Kirsten Heukels
~ founder of 1for2 Social Innovation.
Attention is my craft
INTRODUCTION
Entrepreneur and founder of 1for2 Social Innovation — a trusted agency specializing in the social development of organizations.In my personal life, I have been married to Bas since 2016, after my first husband passed away in 2012. Together with Bas, we have built a large and dynamic family: two foster children, two children from my first marriage, and two from his. All of them have grown into wonderful young adults — delightful conversation partners in their own right!Professionally, my journey began as a mediator in 2000, when mediation was still a relatively new profession in the Netherlands. Over the years, my work evolved — from mediation to training, coaching, and behavioral analysis.As an Insights Discovery practitioner and trained in the Hofstede international and organizational culture models, I help individuals and teams deepen their understanding of human behavior. Since 2015, I have also worked internationally as a profiler, specializing in the analysis of micro expressions, body language, and voice use — supporting crisis negotiations, leadership development, and complex communication challenges.For carefully chosen organizations such as KNVB, Embraer, and Odin, I serve as an external confidential counselor, offering support where discretion and trust are essential.Recently, I completed the Governance Essentials program with the Dutch Association of Supervisors & Directors and I am open to supervisory roles.My work always comes back to one truth:
People are at the heart of everything.From simple questions to highly complex situations — people resonate with me. Anyone who can be helped, I try to assist.
Attention is my craft, and it’s at the core of everything I do.If you are seeking thoughtful expertise on human behavior, its interpretation, or its influence within organizations, I invite you to learn more about our work at 1for2 Social Innovation.
And if you have any questions or need support, feel free to contact me without obligation — I'm happy to help.
Attention is my craft
Profiling & Behavioral Insights for Peak Performance
Understanding human behavior is at the core of achieving lasting success — in sports, business, and life.Through profiling, I help individuals and teams recognize patterns, instincts, and communication dynamics that often go unnoticed.
By analyzing micro expressions, body language, and vocal patterns, we uncover deep insights that strengthen decision-making, resilience, and connection.When people feel seen and understood, performance rises naturally — without forcing change.
Behavioral insights are not about labeling; they are about liberating potential.
Attention is my craft
Confidential Counseling
Despite efforts to foster safe and equal workplaces, unwanted behavior still occurs — affecting around 3% of employees each year across organizations.Unwanted behavior can include aggression, violence, discrimination, bullying, or sexual intimidation.
When someone's personal integrity is violated, access to an empathetic, independent, and lawful support system becomes critical.Organizations may appoint an internal HR or People Operations staffer as a Confidential Counselor, but concerns around neutrality and confidentiality often arise.
That is why working with an external Confidential Counselor offers an important safeguard: ensuring every individual feels heard, protected, and supported — without conflicts of interest.I became a Confidential Counselor to offer exactly that: a trusted, lawful, and human point of contact for individuals facing violations of their dignity and safety.Since 2018, I have been a certified Confidential Counselor, registered with the LVV (Dutch National Association for Confidential Counselors) and affiliated with De Vertrouwenspersoon (The Confidential Counsellor).Confidential Counselling is not about mediation or compromise. It is about standing firmly beside the person who speaks up — offering clarity, support, and, when needed, a safe way forward.
Attention is my craft
Crisis and Hostage Negotiation
Crisis and hostage negotiation centers on one unwavering goal: preserving life.Whether facing a hostage situation, a barricaded suspect, or a suicide intervention, the desired outcome remains the same — no casualties, safe recovery of individuals, and the peaceful surrender of those involved.Negotiated resolutions have been recognized since ancient times as the preferred approach to resolving high-stakes crises.
Force may be an option, but dialogue remains the most powerful and humane tool.Trained by the Public Agency Training Council (PATC) in Las Vegas in 2018, I work with the structured methods and team roles essential for effective crisis negotiation — including primary negotiator, coach, scribe, and intelligence officer coordination.What I bring beyond standard procedure is deep communication expertise: building trust, reading behavior under pressure, and creating space for de-escalation where it seems impossible.Currently, I am exploring collaboration opportunities with local law enforcement and organizations seeking to strengthen their crisis readiness.
