What drives a recruitment manager to run ultra-marathons - and how does endurance translate into leadership and life?
In episode 12 of Unplug With Us, we sit with Adriaan van der Heijden, Manager Recruiting BeNeLux at McKinsey & Company and proud OG member of the Recruitment Slackers Community. In this candid conversation, he opens up about his journey from a small village in Zeeland to moving to Amsterdam and working for one of the worldâs most recognized consulting firms.
Adriaan shares how early experiences - losing his father at a young age, growing up in a tight-knit religious community, and later finding his way through hospitality and psychology - shaped his values around connection, curiosity, and community. We talk about resilience, ambition, and how saying âyesâ to new opportunities can change your career trajectory.
From his passion for cooking to running 70-kilometer ultra-races, Adriaan reveals the habits that help him unplug, stay grounded, and lead with empathy. Tune in for an authentic story about growth, grit, and finding purpose - both at work and beyond.Â
Stay Keen,
Doeke Geertsma, CEO at WeAreKeen
Website: â â â â https://www.wearekeen.com/â â â â
LinkedIn: â â â â https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeenâ
In this episode of Unplug With Us, we chat with Marisa Uranga Bradwell, Director People Change & Analytics at Deliveroo, about her journey as a âthird culture kidâ - Mexican by heritage, raised in the US, and now thriving in Europe. She shares how this multicultural background shaped her sense of identity, belonging, and ultimately her career in recruitment.Â
When it comes to culture, she highlighted the joy of bringing people together with food-filled community gatherings. Because what is life without your people around the table sharing, laughing and having fun?
On an ending note, Marisa reflects on parenting her daughter with a focus on independence and self-advocacy, offering a fresh perspective on passing values across generations. As she says: "You can advocate for yourself. You can ask for what you want. You can ruffle feathers, and it's okay."
This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about identity, belonging, and finding fulfilment in a constantly evolving world. Tune in!
Stay Keen,
Doeke Geertsma, CEO at WeAreKeen
Website: â â â â https://www.wearekeen.com/â â â â
LinkedIn: â â â â https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeenâ
Wow, we made it to episode 10! In this lovely conversation, we sit down with Allan Nunes Messias, Head of Recruitment EMEA & APAC at Adyen, to explore his personal, untold storiesâfrom his early days as a recruiter to stepping into leadership, all while navigating identity, growth, and purpose.
Allan shares what it was like moving from Brazil to Europe at a very young age, navigating cultural differences and beginning the process of discovering who he wanted to become both professionally and as a person. Central to that journey is his commitment to authenticity. He talks about the self-awareness that comes with living by your values, even when it means making unpopular decisions or going against the grainâbecause, as a friend once told him, âa value is only truly a value if youâre willing to sacrifice something for it.â
We also dive into Allanâs thoughtful approach to mentorship and learningâdrawing inspiration from a diverse range of leaders and staying energized by insights from outside the traditional talent space, such as creative campaigns, conversations on psychological safety, and curated social media content. A powerful story not to miss. Tune in now!
Stay Keen,
Doeke Geertsma, CEO at WeAreKeen
Website: â â â â https://www.wearekeen.com/â â â â
LinkedIn: â â â â https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeenâ
Episode #9 is starring Shlomit Gruman Navot, a seasoned HR leader whoâs spent over 20 years helping companies across continents scale with intention - most recently as Chief People Officer at Miro.
In this reflective conversation, Shlomit opens up about growing up in a small, community-driven town in Israel, and how that early exposure to different cultures taught her the value of connection and adaptability. After graduation, she took a bold move to Portsmouth, UK for her first real job at IBM, navigating new adventures while learning the ropes of global business.Â
From career crossroads to organizational transformation, we unpack how reframing failure as learning and granting ourselves the "permission to be human" can unlock growth. Youâll hear firsthand how curiosity, resilience, and emotional agility are not just buzzwords - theyâre essential capabilities for thriving in todayâs world.
