Genieke Hertoghs
Keynote Spreker | Bestseller auteur | Thought Leader in Business | (C-level) Trainer | Op weg naar Wereldvrede | Partner Subconscious Impact BV | foto door Marjon Zijlstra
Genieke Hertoghs teaches organizational psychology and leadership through brain science, using contrarian claims and personal stories to challenge how professionals think about resistance and change. Her distinctive move is leading with provocative, counterintuitive statements (like 'Weerstand? Dat is vaak het logische gevolg van je eigen gepush') that flip conventional wisdom, then backing them with lived experience or neuroscience.
3.6/wk
8 posts in 30d
108
avg per post
17.6%
comments / total
1.4%
reposts / total
problem-solution
Fri · 9 AM CET
Voice & tone
Genieke writes with infectious authenticity and intellectual playfulness. She's serious about psychology but refuses to sound like a textbook. Phrases like 'Ik ben een huppelend hert' and 'Koningin van PULL' show she's willing to be vulnerable and self-deprecating. She uses Dutch idioms and casual language ('Hoera,' 'Knetterend trots') to feel approachable, not distant. Readers sense she's genuinely curious about human behavior, not selling a system.
Signature phrases
- “Weerstand? Dat is vaak het logische gevolg van je eigen gepush.”
- “Hoe little did I know.”
- “Je gaat het zien als je door de lens gekeken hebt.”
- “Knetterend trots en compleet gaar”
- “Met ons onbewuste brein zien we polariteit als een probleem. Met ons bewuste brein zien we dat polariteit de oplossing is.”
- “Moeten ze net mij hebben, koningin van PULL.”
Top 3 posts, dissected
Their highest-engagement posts, broken down line by line. Steal the structure.
Weerstand? Dat is vaak het logische gevolg van je eigen gepush. Ik kwam een filmpje uit 2018 tegen waarin ik het demonstreer op een podium. het geluid in de zaal is niet briljant, maar de live demo is herkenbaar! #Dontpushme: hoe bereik je een ander in het onbewuste brein
The hook 'Weerstand? Dat is vaak het logische gevolg van je eigen gepush.' stops scrollers because it inverts a common frustration. Most leaders blame resistance on stubbornness; Genieke says it's your own pushing. The question mark creates a pause; the period that follows feels like a mic drop. It's provocative enough to make readers want proof.
Hook (contrarian claim) → Context (video reference from 2018) → Hashtag with framework (#Dontpushme) → Implicit CTA (watch the demo). The post is short and teaser-like, relying on the video to do the teaching work.
- Inversion of blame — shifts responsibility from 'them' to 'you'
- Casual language ('filmpje') to lower the barrier to engagement
- Hashtag as framework — #Dontpushme becomes a memorable concept
- Acknowledgment of imperfection ('het geluid in de zaal is niet briljant') builds trust through honesty
No explicit CTA. The post ends with the framework hashtag, which acts as a soft call to curiosity. Readers want to understand what #Dontpushme means, so they engage in comments.
Lead with a claim that contradicts your audience's current belief, then provide just enough context to make them curious—let the comments section become your teaching space.
Toen ik in 1999 mijn eerste training gaf, dacht ik dat het een uiterst serieuze aangelegenheid was. Dat ik alle antwoorden op vragen moest weten. Dat ik elke weerstand met inhoud moest winnen. Hoe little did I know. Vandaag de dag voel ik me vaak een huppelend hert. Fotograf…
The hook 'Toen ik in 1999 mijn eerste training gaf, dacht ik dat het een uiterst serieuze aangelegenheid was' works because it's specific (1999, not 'years ago'), relatable (imposter syndrome), and immediately sets up a contrast. The phrase 'Hoe little did I know' signals a plot twist. Readers want to know what she learned.
Story opening → Series of contrasts (serious vs. expressive, controlled vs. authentic) → Visual evidence (photo compilation) → Gratitude and reflection. The post moves from past belief through present reality to a moment of appreciation. It's a character arc compressed into 200 words.