If you are interested in learning more or connecting about a potential collaboration, I welcome a thoughtful conversation.
Attention is my craft
Kinesic Interrogation
Genuine understanding often lies beyond what is spoken.Kinesic Interrogation combines advanced behavioral profiling with structured interview techniques, helping reveal truth through careful observation of body language, vocal patterns, and written communication.The focus is never simply on extracting confessions — it is on creating the conditions where truth can emerge, ethically and without coercion.
Even under pressure, the priority remains avoiding false confessions and respecting the dignity of all individuals involved.Completing an intensive Kinesic Interrogation program in the United States expanded my ability to work within complex, dynamic interview settings — where reading readiness, resistance, or distress must be done with precision and empathy.Kinesic Interrogation offers organizations a powerful, ethical approach to critical information gathering, grounded in attention, not force.
Attention is my craft
International Mediation:
The Power of Connection
In an increasingly interconnected world, conflicts are rarely simple — they often cross borders, cultures, and deeply held personal values.My approach to mediation focuses first and foremost on the people behind the conflict.
Beyond the issues at hand, there are human needs for recognition, respect, and understanding that must be heard before sustainable solutions can emerge.With a background in law, mediation, and behavioral analysis, I work to reopen dialogue where it has broken down — building bridges carefully, attentively, and without judgment.The goal is not simply to reach an agreement, but to create outcomes where every voice has been genuinely heard, and every perspective treated with dignity.True resolution respects both fairness and humanity — and it begins with attention.
Attention is my craft
Training & Coaching
Training requests often arise from a deeper need for change — whether in personal growth, team dynamics, or organizational culture.The first step toward real change is always enhancing self-awareness: understanding not only how we see the world, but how the world experiences us.In my training and coaching work, I use models like Insights Discovery and the Hofstede cultural dimensions to make behavior visible, tangible, and actionable.
Insights Discovery, with its accessible four-color energy framework, helps individuals recognize their natural style, strengths, and the unique value they bring to a team.These insights become the foundation for deeper development: improving personal effectiveness, team trust, leadership under pressure, stress management, goal setting, and cultural transformation.Every program is customized — whether through focused workshops, workplace training, or longer development trajectories — depending on the client’s needs and ambitions.At the heart of every training or coaching journey is one goal:
to guide individuals and teams toward becoming more connected, more resilient, and more capable of thriving together.
Attention is my craft
Supervisory Board Member
Good governance starts with attention — to people, processes, and the values that hold organizations together.After completing the Governance Essentials program at the Academy of the Dutch Association of Commissioners & Directors in 2023, I have expanded my advisory focus to include governance and supervisory roles.Since September 2024, I have been actively contributing as an Advisor at Liion Power, where I apply my experience in coaching, mediation, and behavioral analysis to help foster a positive, resilient, and successful corporate culture.My advisory work includes:
- Culture and team development: Promoting collaboration, respect, and psychological safety within teams.
- Strategic communication: Supporting transparent communication with stakeholders, employees, investors, and partners.
- Advisory and coaching: Guiding in HR strategy, leadership development, and conflict mediation.
- Crisis management: Assisting leadership teams in navigating challenges thoughtfully and strategically.I am now open to formal supervisory board positions, where my approach — connecting past expertise with present insight and future needs — can help organizations not only navigate change, but build sustainable strength.With transparency, empathy, and a pragmatic mindset, I work to create workplaces and governance structures where people feel heard, valued, and empowered to thrive.
Contact
Are you facing a complex situation, or looking to strengthen your team’s communication and resilience?Whether you need support in a specific challenge, coaching for deeper development, or insight into behavioral dynamics, I am here to help.You are welcome to reach out without obligation.
Sometimes, one thoughtful conversation is enough to spark a new path forward.
Please use the form below for enquiries
© 2025 | 1for2 Social Innovation | All rights reserved.
Profiling Analysis facial & behavioural & voice expressionsPATC certified kinesic interrogator, crisis & hostage negotiatorPartner of Itim Focus | Strategy Culture & Change ConsultancyPractitioner of Insights Benelux | Transforming Individuals, Coaching Teams and OrganizationsFull Associated Mediator International ADR register.Registered & Certified External Counsellor at LVV.