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Petra Velzeboer is an internationally recognised mental health keynote speaker, psychotherapist, and expert in digital wellbeing. As the CEO of mental health consultancy PVL and a TEDx speaker, Petra is renowned for her dynamic, no-nonsense approach to mental health leadership. Drawing from her extraordinary personal journey — from being raised in a cult to becoming a leading authority on workplace wellbeing — Petra’s talks inspire real, lasting change in organisations seeking to boost resilience, human connection, and productivity.
Petra’s career is a testament to the power of transformation. After escaping a restrictive cult in Brazil at the age of 22, she overcame profound depression and isolation to rebuild her life. Determined to understand the human mind, Petra earned her MSc in Psychodynamics of Human Development, qualified as a psychotherapist, and held pivotal roles such as Clinical Director for Wellbeing Solutions Management and Senior Project Manager for Catch22. She is also the Wellbeing Director for My Whole Self and host of the podcast Killing It: Adventures in Startups and Mental Health, where she shares insights on leadership, resilience, and psychological safety in high-pressure environments.
Among Petra’s many achievements, she is the author of two influential books: Begin with You and Digital Wellbeing: Recharge Your Focus and Reboot Your Life. Her thought leadership has been featured in prestigious outlets such as Newsweek, The Huffington Post, CEO World, and Harvard Business Review. Petra’s consultancy, PVL, works with major global organisations including PwC, Accenture, Channel 4, and Novartis, helping leaders integrate mental health strategies into their business models for sustainable success. Her background gives her a unique perspective on toxic environments, making her an expert in building cultures of trust, safety, and high performance.
As a keynote speaker, Petra combines storytelling, humour, and practical strategies to captivate audiences around the world. Her signature talks address critical modern issues, such as Digital Wellbeing: Thriving in an Age of Distraction, Burnout, Leadership & The Future of Work, and How Cults Are Like Corporates—And What to Do About It. With a mission to challenge outdated wellbeing models and ignite real cultural change, Petra empowers organisations to navigate an era of rapid technological, social, and economic transformation — creating workplaces where people truly thrive.
“We invited Petra to speak at our Mental Health Awareness event on dealing with stress and were blown away by her incredible unique story and her authenticity. She is an accomplished presenter and coach who provided a tonne of practical advice on how to look fter your mental health told through unforgettable stories and analogies. We’re now getting her back in to be part of our leadership development curriculum.”
“This was probably the most moving, honest and powerful session that I have ever attended.”
“Petra’s keynote speech at the Una Conference was incredible. She was funny, engaging, to the point and actually knows what she’s talking about! I feel that she’s given me everyday tools to start making mental health a daily conversation with friends, family and colleagues.”
“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. She achieves a mix of levity and seriousness that T.S Eliot would be proud of and it’s the first talk I have seen in a long time where none of the 300 attendees glanced at their phones or checked the time. This is such an important topic that we need advocates such as Petra to open up the conversation in such a powerful, practical and ultimately uplifting way.”
“Petra debunks myths and offers practical ways we can focus to boost mental health.”
“We wanted to close our conference with a memorable moment – and Petra delivered on an often-ignored issue: our mental health. With positive vibes, an energetic speech, get-together touchy moments and many wake-up calls, the participants were taken on an emotional roller-coaster of positive attitudes towards our… mind.”
The Mental Health Speakers Agency has been one of the UK’s leading bureaus for emotional wellbeing experts since 2020. 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, to ensure that audiences of all demographics receive tailored, impactful mental health guidance.
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