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 m...

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...

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...

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 ha...

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 g...

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. Du...

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 movin...

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 hi...

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...

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...

In this inspiring episode (#8), we sit down with Enni Pidan , Director of Talent Acquisition at McCain, and as she describes herself, “a citizen of the world.” From Nigeria to Norway and ultimately to the Netherlands, we explore how her cross-cultural experiences have shaped her identity, challenged her perceptions, and helped her evolve both personally and professionally. During the conversation,...

In this second episode, we sit down with Kobi Ampoma —industry leader with 23 years of experience, currently the Head of TA NL at Heineken and a strong advocate for D&I.  During our conversation, we explore Kobi’s early years in Ghana, fleeing political turmoil, to building a successful career in talent acquisition. He shares his personal story of resilience—navigating two cultures and balanci...

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 ‘citizen of the world’. 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...

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 conse...

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 overco...

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...

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...

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 complexiti...