life.’
– Melanie Lynch, CEO of Our Story

“I first met Susan at a group meditation she did for the Irish rugby team. I have since had many one-to-one sessions with her, and completed her Learn to Meditate online course. I am delighted to say she has been a massive reason in the improved quality of both my professional performance, but more importantly in my life. She’s been incredibly influential on me, as a player and a person.” 
- Andrew Conway, Founder of 5XFlow and previously Irish international rugby player

“Susan is a master at guiding large-scale audiences into a state of presence. Her ability to hold space is exceptional.” 
- Avril Stanley, Founder and Director of Body&Soul