“I help people across the globe unlock their full potential by a good night sleep”
helping your workforce thrive by sleeping better
About me
I am a sleep neuroscientist, adjunct professor at IE Business School in Madrid, lecturer at St. Gallen Business School and IMD Business School, and internationally recognized authority on sleep. Thrive Global has named me as one of the top 5 sleep experts in the world. I advise corporations around the globe on sleep, performance, and well-being. I support CEOs and decision-makers worldwide to help them get the best out of themselves, their team members, and their organizations. Watch a 2-minute introductory video here.
Academia and business
I studied in Amsterdam, did follow-up research at Harvard Medical School, and completed my Ph.D. at UC Berkeley, after which I started using my knowledge at McKinsey & Company, where I learned to educate people on what to ACTUALLY do.
Designed for every scale
Since 2016, I have advised the leadership of dozens of globally operating companies on implementing sleep in their people’s strategy. I have engaged directly with over 150,000 people through nearly 1,000 sleep Masterclasses.
Achieve long-lasting results
Over the years, I developed content in various formats to help increase the level of impact. How-to guides can accompany masterclasses and people can complete challenges or follow online video courses to establish healthy (sleep) habits.
Master the Art of Sleep
In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of sleep is often overlooked. Many people believe that working harder and longer will lead to success, but what if I told you that the key to unlocking your full potential is as simple as getting a good night’s sleep?
Sleep is the foundation of our health and (peak) performance, so I dedicated my life to inspiring others to optimize their sleep patterns.
2008-2013
Ph.D. in Psychology as Fulbright scholar
2007
Follow-up research in emotional processing
2005-2008
MSc (cum laude) in Neurosciences
2005-2008
MSc (cum laude) in Clinical Neuropsychology and BSc (Honors distinction) in Neuropsychology
What I Do
ASSESS & (CO-)DESIGN
In order to provide relevant content that creates an impact, I assess your employees and your current well-being and performance strategy. We jointly determine which aspects of the world of sleep should be put forward to your workforce and which format is most likely to create sustainable results.
RAISE AWARENESS & CREATE BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Through Masterclasses, courses, and e-learning modules, awareness is raised on the importance of sleep, and materials are delivered for each individual to implement a behavior change. No person is the same, so there are many possibilities to personalize the content that is brought forward.
SLEEP BETTER & THRIVE
After being equipped with the science-based knowledge to optimize their sleep, people get the the necessary tools in order to start making behavior changes.
From there on out, they’ll be able to optimize their performance and make the best of every aspect of their (working) life!
Achievements
Reduce sleep debt of employees at several of my clients by over 50%
Decrease stress levels of employees in my programs by 20% or more
Increase the self-reported level of productivity by 21%
90% of the people at a client’s organization implemented healthier work habits
Featured in
Clients
My clients put their employees first. Together we achieve sustainable results in only a brief matter of time.
``Els brings the rare combination of deep scientific evidence-based understanding of sleep with the personal experience of a highly demanding professional role.
I found her advice to be highly practical, effective and thus relevant. On top she delivers with a smile, positive encouragement and no zeal, so it's fun to collaborate on unlocking the potential of your organization``
I found her advice to be highly practical, effective and thus relevant. On top she delivers with a smile, positive encouragement and no zeal, so it's fun to collaborate on unlocking the potential of your organization``
Florian Weig - SVP Purchasing and Supplier Network Digital
``Els hosted a dynamic and energetic sleep and leadership session that was filled with science-based content. For me, the real differentiator was how she integrated personal learnings from her lived experience finding good sleep while in the cauldron of intense client-facing consulting engagements at McKinsey & Co., where we were colleagues. This combination resonated well, leading me to adopt her strategies for the years since that session through today. I attribute greater focus, ease if access to flow states, and resilience to better sleep. I would recommend Els’s sessions to any senior leader in a high-pressure environment seeking a competitive edge, i.e., productive, high-quality sleep.``
Michael Bazigos, PhD - Managing Director, Strategy Consulting Group, Talent & Organization / Human Potential Practice
``Els creates an impact on a personal level for employees as well as at scale in an organization that often resists change. The result of working with her is a more present, better connected, and cognitively better-performing workforce. Her personal experience in high-intensity work environments, coupled with deep scientific expertise, really changed mindsets and behavior.``
Filippo Rossi - Senior Partner
``A good night of sleep is the most critical element in maintaining a healthy mind and positive energy. Els and her team conducted a very insightful session around this topic with my senior leadership team. This session provided us with valuable insights and gave effective tools that helped us understand and improve our sleep cycle.``
Yuneeb Khan - Global President
``As surgeons we work in a high-pressure and demanding environment with long days and irregular working hours (like many other industries!). Els's session greatly impacted how our entire division thinks about sleep and now prioritizes sleep. This decreases medical errors and ultimately saves lives!``
Ankeeta Mehta - Assistant Professor Of Surgery
``Els hosts workshops that are both deep in science-based content, yet digestible for the common mortal. Einstein supposedly said ``If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.`` Els proves that point.
I've always had fun in her sessions, and walked out of them with more energy than when I walked in. She has profound academic and real-world experience, which allows her to give concrete responses filled with examples to any audience question she receives.``
Navid Alizadeh - Senior Leadership Advisor and Coach
Take action
Don’t underestimate what a good night sleep can do for you and your organization. Take action today!