Elke Geraerts

International keynote speaker and neuropsychologist inspiring mental resilience, focus, and sustainable performance in modern organizations.

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Belgium

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Elke is one of those rare talents who can integrate research and practical examples into clear insights and practical recommendations. She does this in her books and in her real-life contributions. Thanks to her enthusiasm and expertise, resilience becomes a tangible, concrete thing that matters not only in what we think, but definitely in what we can do. From now on, we will look at rabbits and elephants differently.

Jan van Acoleyen

Chief HR Officer, Proximus

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Why book Elke Geraerts for your next event

Elke translates complex psychological research into clear, practical tools that help teams strengthen resilience, focus, and long-term performance.
Her brain-friendly keynotes combine solid science with humor and energy, ensuring audiences stay engaged and leave inspired to act.
With experience across academia and business, she tailors every keynote to the real challenges leaders and organizations face today.

Non-binding request for Elke Geraerts

Neuropsychologist, bestselling author, and expert in mental resilience and performance

Elke Geraerts is a highly regarded keynote speaker known for her inspiring and research-based talks on stress, resilience, and mental capital. With a unique talent for translating academic insights into everyday practice, she helps individuals and organizations strengthen their mental resilience and improve productivity. Her bestselling book Mental Capital, now in its thirteenth edition, reflects her breakthrough approach to making psychology actionable and relevant in today’s fast-paced work environment.

Elke Geraerts: science-based inspiration that moves people

Elke Geraerts has built a strong international reputation as a keynote speaker who combines scientific depth with engaging storytelling. Trained as a neuropsychologist, she understands how the brain responds to stress, pressure, and constant change. In her keynotes, she translates this knowledge into practical strategies that help people perform better without burning out.

Her enthusiastic and accessible style makes complex insights easy to grasp. Audiences appreciate her ability to connect research to daily work life, offering clarity and direction in a world full of distractions and demands. Elke’s presentations are designed to energize, inspire reflection, and create momentum for positive change.

Mental capital as a driver of performance

Central to Elke’s work is the concept of mental capital. In her bestselling book Mental Capital, she shows how focus, resilience, and mental energy are key resources for sustainable success. This message resonates strongly with organizations seeking to support well-being while maintaining high performance.

During her keynotes, Elke explores how stress affects the brain and how individuals can regain control over their attention and energy. She offers concrete tools to strengthen resilience, improve decision-making, and build healthier work habits. Her insights help organizations create environments where people can thrive, even under pressure.

Tailored keynotes with real-world impact

Elke Geraerts is known for carefully tailoring each keynote to the audience and context. She takes the time to understand the challenges an organization is facing and adapts her message accordingly. This ensures that her talks never feel generic, but instead speak directly to the realities of the participants.

Her brain-friendly approach keeps audiences engaged from start to finish. Through relatable examples and practical exercises, she turns abstract ideas into actionable takeaways. Participants leave with renewed motivation and a clear sense of how to apply what they have learned in their daily work.

Academic credibility and entrepreneurial experience

Elke’s authority as a speaker is grounded in a strong academic background, including collaborations with respected institutions such as Harvard and St Andrews. This research foundation gives her keynotes depth and credibility, while her communication style keeps them accessible and inspiring.

In addition to her academic career, Elke founded Better Minds at Work, an international consultancy focused on mental resilience, energy, and productivity in the workplace. This combination of research and hands-on organizational experience allows her to bridge the gap between theory and practice with ease.

Book Elke Geraerts for your event

Booking Elke Geraerts for your event means choosing a speaker who truly understands the mental challenges of modern work life. Her keynotes empower individuals and organizations with strategies to manage stress, strengthen resilience, and unlock their full potential.

Elke is more than a motivational speaker; she is a catalyst for sustainable growth and transformation. With her unique blend of science, humor, and practical insight, she inspires audiences to invest in their mental capital and create lasting impact. Book Elke Geraerts for your event to energize your team and support long-term performance and well-being.

Customer Reviews

Jan van Acoleyen Chief HR Officer, Proximus

A fantastic lecture by Elke Geraerts on Authentic Intelligence, the training of our brain, but also an insight into neuropsychology and its relationship with our behavior. What an enthusiasm and passion. Always a challenge to contract a good speaker for a market event, but it was a great success !!! Thanks every, you were top and an absolute must.

Ron Gardenier Chief MGA Aon Risk Solutions/Voorzitter NVGA

During the COVID-19 pandemic our leadership team decided to talk openly about mental health. Thanks to Elke, we were able to discuss mental resilience. Elke has the great talent to bring theory in a very vivid way. She is not just another keynote speaker in, yet another, webinar. She makes her insights actionable and easy to recognize. Her talk has been shared by many of our international colleagues. On a personal note, I very much value authentic people with real emotions and honest stories. I am very glad our roads crossed and we all hope for a sequel. Warmly recommending Elke to everyone in search for a “mirror, mirror on the corporate wall”.

