NeurOlympics

Feel free to book a demo call for the NeurOlympics today: link hereIn this episode, we sit down with Maureen van Buiten from Equals, an organization dedicated to empowering women and creating equal opportunities in tech. Through their Role Model Campaign, Equals challenges gender stereotypes by showcasing inspiring women in leadership, entrepreneurship, and technology, proving that you can’t be what you can’t see. Seeing diverse leaders actively reshapes our neural associations and mental frameworks, making visibility a powerful catalyst for cognitive shift and aspiration.We explore why women remain underrepresented in tech, how unconscious gender bias shapes career opportunities from an early age, and why representation matters. We also dive into how Equals uses cognitive insights to challenge traditional hiring practices, helping companies look beyond gender and recognize talent based on actual abilities and potential.0:00 Introduction01:48 Why Do Women Still Need Support in Tech?06:07 Why Female Role Models Matter More Than You Think11:24 The Biggest Challenges Women Face in Society Today14:33 The Hidden Gender Inequality Women Face at Work19:58 What Drives the Mission Behind Equals?21:08 Are Male and Female Brains Really Different?27:08 Why Gender Diversity Matters in the Tech Industry28:33 How Cognitive Assessments Help Reduce Hiring Bias29:54 How One Woman Successfully Switched Careers Into Tech32:55 The Woman Who Inspired Her Career and MissionLearn more about BrainsFirst: https://www.brainsfirst.comFollow us on social media: • LinkedIn: link here • Instagram: link here • TikTok: link here • Podcast Website: link hereFollow our guest:Maureen van Buiten: link here

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In this episode, we sit down with Leah Shine and Carline Mohr from STX, one of our clients, who recently hired 5 new trainees, four of whom are women. It's a powerful reminder that the status quo of the industry, where fewer than 20% of traders are female, doesn't reflect a lack of ability, but rather a missed opportunity to recognize and support the cognitive strengths and potential women bring to trading.
We explore how to attract and empower more women in the workplace, why more women are stepping into new opportunities, and how we can create more inclusive and supportive recruitment processes. We also dive into confidence, employer branding, and practical advice for young professionals entering the workforce. 

0:00 Introduction

01:50 Who Are Leah and Carline and What Does STX Do

04:09 Female Role Models That Shape Career Growth

05:28 How STX Is Attracting More Women Into Trading

08:31 The Biggest Challenges Women Face When Applying

13:15 What a Truly Inclusive Workplace Looks Like

16:38 The Double Bind Problem in Female Leadership

18:11 How Events andEmployer Branding Attract Women Talent

28:33 Why Women Actually Performed Better in Hiring

33:47 Practical Career Tips for Women Entering the Workforce

45:19 What Successful Women Would Tell Their Younger Self

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Today’s guest is Prof. Dr. Gerben Van Kleef, Professor at the University of Amsterdam and a leading emotion researcher. He explains why emotions are not “soft stuff,” but powerful social signals that shape decisions, relationships, and workplace culture.
We explore his Emotions as Social Information (EASI) theory, why forcing a “happy workplace” can backfire, and how emotional intelligence helps teams read the room, handle tension, and solve problems instead of smiling through them.
00:00 Introduction

01:33 What Is the Role of Emotions in the Western Workplace

02:19 Why Is Work Culture Shifting Toward Emotions

03:57 EASI Theory How Emotions Become Social Data

05:25 Can You Trust Your Emotions at Work

12:25 Are Anger Fear and Sadness Really Negative

18:37 How Emotions Change Cognition and Decision Making

27:55 Why Are We Drawn to Narcissistic Leaders

33:59 Winter Blues How Do You Stay Mentally Strong at Work
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Sit down with Younes Skalli, a Digital Empowerment Advisor, educator, and storyteller, to explore one essential question: what does it really take to feel appreciated at work?

He breaks down why appreciation matters more than ever, and how being unseen affects motivation and wellbeing. Younes also reveals practical ways leaders can make people feel truly recognized at work. 

0:00 Introduction

02:04 What Is Appreciation to You?

08:06 What Happens When You Don’t Feel Valued?

16:54 Why Feeling Seen Is a Basic Human Need

21:38 Can There Be Too Much Appreciation?

26:16 Effort vs Results What Should Leaders Appreciate?

32:12 The Most Powerful Appreciation Isn’t Words

34:03 How Storytelling Makes People Feel Seen

40:10 Digital Empowerment Helping People Feel Valued Online

50:29 Small Acts of Appreciation That Change Everything

59:48 This One Act of Kindness

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In this episode, we sit down with Reinier Meijer, Trainer at Hera Inzetbaarheid, who brings 30 years of coaching experience to improving workplace happiness in the Netherlands.

He explains why stress and absenteeism are rising, and how sustainable employment helps prevent burnout instead of reacting to it. We also dive into belonging, behavior, and how managers can better support their teams, plus how cognition and natural talent shape real job satisfaction.

