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TEDx speaker, author and CEO of PVL. Cult survivor turned culture builder.

Petra Velzeboer is a TEDx speaker, author and business consultant who advises leaders on building high-performing teams in an age of digital overload, AI disruption and constant change. Known for her sharp insight and no-nonsense delivery, she replaces outdated approaches to wellbeing and leadership with practical strategies that drive performance, trust and psychological safety at scale.

Raised in a notorious extremist cult and later recovering from addiction, Petra rebuilt her life from rock bottom. That experience now underpins her work with organisations navigating uncertainty, pressure and risk. She draws sharp parallels between cult dynamics and workplace culture, exposing how fear, silence, control and burnout erode performance, and what leaders must do instead.