Korneel Warlop Director Corporate Communications, Barry Callebaut Group

Elke has the rare talent of combining scientific insights with our everyday struggles in life. From the moment Elke starts to speak, she is able to hold the audience’s attention. She takes you on a mental journey through our brain and teaches us to get the best out of ourselves. The ultimate 'Elke effect' is that everyone who attends continues to contact each other long after the presentation to talk about how their brain is. A warm, special and, above all, highly talented person whom I wholeheartedly recommend.

Elmas Duduk Organisatiestrateeg Gemeente Amsterdam

Powerful – loaded with applications and insights. Wonderful speaker! Professional, real and useful. Elke’s talk was very positive and provided actual tools to support a more efficient way of working. It’s amazing the preparation, creativity and skills that goes into speaking.<br>Elke makes people learn. Elke makes it look easy. Elke makes people laugh. And, Elke moves people into action. Elke is an expert at captivating and engaging with the audience. I am very happy that her talk was recorded so I can watch it again and again.

Genevieve Deschenes Event Marketing Manager at Allianz Partners

Disruptive. That is probably the single best word to describe the impact of my meetings with Elke. Authentic interaction, and a lot of smiles too. During meetings I make sure to write down one impactful sentence. With Elke, I wanted to remember every sentence. It all made sense. Grounded in science, yet applicable in daily life. As I am working in developing technology for preventive health, getting Elke’s insights and feedback was essential in shaping our program. Evidently we invited her to speak at our international customer event, where she had a similar strong impact – this time on the entire audience. Thought provoking. Yet so simple, to remember, to apply. You have to experience it for yourself – I highly recommend meeting Elke.

Chris Van Hoof Senior Director Imec

Together with my global team I had the opportunity to experience one of Elke’s sessions on Resilience. This was the best 90 mins I have spent in years! Elke's approach is fabulous. She captures her listeners with her authenticity and passion for the topic. While clearly grounded in science the use of metaphors and practical frameworks makes it easy to access. As a global team we have started our 48 hour sprint to put at least 3 tips in to practice. Her talk is a must for all in the challenging times we live in!

Yvonne Malone Director EMEA Talent and Organization Abbott

I had the pleasure of listening to Elke's vivid expose at a “Resilience Workshop” for BESIX in Dubai. For me personally, her story contained a number of “aha”- points and allowed me to connect some dots on certain challenges encountered in the daily work environment. I left the workshop with a number of insights, quotes (“Attention is the new scarce resource”) and practical steps. Her interesting and highly relevant presentation is the best invitation to read one of her books. Definitely worth some “focus”-time!

Peter Lembrechts Manager Six Construct Dubai

Elke gave her presentation on Mental Capital and the human brain for our colleagues at Van Havermaet. As we all know from Elke, it was again a very inspiring and haunting “journey” along the complex matter of our well-known gray matter. Her expertise, room for dialogue, funny yet recognizable examples and especially the application of the material specifically to our organization and for our colleagues made it a top moment for everyone. And the effect continues: especially when I am currently experiencing the many applications of Elke’s challenge with our colleagues. Highly recommended and we are already looking forward to the follow-up sessions of Elke and her colleagues.

Kristof Meesters Algemeen Directeur van Havermaet

Keynotes

Keynote by speaker Elke Geraerts :

The New Now

Building resilience in a world where change is the only constant.

How do you deal with uncertainty as a daily reality? What if your organization recovers faster than it's
affected?

Change is no longer a project, it's the backdrop. And that's precisely where you can make a difference. This keynote provides a clear framework for prioritizing health and well-being over performance - not as an add-on, but as a prerequisite for performance. No vague theory, just neuroscientific insights translated into effective behavior. For leaders and teams.

Elke Geraerts shows how to strengthen mental, emotional, and social skills so that people not only survive but also perform better under pressure.You'll learn how to create a rhythm in work and recovery, how to make psychological safety tangible, and how to accelerate adaptation without losing energy.

What you take away:

A simple compass to choose change without noise, with discipline.
Rituals for resilience: check-ins, micro-recovery, clear boundaries that everyone respects.
Leadership behaviors that build trust and increase ownership.
Team agreements that help your entire organization to switch faster and collaborate better.

Ready to turn uncertainty into an advantage? Then The New Now belongs on your program.Want a version tailored to your sector or challenges? Schedule a short intake, and we'll fine-tune the content for maximum impact.

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Keynote by speaker Elke Geraerts :

Focus is the New Gold

How to Reduce Stress and Increase Productivity in a Distracted World.

How many times were you interrupted today? Emails, pings, meeting alerts.We live constantly connected, but our attention is becoming fragmented.The price: more stress, fewer results, and a mind that never shuts down.

We now know what works for staying healthy and resilient. However, an overstimulated brain rarely gets around to applying it.That's where this keynote makes the difference. No theory for later, but clear insights and simple routines you can implement the same day.

Elke Geraerts shows you how to protect your attention when it matters most and how to consciously defocus to recover.You'll gain the language and tools to manage attention as a scarce resource with your team. Less noise. More peace. More output where it matters.

What you take away:

Focus hacks you can start right away.
A simple framework for choosing and monitoring priorities.
Techniques for deep work and micro-recovery throughout the day.
Agreements that help your entire organization to distribute attention intelligently.

Ready to turn attention into results? Then you'll want this keynote on your agenda.