0:00 Introduction

01:33 Why Sustainable Employment Matters in the 21st Century

03:14 Why Reinier Personally Cares About Sustainable Employment

05:47 Hera’s Mission and Why Workplace Stress Is Exploding

10:04 What is the Meaning of a Job Today?

13:03 How Can We Make the Netherlands Happy?

15:02 Why Behavior Is the Key to Reducing Absenteeism

18:48 The Real Struggles of Managers and Employees

20:09 Why Relationships Matter More Than Skills

21:31 What Truly Creates Work Life Balance

23:57 Inside the Coaching Room — Themes Reinier Sees Most

26:11 How Cognition Helps People Find the Right Role

32:50 Why Returning to Work After Absenteeism Is So Hard

38:01 The Manager Support Gap — Why 1 in 4 Feel Unsupported

43:36 Tools and Daily Habits That Boost Job Satisfaction

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Why are mental health struggles increasing, even in an age more connected than ever?

In this episode, psychologist and recruiter Komay Nguyen reflects on her experience with AllEars, a student-run listening initiative at the University of Amsterdam. She opens up about loneliness, digital overload, and the growing “listening gap” in today’s world.

From the science of attention and sleep to lessons learned from her time in South Africa, Komay reveals what truly helps people heal — connection, community, and compassion.

0:00 Introduction

02:02 Why Mental Health Issues Keep Rising in the 21st Century

09:01 Why I Chose to Become a Psychologist

10:33 Why I Joined All Ears and Chose to Truly Listen

14:49 What University of Amsterdam Students Needed All Ears to Hear

19:00 Are We Getting Lonelier or Just More Aware of Being Lonely?

24:12 How to Care for Your Mental Health Every Day

29:14 What South Africa Taught About Community and Healing

33:38 What the Netherlands Can Learn from South Africa About Mental Health

37: 56 What Everyone Should Understand About Mental Health Today

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In this special episode, Employer Branding Expert Anne Eikenboom shares how the Municipality of Amsterdam is rethinking recruitment, focusing on diversity, potential, and every kind of brain instead of CVs.

From traineeships to employer branding, discover how these changes are shaping a fairer, more inclusive job market and building a stronger city for the future.

0:00 Introduction

01:13 Who Is Anne Eikenboom from Gemeente Amsterdam?

2:44 Biggest Challenges in Employer Branding at Gemeente Amsterdam

5:54 Why in 2024 Gemeente Amsterdam Uses Cognitive Data in Hiring

9:48 How Young Talents View Working for a Municipality Today

13:40 We Don’t Read Your CV, We Read Your Brain

16:19 How a Chef Landed an IT Role Without a Resume

19:45 Why Push Further for this Kind of Hiring Approach?

21:16 Why Municipalities Must Rethink Employer Branding

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How full are your cognitive batteries halfway through the year?

In this summer-special episode of the NeurOlympics podcast, Gen X neuroscientist & co-founder Drs. Andries van der Leij and Gen Z data scientist Karen Heredia share how differently they plan (or don’t plan) their holidays, and how their brains handle rest.

Whether you’re a meticulous planner or a spontaneous traveler, this episode will help you come back from vacation sharper, more energized, and ready to tackle the rest of the year.

0:00 Are You Already on Vacation Mode?

07:45 What’s Your Mental Battery Level from 1 to 100?

13:17: What Would It Take to Recharge to 100 Percent?

21:59 Do Gen Z Recharge Differently Than Gen X

44:40 Top 3 Vacation Killers for the Brain

51:28 How to Get Back to Work After a Vacation

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Only 1 in 5 data scientists is a woman. In this NeurOlympics episode, Inés Cueli Fernández and Karen Saya Heredia share their journey breaking into the male-dominated world of data science.

Fresh out of their master’s programs, they share the challenges of entering today’s job market—from unrealistic entry-level expectations to the barriers women face in tech. They talk about dreaming of roles in Formula 1 and the European Union, and how brain data can prove talent beyond bias—opening doors to careers women are often excluded from.

00:00 1 in 5 Data Scientists Is a Woman

03:48 Being a Woman in Data Science

06:48 Why Data Science? What Drives Your Vision?

15:03 Your First Dream Job as a Data Scientist

26:02 Fair Chances & Hurdles

35:14 What Field Needs Data Science the Most

41:14 How Important Is Data in Business Today

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It’s June—time for a mid-year reset. In this episode of the NeurOlympics podcast, we explore how your brain handles transitions, uncertainty, and growth.

🎓 Meet Lars and Maciej, two friends stepping from University into working life. With the help of neuroscience and real-life scenarios, we unpack how to manage fear of the future, bounce back from setbacks, and unlock creativity.

Tune in for a practical, brain-based guide to building momentum for the second half of the year.

00:00 What This Episode Is All About

01:36 Fear of the Future

08:40 Dealing with Setbacks

10:43 Creativity & Lightbulb Moments

16:47 Learning Something New

20:41 Finding Your Rhythm & Rebalancing

27:37 Mid-Year Wins Check

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