- Specific date anchors the story in time and credibility
- Self-deprecating humor ('Fotografen kunnen me lastig mooi vastleggen') makes vulnerability safe
- Emoji as emotional punctuation (😱) signals authenticity
- Gratitude to a named colleague (Gregory Lovett) shows generosity and builds community
- Contrasts between 'gekunstelde versie' and real self frame the transformation
Ends with gratitude and a clapping emoji. No hard CTA. The post invites comments because readers want to share their own evolution stories or ask how she made the shift.
Use a specific date and a clear before-and-after to tell a transformation story. End with gratitude rather than a sales pitch—it makes the post feel like a gift, not a pitch.
Knetterend trots en compleet gaar na 2,5 jaar ploeteren. Hij is er. Met trots en plezier onthul ik de cover. Van Sabotage naar Succes. Het beste van twee breinsystemen aan het werk. Ik introduceer in dit boek een nieuwe lens waarmee we kunnen kijken naar menselijk gedrag. 🧠 …
The hook 'Knetterend trots en compleet gaar na 2,5 jaar ploeteren. Hij is er. Met trots en plezier onthul ik de cover.' works because it's emotionally specific (not just 'proud,' but 'knetterend trots' and 'compleet gaar'), time-stamped (2.5 years), and uses 'Hij is er' like a birth announcement. The specificity makes the achievement feel earned and real.
Emotional announcement → Book title and core idea → Three bullet points showing the lens/framework → Teaser of the contrarian insight (unconscious sabotage vs. conscious success) → Social proof (foreword by Fons Trompenaars) → CTA (preorder link in comments). This is a masterclass in announcement structure: emotion first, substance second, proof third, action last.
- Emotional intensity words ('Knetterend,' 'compleet gaar') signal authenticity
- Metaphor of the lens ('nieuwe lens waarmee we kunnen kijken') makes the book's value tangible
- Three bullet points with emoji (🧠) create visual rhythm and digestibility
- Contrarian framework (unconscious = sabotage, conscious = success) is the book's core promise
- Name-drop of Fons Trompenaars adds credibility and prestige
- CTA is soft ('Wil je hem straks als eerste in huis hebben?') but clear
Ends with a soft CTA and a promise that the link is in the comments. This drives engagement because readers have to scroll to find the link, increasing time on post.
When announcing a major project, lead with emotional specificity, then layer in the core idea, social proof, and a soft CTA. The structure should feel like a celebration, not a sales page.
What drives their engagement
Genieke's posts drive comments (17.6% conversation index) because they end with implicit questions or frameworks that readers want to understand or debate. Posts like 'Weerstand? Dat is vaak het logische gevolg van je eigen gepush' and the book announcement create knowledge gaps that comments fill. Readers also comment to share their own stories of transformation or resistance.
Repost rate is low (1.4%), which suggests her content is personal and niche rather than broadly shareable. Announcements and contrarian claims get some reposts, but her audience seems to engage for the teaching and story, not to broadcast her ideas to their own networks.
Low savability signal. This creator optimizes for reach and conversation, not for reference material. Her posts are meant to be read once, reflected on, and discussed—not bookmarked for later. The neuroscience frameworks are embedded in stories, not extracted as standalone takeaways.
Content pillars
Resistance & Change Psychology
32%Explains why people resist change and how pushing harder backfires, using neuroscience and live demonstrations to reframe resistance as feedback, not failure.
Personal Evolution & Authenticity
17%Shares her own journey from rigid, serious trainer to expressive, embodied facilitator, modeling how leaders can drop the mask and lead from wholeness.
Book Launches & Intellectual Milestones
15%Announces major projects (book drafts, covers, preorders) with emotional honesty and the neuroscience framework behind them, treating launches as teaching moments.
Unconscious vs. Conscious Brain Dynamics
25%Teaches how the unconscious brain creates sabotage (seeing polarities as problems) while the conscious brain solves (seeing polarities as solutions).
Real-World Stories & Ethical Dilemmas
11%Uses unexpected anecdotes (like the scam caller conversation) to illustrate human psychology and moral complexity in high-stakes moments.
Hook patterns
Contrarian Reframe
[Common belief]? [Counterintuitive truth about why it happens].
“Weerstand? Dat is vaak het logische gevolg van je eigen gepush.”
