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Petra Velzeboer is an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, TEDx presenter, mental health expert, and CEO of PVL (Petra Velzeboer Ltd). Known for her authentic, no-nonsense approach, Petra inspires transformational leadership and sustainable wellbeing in a world dominated by technology, hybrid work, and uncertainty. Her story of resilience — from surviving a strict religious cult to overcoming depression, alcoholism, and suicidal thoughts — has fuelled her passionate mission to challenge outdated models of leadership and redefine mental health in high-performance environments. As a trailblazer in workplace wellness, Petra is the expert organisations turn to when seeking genuine cultural change, human connection, and elite performance.
Petra’s professional journey is marked by a unique ability to bridge lived experience with strategic expertise. Through founding PVL and co-founding My Whole Self, she has developed cutting-edge frameworks for corporate resilience, leadership development, and digital wellbeing. Petra advises global giants including PwC, Accenture, Channel 4, Novartis, and Investors in People, offering leadership solutions that move beyond surface-level wellness programmes. She consistently challenges organisations to rethink how they build psychological safety, tackle burnout, and lead in an AI-driven, hyper-connected era. Her dynamic, relatable style resonates with leaders navigating the complexities of modern business, global disruption, and the growing mental health crisis.
A prolific author and thought leader, Petra wrote the transformative books ‘Begin with You’ and ‘Digital Wellbeing: Recharge Your Focus and Reboot Your Life’, both praised for their actionable insights and practical strategies. Her thought leadership has been featured in Newsweek, Harvard Business Review, CEO World, and The Huffington Post. Through her work, Petra draws compelling parallels between cult dynamics and corporate cultures, urging leaders to break free from rigid, outdated systems and foster bravery, trust, and innovation. As a podcast host and regular media contributor, she continues to amplify essential conversations about human resilience, mental health innovation, and the future of work.
As a speaker, Petra is renowned for her warmth, humour, and willingness to confront hard truths. Her keynote topics, including Digital Wellbeing: Thriving in an Age of Distraction, Burnout to Brilliance: Empowering Teams to Thrive in a World of Change, and How Cults Are Like Corporates – And What to Do About It, challenge audiences to rethink success, leadership, and human connection. Whether addressing global conferences, executive teams, or leadership retreats, Petra leaves audiences energised, equipped with practical tools, and inspired to create real, lasting change in their organisations and beyond.
Petra Velzeboer is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:
“We’re now getting her back in to be part of our leadership development curriculum.”
“Down to earth, practical and filled with humour. Her story is life-altering and deeply relatable.”
“Petra is the rarest of keynotes; someone who knows the science but who also has lived experience on such an important topic. She is brave in her approach and this is perhaps the key lesson in opening up and addressing mental health work. […] we need advocates such as Petra to open up the conversation in such a powerful, practical and ultimately uplifting way.”
“Petra makes people sit up and take action.”
“Petra was the most impactful speaker at our conference, helping audiences reclaim control in a distracted world.”
“Petra Velzeboer is one of the leading voices in this space, and rightly so.”
“We invited Petra to speak at a conference with 50+ construction staff & everyone was blown away by the insight that Petra offered into our own selves. It was almost astounding to watch the shift in the room as it became ok for everyone to talk to each other. We are fortunate that this has reflected positively in productivity and we are hopeful that with Petra’s ongoing support, this dynamic has permanently changed for the better.”
The Inspirational Leadership Speakers Agency is one of the UK’s leading bureaus for inspiring global leaders. We supply speakers for corporate and public events across the world and cater to both in-person occasions and online webinars. Our roster includes athletes, psychologists, celebrities and more, each with top industry insight into leadership.
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