UNPLUG WITH US

In this episode of Unplug With Us, we are joined by Florentine Vulink - de Beer, EMA Head of Resourcing at KPMG — who also happens to teach high-intensity group classes on Saturdays (yes, voluntarily).

Florentine grew up in Tilburg in a sports-loving family, where doing your best mattered more than being the best. She reflects on the carefree May holidays that still hold a special place in her memory, the year she moved to London during her hospitality internship and learned how to stand on her own feet, and the surprisingly simple routine she swears by for starting the week right.

Her openness to new experiences also shaped the direction of her career. After years of leading recruitment for KPMG in the Netherlands, Florentine recently stepped into a fully international EMA role within the same company. In our conversation, we explore the challenge of balancing both roles at once, what it really takes to build relationships with a team you mostly meet online, and how difficult it can be to truly switch off when work starts following you into evenings, weekends, and family time.

Press play for an honest conversation about ambition, growth, and trusting the doors that open when others close.

Stay Keen,
Doeke Geertsma, CEO at WeAreKeen
Website: https://www.wearekeen.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen

In this episode of Unplug With Us, we are joined by Carlien van Woensel, Head of TA at Swapfiets - the company behind the iconic blue tire you’ve probably spotted on every other street corner.

Growing up in a small town of 2,000 people, in a family where hard work, community, and keeping your hands busy were a way of life, Carlien developed values that really shaped her current view of life. She reflects on the sports, friendships, and early lessons that taught her how to lead and trust a team, while also sharing her love for nature and hiking, from a life-changing trek through the mountains of Southern Peru to the everyday walks that help her unplug and reset.

That same perspective carries into her five-year journey at Swapfiets, where she has been scaling TA and People & Culture across nine countries. In our conversation, we explore what it takes to lead with a people-first mindset in a highly operational business, why being in the same room still matters, and how AI is reshaping talent acquisition without losing the human side of it.

Press play for an honest conversation about leadership, culture, and the stories behind growth.

Stay Keen,

Doeke Geertsma, CEO at WeAreKeen

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wearekeen.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen⁠

In this episode of Unplug With Us, we sit down with Nina Schein, Global Talent Acquisition Manager at Booking.com, for a conversation that moves between personal roots and professional reality.

Nina grew up in New Jersey in a warm, progressive, theatre-influenced family. That environment shaped her curiosity about people and inclusivity, which later led her to study psychology and sociology, and still influences how she shows up as a leader today.

We talk about her relationship with work and rest: from learning how to “do nothing” without guilt, to small everyday ways of unplugging during busy workdays. Nina also reflects on her path through agency life, freelancing across different industries, and eventually stepping into long-term leadership at Booking.com.

In the second half, we zoom in on what it really takes to lead in fast-moving tech environments - the balance between planning and instinct, making decisions at scale, and navigating the realities of hybrid work and constant change.

Press play for real stories on leadership, people, and navigating change in today’s tech world.

Stay Keen,
Doeke Geertsma, CEO at WeAreKeen
Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wearekeen.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen⁠

In the first episode of Season 2, we sit down with Lucinda Pouw, VP People at Insify, for an open and energising conversation about growth, overcoming struggles, and leading with both instinct and intention.

Lucinda shares how early life experiences shaped her strong work ethic and mindset, and how creating stability for yourself can open the door to rediscovering the freedom and fun you might have missed along the way.

We explore what it really means to trust your gut in recruitment and leadership, and how experience helps you balance instinct with data. From starting her career in research to building opportunities abroad, Lucinda reflects on how she used her recruitment skills to create a role for herself in East Africa, a move that expanded both her professional and personal horizons.

We also dive into the energy of startup environments, the importance of embracing imperfection, and why acknowledging emotions at work can make teams stronger and more connected, especially, when there is “no HR for HR”.

Tune in for a conversation about curiosity, courage, and building meaningful careers, wherever they may take you.

Stay Keen,

Doeke Geertsma, CEO at WeAreKeen

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wearekeen.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen⁠

In this episode, we sit down with Samar Morshedi, Head of Recruitment at bunq, for a deeply honest conversation about courage, uncertainty, and learning to trust yourself, especially when life doesn’t come with a clear roadmap.

Born and raised in Iran, Samar shares how growing up in an environment shaped by instability, responsibility, and constant change formed her default mindset: when things get hard, you figure it out. That belief followed her into adulthood, from building a career in engineering and sales, to eventually taking a leap and moving to the Netherlands on her own through a scholarship opportunity.

Arriving with two suitcases and no clear plan, Samar reflects on what it means to start over in a new country, leave behind community, and rebuild your life from scratch, all while navigating fear, doubt, and the pressure to “make it work.”

We talk about how that same mindset led her to start an HR tech startup during COVID, at a time when the world, and work itself, felt uncertain.

Tune in for a conversation about doing things while scared, trusting the process, and learning that confidence isn’t something you wait for, it’s something you build.

Stay Keen,

Doeke Geertsma, CEO at WeAreKeen

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wearekeen.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen⁠

In this episode of Unplug With Us, we sit down with Fritz Singer - a Canadian-born talent leader whose journey is shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a healthy dose of “let’s just see where this goes.” From growing up in the desert heat of Arizona to building a career across New York, San Francisco, and now Amsterdam, Fritz opens up about the moments that shaped him far beyond the job titles.

During the conversation, he shares how growing up in a competitive American culture, where work was always the default, made unplugging challenging for him. Luckily, life in Amsterdam slowed things down, making more space for quality time with family and beautiful runs in the city.

Having this open-to-change mindset also shaped the way his career unfolded earlier. What started as a temporary sales job led him into recruiting, and, eventually, into one of the biggest leaps of his career: joining Uber long before it became a global app we all use. Just within 5 years, he witnessed the company grow from 400 people to more than 24,000 worldwide.

Want to learn more about finding (and losing) community, understanding your inner drivers, and the power of saying "yes" to detours? Tune in and unplug with us for the final episode of the year!

Stay Keen,

Doeke Geertsma, CEO at WeAreKeen

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wearekeen.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen⁠

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 world’s 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 “yes” 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. 

Stay Keen,

Doeke Geertsma, CEO at WeAreKeen

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wearekeen.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen⁠

In this episode of Unplug With Us, we chat with Marisa Uranga Bradwell, Director People Change & Analytics at Deliveroo, about her journey as a “third culture kid” - 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. 

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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wearekeen.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen⁠

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 stories—from 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 grain—because, as a friend once told him, “a value is only truly a value if you’re willing to sacrifice something for it.”

We also dive into Allan’s thoughtful approach to mentorship and learning—drawing 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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wearekeen.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen⁠

Episode #9 is starring Shlomit Gruman Navot, a seasoned HR leader who’s 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. 

From career crossroads to organizational transformation, we unpack how reframing failure as learning and granting ourselves the "permission to be human" can unlock growth. You’ll hear firsthand how curiosity, resilience, and emotional agility are not just buzzwords - they’re essential capabilities for thriving in today’s 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. 💭

Stay Keen,

Doeke Geertsma, CEO at WeAreKeen

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wearekeen.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearekeen⁠