→ Stops scrollers by immediately contradicting what they think they know, then promises an explanation that reframes a familiar problem.
Story Opening with Temporal Shift
Toen ik [past moment], dacht ik [old belief]. [Contrast word]. Vandaag de dag [new reality].
“Toen ik in 1999 mijn eerste training gaf, dacht ik dat het een uiterst serieuze aangelegenheid was. Hoe little did I know. Vandaag de dag voel ik me vaak een huppelend hert.”
→ Creates narrative tension by showing personal transformation; readers want to know what changed and why.
Emotional Milestone Announcement
[Emotional intensity adjective] + [emotional state] + na [time period]. [Reveal]. [Teaser of core idea].
“Knetterend trots en compleet gaar na 2,5 jaar ploeteren. Hij is er. Met trots en plezier onthul ik de cover.”
→ Authenticity and specificity (2.5 years, not 'a long time') make the achievement feel real; emotional language invites celebration.
Dual-Value Promise
[Number] redenen waarom het handig is om dit bericht te lezen. [Reason 1]. [Reason 2].
“Twee redenen waarom het handig is om dit bericht te lezen.”
→ Gives readers explicit permission to engage; the number creates structure and the promise of utility drives clicks.
Bold Statement with Emoji Accent
[Celebratory emoji] [Exclamation]. [Question about substance].
“📚 Hoera. De draft van m'n volgende boek is een feit. Waar het over gaat?”
→ Emoji signals joy and breaks up text; the question immediately pivots to substance, keeping readers engaged.
Numbered List Teaser
[Problem statement]. 1. [First insight]. 2. [Second insight].
“Waarom we in organisaties met slimme en goedbedoelende mensen toch vaak zo weinig voor elkaar krijgen. 1. Hoe ons onbewuste brein ons gevangen houdt...”
→ Numbered lists feel digestible and promise depth; the problem statement makes the list feel urgent, not random.
Top-performing hooks
“Weerstand? Dat is vaak het logische gevolg van je eigen gepush.”
→ The post challenges a common assumption — that resistance is the other person's problem — and reframes it as a self-created dynamic, which triggers self-reflection and curiosity. Referencing a live de
“Toen ik in 1999 mijn eerste training gaf, dacht ik dat het een uiterst serieuze aangelegenheid was.”
→ The post creates strong relatability by contrasting a rigid past self with a liberated present self, using humor and self-deprecating visuals to humanize the author. The authentic vulnerability combin
“Knetterend trots en compleet gaar na 2,5 jaar ploeteren. Hij is er. Met trots en plezier onthul ik de cover.”
→ The post announces a book launch, immediately establishing authority. It uses a problem/solution framework related to brain function and leverages social proof with a foreword by a well-known figure,
“📚 Hoera. De draft van m'n volgende boek is een feit. Waar het over gaat?”
→ The post combines a personal milestone with intellectual substance by teasing the book's core themes around brain science and organizational dysfunction, making it both emotionally relatable and profe
“Twee redenen waarom het handig is om dit bericht te lezen.”
→ The post works on two levels simultaneously: it delivers practical fraud-prevention value while wrapping it in a gripping, almost cinematic personal story that triggers strong emotional and moral reac
“💍 Na twee jaar flirten zijn we officieel getrouwd. Voor minstens vier jaar.”
→ The post announces a significant partnership, highlighting the positive impact of the training program. It uses a clear problem/solution format and includes social proof (positive reviews) to build cr
“Onze waarheid rondom het noodpakket.”
→ The post taps into a timely and polarizing societal topic (the emergency package debate) and reframes it through a pluralistic lens, inviting readers to hold multiple truths simultaneously rather than
“Soms doet iemand directief, sturend of ronduit bot tegen je. Assertief je grens aangeven kan. Maar zet vaak druk op de verbinding.”
→ The post creates immediate tension by naming a relatable interpersonal pain point and then offers a counterintuitive, curiosity-driven solution (influencing the subconscious in 3 seconds) that compels
“Weerstand wegmanagen? Zoooo jammer.”
→ De post daagt een wijdverbreid managementpatroon uit ('weerstand wegmanagen') en herkadreerd het als een gemiste kans, wat direct resoneert bij leiders die dit herkennen. Door wetenschappelijke onderb
“Push en pull samengevat in een notendop!”