To wrap it up, she leaves us with an intriguing question: What space will humans occupy in the new automated workplace we're currently moving towards? Food for thought. đ
Stay Keen,
Doeke Geertsma, CEO at WeAreKeen
Website: â â â â https://www.wearekeen.com/â â â â
LinkedIn: â â â â https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeenâ
In this second episode, we sit down with Kobi Ampomaâindustry leader with 23 years of experience, currently the Head of TA NL at Heineken and a strong advocate for D&I.Â
During our conversation, we explore Kobiâs early years in Ghana, fleeing political turmoil, to building a successful career in talent acquisition. He shares his personal story of resilienceânavigating two cultures and balancing his roots with Dutch openness.
Alongside reflections on family values and explanations of Ghanaian traditions, Kobi opens up about his passion for mentoring and helping others, giving insight into his journey at Nike, his drive for diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and his mission to guide the next generation. With useful advice on career growth, financial literacy, and the power of storytelling, this conversation is packed with wisdom, heart, hard truths and practical takeaways.Â
If he could retire tomorrow, he would⊠Put on your earphones and find out!Â
Stay Keen,
Doeke Geertsma
CEO at WeAreKeen
Website: â https://www.wearekeen.com/â
LinkedIn: â https://www.linkedin.com/in/doeke/â / â https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen
In this 7th episode of Unplug With Us, we sit down with Tammy Arnaud, Chief People Officer at Forto, to explore her untold, personal stories as âcitizen of the worldâ. Tammy takes us back to her roots - growing up in an XL Brazilian household, where family, tradition, and storytelling shaped her love for literature, resilience, and global exploration. We dive into the question of belonging - how do we stay connected to our culture while embracing change? And how do we carry a sense of home with us, no matter where life takes us?
After years of studying abroad and building an international career, Tammy found herself back in her home country- only to realise that, despite speaking the language, the culture felt entirely foreign. This made her reflect on the thrill of new beginnings versus the emotional toll of constantly starting over. Does moving get easier, or just old? Tammy talks about the sacrifices, the lessons learned, and why, for the first time, she feels ready to settle in Amsterdam. She finally shares how these experiences have shaped her leadership style, and the invaluable mentorship insights that have guided her along the way.
Tune in to hear all about exploring horizons, cultural differences and valuable life and mentor advice, that will have you reflecting.
Stay Keen,
Doeke Geertsma, CEO at WeAreKeen
Website: â â â https://www.wearekeen.com/â â â
LinkedIn: â â â https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen
Another month, another episode of Unplug With Us. In this 6th episode, we welcomed Sonita Uijt de Haag, SVP People & Talent at Eye Security, currently based in Berlin, with a handful of untold stories to share.
During our conversation, Sonita opened up about her childhood and unconventional upbringing, having been raised between an agricultural hippie community in Ohio, USA, and a very conservative society in the Deep South. The exposure to such contrasting cultural environments, along with her early passion for cultures and languages, helped her become a âchameleon,â as she describes itâsomeone who is adaptable and thrives in different environments. At the age of only 16, she made probably two of the most important decisions of her life, one of which was crossing the ocean to spend an exchange semester in the small city of Oldenburg, Germany. If you listen, you will know exactly why. đđ©đȘ
In addition, Sonita shares how her upbringing made it easier to have tough conversations and challenge authority. As a people leader, she discusses the importance of giving younger generations a voice, encouraging them to speak up and share their perspectivesâeven when theyâre just starting out. Also, have you heard of the concept of having a Yoda on your team? You should definitely tune in to learn more.
Finally, we dive into her passion for learning, from podcasts to data analytics bootcamps, and how she goes all-in when it comes to developing new skills. If you're into growth, leadership, and keeping it real, this episodeâs got a lot to unpack.
Stay Keen,
Doeke Geertsma, CEO & Co-founder at WeAreKeen
Website: â â â https://www.wearekeen.com/â â â
LinkedIn: â â â â â â â https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen
First episode of 2025! Let's GO!
This time around, we invited James Lesner, Director Talent Management at Catawiki, with over 15 years of experience in the TA field.
In this episode, he takes us on a journey from his upbringing in the UK to his arrival in the Netherlands, tackling everything from the pressures of becoming a father to navigating career shifts, societal expectations, and overcoming people-pleasing habits. He opens up about the highs and lows of setting boundaries, balancing family life with career growth, and the lessons he's learned along the way.
