Dr. Jenny
Welcome to my unpolished world
Expert on paper. Human in practice. I spent years researching psychological safety, only to realize I was terrified to speak my mind. Today, as an author and keynote speaker, I skip the small talk to explore the messy middle between scientific facts and wearing leopard prints on the couch.
The mirror you need. (Not the lecture you fear)
“Words on paper can spark an idea. But a shared experience can spark a movement. Let’s take the theory off the page and into your organization.”
Bring the story to your stage
“The book is just the beginning. Dr. Jenny is not just an author; she is a high-impact keynote speaker who bridges the gap between rigorous science (PhD) and raw, honest storytelling.
From corporate boardrooms to healthcare summits: I help organizations build psychological safety and true resilience. No boring lectures, but sessions that shake up the room and spark real change.”
“I dedicated my life to researching ‘Psychological Safety’, only to realize I was terrified to speak my own mind.”
Expert by Profession
On paper, I had it all figured out. I built a career as a scientist at the Technical University of Eindhoven (TU/e). My specialty? Longitudinal research and the effects of psychological safety on organizational resilience.
I spent my days analyzing data, observing teams, and telling leaders how to create safe environments. I was trained to look at facts, find patterns, and be the smartest person in the room. I was “Dr. van den Berg”.
Now, I use that scientific background to help organizations and teams build real resilience—without the boring lectures.
“Who the f*ck is Dr. Jenny? She is the part of me that finally decided to stop hiding.”
Insecure by Nature
While I was teaching others about safety, I felt like an imposter. I was constantly afraid of saying the wrong thing. Afraid of looking “stupid” in front of peers. Afraid that if I dropped the mask, I would lose my authority.
I discovered a painful irony: You can have a PhD in psychological safety, and still be paralyzed by your own thoughts. My biggest research project wasn’t the data I gathered in the field. It was the face staring back at me in the mirror.
“This is not a guidebook to eternal happiness. It is a permission slip to be imperfect.”
Growth happens on the couch
Why is my book called “Ik zit in mijn luipaardbroek op de bank” (I’m sitting on the couch in my leopard pants)? Because real growth doesn’t happen when you are standing on a stage receiving applause.
It happens in the messy, unpolished moments at home. It happens when you admit you don’t have all the answers. I stopped trying to be the perfect scientist and started documenting my internal battles. I embraced the “Dr.” (the knowledge) and the “Jenny” (the chaos).
“Perfection is a shield. Resilience is the courage to put it down.”
A Diary, Not a Textbook
This book is the result of that journey. It is written for the introverts, the doubters, and the “bad-ass” women who secretly feel small sometimes.
Expect no dry theories or academic jargon. Expect a raw, honest, and often hilarious look into my diary. I share the vulnerability I was once too afraid to show.
Two ways to dive deeper
For You (The Human): Ready to drop the armor and laugh at your own chaos?
For Your Team (The Professional): Looking for a speaker who combines hard data with a soft heart? Let’s discuss a keynote on Psychological Safety