UNPLUG WITH US – Details, episodes & analysis

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

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 ‘chameleon,’ as she describes it—someone 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. 👀🇩🇪

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 perspectives—even when they’re 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 episode’s got a lot to unpack.

Stay Keen,

Doeke Geertsma, CEO & Co-founder at WeAreKeen

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

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 that’s not all—James 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 today’s 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: ⁠⁠https://www.wearekeen.com/⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠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 mother’s 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 she’s 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, it’s your turn to press play and unplug. 🎧

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

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 recruiter—all 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. 

Now, it’s your turn to press play and unplug. 🎧

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

Welcome to Unplug with Us! 🎧

In this first episode, we sit down with the inspiration himself, Hung Lee—a 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 family’s 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

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