He also shares how his career at Catawiki took him into leadership, where he embraced feedback, learned from mistakes, and grew as a manager. But thatâs not allâJames opens up about his love for football, his quirky childhood memories in Northwest London, and how he unexpectedly transitioned from graphic design to recruitment. Plus, we dive into his Jewish heritage and the complexities of identity in todayâs world.
Stick around for an open-hearted conversation and a whole lot of real talk about life, work, and everything in between!
Stay Keen,
Doeke Geertsma, CEO & Co-founder at WeAreKeen
Website: â â https://www.wearekeen.com/â â
LinkedIn: â â â â https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen
In this final episode of the year, we chat with Manjuri Sinha, an industry trailblazer with over 20 years of experience, having held HR leadership roles at Zalando, Accenture, OLX, and set to join Miro next year.
Born and raised in New Delhi, Manjuri reflects on her childhood, shaped by her motherâs influence, teaching her empathy and respect for everyone. These values have guided her leadership style today, focusing on connecting with people on a human level. After collecting core memories in her hometown, she moved to Europe with her husband, living in Sweden, the Czech Republic, and finally Berlin, where she recently celebrated the proud moment of obtaining the German citizenship.
Although her multicultural upbringing made the transition easier, she still faced challenges navigating life in a new country and continent. For instance, she highlights the biases sheâs encountered as a woman of color in the workplace, and the importance of addressing these issues head-on.
Looking ahead, she envisions a peaceful life in Spain, where she can focus on projects like helping women with financial health. Her story is a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy, cultural openness, and striving for balance in both personal and professional life.
Now, itâs your turn to press play and unplug. đ§
Stay Keen,
Doeke Geertsma
CEO at WeAreKeen
Website: â â https://www.wearekeen.com/â â
LinkedIn: â â https://www.linkedin.com/in/doeke/â â / â â https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen
In this third episode, we welcome Susan Wilson, an HR leader with over 20 years of experience in fintech and banking, who currently serves as the CHRO at the NATO Innovation Fund. An accomplished international leader, Susan has lived in several continents due to her parents' work with the Royal Air Force and her own dynamic career path.
The conversation explores how scuba diving became her way to disconnect from work, fostering deep friendships and sparking a passion for underwater photography. The complexities of not having one single place to call home also come to light, influenced by a childhood spent moving frequently and career opportunities that took her across the globe. Boarding school from ages 10 to 18 played a pivotal role in shaping her independence, adventurous spirit, and open-minded outlook on life.
Later, the discussion shifts to her time in Dubai, navigating cultural challenges as a woman in the banking industry while adapting to a completely different society. Her journey to her current role unfolds, where she embraces the unique responsibility of being the CHRO, HR admin and recruiterâall rolled into one. With refreshing honesty, Susan acknowledges that talking about herself is outside her comfort zone but is grateful for the chance to share these untold stories with us.Â
Now, itâs your turn to press play and unplug. đ§
Stay Keen,
Doeke Geertsma
CEO at WeAreKeen
Website: â â https://www.wearekeen.com/â â
LinkedIn: â â https://www.linkedin.com/in/doeke/â â / â â https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen
Welcome to Unplug with Us! đ§
In this first episode, we sit down with the inspiration himself, Hung Leeâa recruitment legend with over 15 years of experience and the creator of Recruiting Brainfood, the leading newsletter for our community.
During our conversation, Hung recounts his familyâs inspiring immigration journey from Hong Kong to the Netherlands in the 1960s, delving into the complexities of balancing multiple cultures and overcoming challenges related to authority and belonging.
After a life-changing accident and a near-failed business venture, Hung shares how he turned his fortunes around with a game-changing strategy. From studying anthropology to becoming a recruiter, he highlights the importance of resilience, adaptability, and leveraging past successes to fuel future growth.
Tune in to gain insights, inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of Hung Lee. Whether you're in recruitment or simply curious about the untold stories of industry leaders, this episode is for you.
Stay Keen,
Doeke Geertsma
CEO at WeAreKeen
Website: https://www.wearekeen.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doeke/ / https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen
