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Author and CEO of mental health consultancy PVL, Petra was born and raised in the infamous Children of God cult, conditioned to believe that she was being groomed to save the world. Having escaped that environment and battled with the mental and physical aftereffects, she now talks to audiences about dealing with pressure and uncertainty, our relationship with the digital world, and how to avoid some of the unhealthy work cultures that can unknowingly control our lives.
Petra Velzeboer is an authority on mental health, culture and resilience in the workplace. An author, psychotherapist and CEO of mental health consultancy PVL, Petra combines personal experience with clinical insight to challenge outdated wellbeing models and drive cultural transformation in organisations. She seeks to equip leaders and teams with practical tools to navigate burnout, tech overload, AI anxiety, and the evolving future of work.
Born and raised in a notorious religious cult, Petra’s early life was marked by control, trauma and instability. After escaping and battling addiction and depression, she rebuilt her life and became an advocate for ideas around redefining success and wellbeing in high-pressure environments. Her message is underpinned by authenticity, humour and a refusal to peddle "bubble-bath wellbeing" in favour of deeper, systemic change.
Petra explore the intersection of psychological safety, digital wellbeing, hybrid working and leadership in an age of uncertainty. She draws compelling parallels between the dynamics common in cults and some of those often found in corporate cultures, challenging audiences to reflect on how they lead, connect and create impact. She seeks to inform and empowered others to adopt healthy behaviours, build inclusive environments and unlock potential.
Petra is the author of Begin With You: Invest in Your Mental Well-being and Satisfaction at Work, as well as Digital Wellbeing: Recharge Your Focus and Reboot Your Life, and has been featured in Newsweek, Harvard Business Review and CEO World. She has also worked with organisations including Microsoft, Deloitte, Channel 4, PwC, Novartis, Rakuten, KPMG and Warner Media.