→ The post leverages a visually rich sketchnote to summarize a complex communication concept, making it instantly shareable and memorable within care and training communities. The personal gratitude sho
What works
- Contrarian claims as hooks (avg 119 eng). Posts that flip conventional wisdom ('Resistance is the logical result of your own pushing') stop scrollers and invite debate. Genieke uses this in 7 posts, making it her most reliable engagement driver after stories.
- Story openings with temporal contrast (avg 143 eng). Posts that begin with 'Toen ik [past belief]' and shift to 'Vandaag de dag [new reality]' create narrative tension. The 1999 training post (348 eng) is a perfect example.
- Emotional specificity in announcements (avg 249 eng). Posts that use words like 'Knetterend trots' and 'compleet gaar' and include time stamps (2.5 years) feel earned and real. The book cover announcement (346 eng) shows this works.
- Numbered lists with dual value (250 eng). Posts that promise '2 redenen' or '1. [insight] 2. [insight]' structure feel digestible and drive clicks. The scam caller post (250 eng) uses this to deliver both a warning and a psychology lesson.
- Soft CTAs over hard sells. Posts that end with gratitude, questions, or framework hashtags (#Dontpushme) drive more comments than posts with explicit 'buy now' language. This creator's audience wants to think, not transact.
- Bold statement hooks with emoji (avg 158 eng). Posts that open with 'Hoera' or 'Knetterend trots' and use emoji (📚, 🧠) signal joy and break up text. These posts average 158 eng, suggesting emoji adds visual relief.
Steal this for your own LinkedIn
- Start your next post with a contrarian claim phrased as a question-statement: '[Common belief]? [Counterintuitive truth].' This flips your reader's assumption in one sentence and makes them want to read on.
- When telling a transformation story, anchor it with a specific date ('Toen ik in 1999') and use 'Hoe little did I know' or a similar phrase to signal the plot twist. This creates narrative momentum.
- Use emotional intensity words (not just 'proud,' but 'knetterend trots') and time stamps (not 'a long time,' but '2.5 years') to make achievements feel real and earned. Specificity builds trust.
- End posts with a soft CTA or a framework hashtag (#Dontpushme) instead of 'Buy now.' This invites curiosity and conversation rather than transactional clicks.
- Layer your core idea into a numbered list (1. [insight] 2. [insight]) to make complex psychology feel digestible. This works especially well when paired with a problem statement at the top.
- Use emoji (🧠, 📚) as visual punctuation to break up text and signal tone. Genieke uses emoji sparingly but strategically, which makes them feel intentional, not cluttered.
Compare Genieke with…
vs Cem Atik
Cem Atik vs Genieke Hertoghs: Authority vs Authenticity on LinkedIn
vs Timi Merivirta
Genieke Hertoghs vs Timi Merivirta: Psychology vs Systems
vs Lea 🌈 Turner
Genieke Hertoghs vs Lea Turner: Niche depth beats viral reach on LinkedIn
vs Mark Tweed
Genieke Hertoghs vs Mark Tweed: Psychology vs Sales Philosophy
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Posting patterns
Genieke posts 3.6 times per week on average, but has slowed to 8 posts in the last 30 days (1.6/week), suggesting a shift toward quality over quantity or a focus on book writing.
Friday at 8 UTC performs best. This is early morning in Central Europe, likely catching professionals during their first coffee and email check.
Medium-length posts (80-180 words) perform best, averaging 105 engagement. This length allows for a hook, a story or framework, and a soft CTA without overwhelming readers. Short posts (30-80 words) also perform well (113 avg), suggesting her audience values concision.
Engagement by day
Content mix
avg 71 engagements per post
avg 142 engagements per post
avg 52 engagements per post
avg 249 engagements per post
Genieke's format mix (32% problem-solution, 17% story, 15% announcement) works because her audience is hungry for both frameworks and proof. Problem-solution posts teach the concept; stories prove she lives it; announcements celebrate milestones and reinforce her authority. The low repost rate suggests her audience is a tight community of professionals who engage for depth, not breadth.