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Keynote by speaker Elke Geraerts :

Courageous Leadership

Transform to people-oriented leadership.

The work environment is changing, and so is leadership. Social and political turbulence, blurring boundaries between work and private life, and flexible working are transforming the manager-employee relationship into a human-to-human relationship.This requires new skills.

How do you, as a leader, make a difference in a world where change is constant?

In this keynote, Elke will unravel the core of courageous leadership: authenticity, empathy, and adaptability. For years,they were considered a "nice to have," but today they're simply essential. With her background in neuroscience, Elke translates insights into effective behavior.You'll strengthen your self-leadership and courage.You'll build resilience and focus.You'll learn to connect with diverse minds and establish psychological safety as a solid foundation.

What you take away:

A clear framework for people-oriented leadership: three principles, concrete micro-behaviors.
Rituals that build trust: check-ins, feedback that lands, clear boundaries.
Tools to have difficult conversations without detours, with respect.
Team agreements that help your entire organization to switch faster and collaborate better.
Insights to lead change without losing energy.

Ready to lead with courage? Then Courageous Leadership should be on your program.

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Keynote by speaker Elke Geraerts :

Mental Capital

Boost your brain and resilience!

Challenging times consume our attention and energy.We run, we react, we run out of energy. That's precisely why now is the time to increase your mental capital. Not theoretically, but practically.

In this keynote, you'll gain crystal-clear insight into how your brain works under pressure.You'll see the effects of stress, how to better protect your attention, and how to recover faster. Using the #1 bestseller "Better Minds" as a common thread, Elke Geraerts translates neuropsychology into behavior that works,today. Start small, persevere consistently, and you'll have a big impact.

You'll learn to focus when it counts and consciously defocus to recharge.You'll build routines for energy, concentration, and freedom of choice into your day. So you not only stay afloat but also perform better with less clutter.

What you take away:

Simple tools to calm your stress system and focus your attention.
Insights on how to expand your awareness and better control your thoughts, emotions and behavior.
Smart boundaries and digital hygiene that protect your focus.
The 48-hour challenge to immediately translate tips into action.

Ready to invest in what yields the most return: your brain? Put Mental Capital on your agenda.

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Keynote by speaker Elke Geraerts :

Authentic Intelligence

Make yourself and your organization future-proof.

The digital revolution is accelerating.The tipping point has arrived, sooner than expected. The question isn't whether we'll compete against robots and AI.The question is, how do we remain distinctive? Businesses, schools, and individuals are feeling the unease surrounding tools like ChatGPT. Understandably so. Uncertainty without a framework breeds fear.

In this timely keynote, Elke demystifies technology and puts the focus back on people.You'll discover the unique qualities you need to strengthen today: critical thinking, empathy, curiosity, nuance, and focus, and how to embed them in your organization's DNA. Not as a nice bonus, but as a prerequisite for staying relevant.

We move from hype to substance, with concrete examples, clear language and immediately applicable routines.

What you take away:

A simple compass: what do you let AI do, what remains consciously human.
A practical workflow for routines and critical thinking.
Five trainable skills beyond AI: sharp focus, asking powerful questions, creative combinations, judging with context, and empathetic communication.
Team rituals that strengthen connections.

Ready to empower humanity and ensure the sustainability of your team? Put Authentic Intelligence on your agenda.

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Keynote by speaker Elke Geraerts :

When AI meets AI

Authentic intelligence × Artificial intelligence.

The Never Normal is here. Change is accelerating, systems are shifting, and work and life are being reshaped. And the question grows: what is left for humanity?

In this duo keynote, Elke Geraerts and Peter Hinssen, innovation strategist and leadership thinker, join forces. No tech hype, just guidance. They demonstrate how to make humanity and technology work together intelligently, with real-world examples and tools you'll be using tomorrow.

Why now? Burnout and absenteeism are rising. Processes are changing faster than habits. This is the time to make clear choices: what do you let AI do, and what remains consciously human? With neuropsychological insights and entrepreneurship combined, Elke and Peter make that choice simple and actionable.

Peter is a global keynote speaker and bestselling author. He has given over 1.500 keynotes for companies including Google, Apple, and Microsoft, and teaches at London Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management. Together with Elke, he brings a fresh, realistic perspective on the future of work.

What you take away:

A compass to combine AI and human judgment, not competition but synergy.
Captivating examples of the possibilities of AI.
Accelerating mental resilience: How to protect attention, energy, and focus in an AI-driven environment.
Cases and anecdotes that you recognize, translated into directly applicable behavior.
Inspiration to get started with AI x AI in your organization.

Ready to make the future work for your people? Book When AI Meets AI as a duo keynote or masterclass and take your organization to the next level.

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Amsterdam Business Forum -- Elke Geraerts on Courageous Leadership

Watch Elke Geraerts in action!

Blog posts by Elke Geraerts

Resilience, or the law of the stimulative arrears

FROM ZERO TO ZARAExactly two months after Amancio Ortega was born, all hell broke loose . The year was 1936, and in Spain it marked the commencement of the bloodiest war the country had ever seen. For the Ortega family, the out- break of the Spanish Civil War meant that they would have to flee their

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