SHANE KOMAL
Transformational
Guide, Mentor &
Coach
SHANE KOMAL
Transformational
Guide, Mentor &
Coach
WHAT I OFFER TO you
Greetings – Thank you for stopping by, and for your enquiry into what the Nature Nexus Foundation is all about.
I’m Shane – a guide and advisor, a transformational mentor and coach. I curate experiences to help connect individuals to the transformative and healing powers of nature, in supporting individuals raise their individual consciousness, and this is done through a variety of natured immersed programs. I also support organizations across levels adopt conscious, regenerative leadership principles and practices, inspiring personal and professional transformational leadership development.
With 30 years of multi-sector corporate experience, I hold in high regard, my time and service as a trusted business advisor, providing value-aligned advisory, consulting and assurance services to organizations here in SA, and for a period of time back whilst living in Alberta, Canada. With many of these years being with the Risk Advisory service lines of two of the Big 4 Audit & Advisory firms, my areas of engagement were centred amongst many disciplines that included Strategy, Governance, Ethics & Values, Enterprise Risk, Internal Controls, Compliance, Operations, Continuity & Resilience & Culture. I thoroughly enjoy supporting organizations develop transformative mindsets and align operational efforts to aspirations.
I enjoy engaging and connecting deeply on many fronts, whether individually in one-on-one sessions, or within an organisational setting, discussing and debating complex issues to support the regenerative growth required to transcend individual, collective and organisational beliefs, challenges, issues and transformational aspirations.
Creating a safe space in nature, applying various immersion techniques, ancient wisdoms and practices, metaphysics explorations and deep insightful dialogue, I ensure that each experience is unique and tailored to both the individual and the organisation’s outcomes. I help lead the way to a conscious, regenerative leadership mindset, which ignites and fosters both personal and organisational transformation.
how i got there
There’s always a story behind a vision, a desire and the overwhelming sense of identifying and carrying out one’s purpose. What is that, which gives rise to the sense of one’s purpose? I believe in part that it is tied to experiences in one’s journey, in particular, the transformative ones. It is in those moments of surrendering to something (whether a constitution, a belief, a tradition, practice, experience or the effects of deeply held trauma, that we begin our journey of healing and transformation. I was no stranger to my fair share of tribulations. Despite personal and professional achievements, profound challenges presented in my personal life, both during and post the trauma of the Covid era. With all foundations brought down, perfectly demonstrating to me, the impermanence of life and its sacred nature of existence, a change of course inwards led me on an inner journey of surrender, of acceptance, of forgiving, of healing and of renewed progression.
Turning Inward, the journey of healing.
I realized that the healing I sought could not be sourced externally — it had to come from within. My nature as a child has always been one of a seeker, always searching for purpose and meaning to just about everything in life. This led me to turn inward, supported by the healing, transformative power of nature. Escaping suburbia on every opportunity possible, engaging in meditation and contemplation, which then evolved to meditation-hiking, utilizing the power of nature’s self-awareness raising tools for my recovery and growth, I remained steadfast on this journey.
Finding solace in the outdoors has been a consistent practice, more so now and particularly through multiday hiking adventures. What started as weekend hikes gradually evolved into a powerful and therapeutic practice and tool. Nature became my refuge, a place where I could come head-to-head with, process, breakdown, surrender, progressively heal and grow. Throwing a tent up on a mountain in isolation, braving the intensities of the natural elements was life altering to me. These journeys gave me the space and time me to process events & experiences, emotions and beliefs, ultimately providing the means to let go of past wounds, through leveraging the healing energies of the natural world.
SOLO HIKING AS A PATH TO TRANSFORMATION
My relationship with nature deepened, so did my commitment to hiking, as a form of meditation and self-discovery. I found myself craving longer, more immersive experiences, and began embarking on multi-day solo backpacking adventures in the Drakensberg Mountains, exploring some of South Africa’s & Lesotho’s most rugged, breathtaking landscapes.
These solo backpacking trips became central to my healing journey. Spending days alone in the wild, with only the rhythm of my breath, hiking poles and footsteps, allowed me to connect more profoundly with nature. I experienced the quiet wisdom of the mountains, the nurturing energy of the forest, these had helped me heal emotional scars and rebuild my inner strength. The combination of hiking, nature immersions and the exploration of ancient wisdoms, traditional practices was the foundation for personal growth, self-reflection, and renewal. I learned to embrace solitude, find peace in discomfort, and tap into the resilience and grounding power that nature offered to me in being in Her presence.
As my connection to nature deepened, my connection to myself deepened, as did my understanding of the broader principles of conscious living. Theres a sense of profound realisation to the fact that nature provides lessons — patience, resilience, balance, and interconnectedness. These attributes apply not only to our personal lives but also to our professional circles as well.
A RENEWED SENSE OF PURPOSE
Through my personal journey, I had discovered a renewed sense of purpose: to share these life-changing experiences with others. This calling led to the creation of the Nature Nexus Foundation, a space dedicated to supporting individuals and organizations harness the transformative power of nature.
My passion lies in the desire to support transform lives through interaction with the Nature Nexus Foundation, through its impactful programs that reconnect people with the natural world and their own potential. Whether coaching executives, facilitating team workshops, or guiding individuals on healing journeys, I feel driven by this singular mission: to empower others to live consciously, lead authentically, and heal deeply.
I love exploring mountains and forests and continue this healing practice weekly. Nature remains both a sanctuary and an endless source of inspiration—a reminder of the limitless possibilities for growth and transformation within all of us. I would love to fulfil my purpose by helping you discover and utilise this power for your greatest benefit.
A COMMITMENT TO YOU
I hold nothing dearer to me, than the wellbeing and desire for every being engaging with Nature Nexus Foundation to derive meaningful outcomes from the programs and immersions, outcomes that will positively impact all dimension of their emotional intelligences to render deep lasting impacts. This includes ongoing mentoring and support where desired to deliver the intended outcomes and to deliver these investments as value generating and transformative. This is my pledge of commitment.
Areas of interest and expertise
- Professional / Personal / Spirituality coaching and mentoring,
- Corporate nature immersion retreats, supporting self-development, emotional intelligence, conscious leadership principles and regenerative leadership practices
- Sylvotherapy (Forest therapy / Shinrin Yoku / Nature meditations) healing sessions
- Guided day walks and hikes in the forest or summiting mountains (Individuals /Groups)
- Guided multi-day wilderness backpacking adventures (Individuals /Groups)
- Mountain Ascension Sundays – Some call it their Nature Church – held weekly every Sunday at Vergenoeg Farm
Certifications
- Certified Nature Therapy Guide
- Certified Sylvotherapy Practitioner
- Certified Professional Coach (ICF)