founder and transformation lead
Karen Hendrickx is a customer and transformation leader with 25 years of experience spanning technology, customer experience, product and people leadership. Her career has taken her through coding, consulting, pre-sales, product ownership and leadership roles, giving her a broad perspective on both career reinvention and how people and teams navigate change. Karen is passionate about creating psychologically safe, high-performing environments where people can build on their strengths, collaborate effectively, innovate and create meaningful outcomes.
High-performing teams don’t happen by accident. They’re intentionally designed, nurtured, and continuously evolved. In this session, I’ll share practical ways to create a culture of psychological safety and innovation within teams, based on real-world experience working across complex organisations and transformation programs. We’ll explore what enables teams to speak up, experiment, and collaborate effectively — and what gets in the way. The session includes simple, actionable activities attendees can use immediately to improve team dynamics, build trust, and unlock new ideas. This isn’t a theory-heavy or “perfect team” story. It’s an honest look at what works in practice, what doesn’t, and how small changes can have a significant impact on how teams operate and deliver together.
"Career journeys in tech are rarely linear. This session brings together women and non-binary professionals who have navigated pivotal career transitions — from user to admin, admin to architect, individual contributor to people leader, and technologist to executive. Panelists will share honest reflections on what prompted their change, how they approached it, the challenges they faced, and the support systems that helped them succeed. Expect practical insights, real-world advice, and candid conversations about navigating growth, uncertainty, and opportunity. This session is designed to inspire, connect, and support others who may be considering their own next step."
