In high school, Henny Hoekstra was told computer science “wasn’t necessary.” At twenty, she never imagined she would end up in tech. Yet curiosity carried her from growth hacker to co-owner of Pluvo, and turned those doubts into fuel for building better companies.
In episode 120 of Women Disrupting Tech, Henny is our guide as we discover how curiosity lets her live the life she’s supposed to live. It’s a story about courage, resilience and building teams that last.
3 Lessons From This Conversation
What makes someone shift from sales to co-ownership, from outsider to trusted leader? For Henny Hoekstra, the answer is curiosity. A curious mind helped her gain the trust of developers, navigate imposter syndrome, and lead Pluvo in a world where learning is survival.
Curiosity opens doors.
Henny’s path shows how asking questions and showing interest can carry you from entry-level to co-owner.
Women need to prove themselves more.
As a woman in tech, she often had to show she truly knew what she was talking about before gaining respect.
Learning fuels survival.
Ignoring employee development is not optional. Henny warns that without it, companies stagnate and may even fail.
When you are ready to learn from Henny’s journey, listen to Episode 120 of Women Disrupting Tech on your favorite podcast app. Or scroll down for magical moments, practical takeaways, and my own observations.
- 3 Lessons From This Conversation
- Meaningful moments and timestamps
- Magic Moments In The Episode
- Practical Tips for Female Founders
- The Quote From The Episode
- 3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
- A Question for You 🤔
- Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
- Listen to Episode 120 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
- Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
- About Henny Hoekstra
- About Pluvo
- Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
- What I Want To Leave You With
Meaningful moments and timestamps
| time | highlight |
|---|---|
| 02:00 | Journey to Tech Leadership |
| 07:29 | Navigating a Male-Dominated Environment |
| 12:42 | Building a Diverse Team |
| 13:41 | Overcoming Imposter Syndrome |
| 20:58 | Transitioning to Co-Ownership |
| 25:31 | The Importance of Mental Health |
| 31:19 | Being a Role Model in Tech |
| 34:46 | Demystifying Tech for Women |
| 39:53 | Understanding Pluvo’s Mission |
| 42:21 | The Need for Learning and Development |
| 45:51 | Future Aspirations for Pluvo |
| 50:03 | Creating Inclusive Tech |
| 57:07 | Adopting a Growth Mindset |
Magic Moments In The Episode
Henny studied in a male-dominated environment, lived in a house with only men and thought she was ready to enter the men’s world called tech. But while Henny was, the environment wasn’t. That insight shaped her path from growth hacker to co-owner of Pluvo, and taught her that curiosity and resilience build better relationships and stronger teams.
“I wasn’t prepared for their unpreparedness.”
Henny’s reflection on entering a male-dominated environment captured how teams struggle as much as individuals to adapt.
The mental shift of becoming an entrepreneur.
Becoming a co-owner was a mental shift that took her two years. Her bosses became her equals, and Henny called on her network to help her navigate that transformation.
“A curious mind is a joy forever.”.
This simple phrase beautifully sums up our conversation and reminds us that curiosity is a superpower for leaders.
👉 What was your magic moment while listening? Share them in the comments.
Practical Tips for Female Founders
When friends told her not to become a co-owner, Henny turned to entrepreneurs in her network instead. That choice shaped her path and offers clear lessons for founders who want to grow without losing their people along the way.
Surround yourself with the right people.
Henny turned to networks and entrepreneurial peers when friends told her not to take the leap into co-ownership. It gave her the necessary counterbalance to follow her heart.
Be mindful of how you write job descriptions.
We’ve heard it before on this podcast: The framing of requirements influences who applies, and whether women see themselves as a fit.
Treat training as essential, not optional.
Companies that invest in learning and development keep people, adapt faster, and stay alive. Plus, knowledge preservation can save you a lot of money.
👉 Know someone who could benefit from these tips? Pass this episode on to show them you care.
The Quote From The Episode
“If you never try, you will always regret not trying it.”
Henny Hoekstra, CCO of Pluvo
3 Things That Changed The Way I Think
Some of the most powerful parts of this conversation were not about strategy, but about imposter syndrome, internal blockages, and healing. It’s deep, it’s beautiful and transformative. Here’s what I’ll remember most from the episode:
Openness invites openness.
It’s something I learned from the previous episode, but it still surprises me. From her remark about caring for your mental health as an entrepreneur, to my healing journey and back. That depth is what makes this conversation transformative.
“If you never try, you will always regret not trying it.”
Here’s a lifetime of advice in one quote. Ready to be put somewhere you can see it.
Asking for help is not a weakness
They say that mindset is everything when you want to lead the life you’re supposed to lead. Surrounding yourself with the right people and asking for help when you need it, is then not a weakness. It is a superpower.
Curious to hear Henny’s full story? 👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
A Question for You 🤔
What do you believe is more important for an entrepreneur? Their effort and grit? Their support team? Or maybe how they take care of themselves, both mentally and physically?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments or message me directly. I’d love to hear your take.
Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
Can you be too data-driven as a founder?
For the answer to that question, check out episode 121. Adasight co-founder and CEO Dayana Marín Valencia is my guest to explore the importance of data in startups, the challenges of remote work, and the significance of mentorship, especially for women in tech.
When you’re an aspiring ally, you might want to check the episode as well. Dayana describes really clearly what she expects “support” to look like.
So stay tuned for this and much more on Women Disrupting Tech.
Until the next episode, as always, Keep Being Awesome!
Listen to Episode 120 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube
How Curious Minds Build Better Companies in Tech with Henny Hoekstra | Ep. 120 – Women Disrupting Tech
Other ways to amplify the voices of Women Disrupting Tech
Want to make inclusion in tech the new normal by 2032? Here’s how you can help:
Follow the Women Disrupting Tech Podcast
Follow the podcast on your favorite platform. Every follow brings these stories to more people.
Give the show a rating or review on Spotify or Apple.
It only takes a moment, but it tells others this podcast is worth listening to. And helps the voices of my guests carry further.
Share the stories that move you.
Send this episode to a friend, a colleague, or someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps to build a more inclusive tech future and supports my guests in getting the stage they deserve.
So when you know someone who should hear it, pass it on when you’re done.
About Henny Hoekstra
Henny Hoekstra is co-owner and Commercial Director at Pluvo, an all-in-one online learning platform that helps organizations manage learning, development, and compliance in one place. She is also co-founder of Learning Innovators, a community and podcast that brings together professionals who are passionate about knowledge sharing.
Her mission is to make learning easier, more accessible, and more impactful, because when knowledge is in the right hands, it can transform the world. Outside of work, she finds inspiration in nature and sports, especially calisthenics, where perseverance and discipline mirror the values of entrepreneurship.
You can connect with Henny on LinkedIn.
About Pluvo
Pluvo is an e-learning platform that helps organisations build their own online academy within minutes. It brings together all learning activities, certifications, and skills in one place so training becomes strategic, measurable, and engaging. Pluvo works for small budgeted teams as well as large organisations, offering authoring tools, blended and social learning, and a strong focus on insight and performance. Rooted in a belief that everyone should have access to great learning, it combines powerful features with attentive, personal support.
Learn more about Pluvo or schedule a live demo at Pluvo.com. You can follow Pluvo on LinkedIn, too. And don’t forget to check out their (Dutch) podcast Learning Innovators with more than 100 episodes on innovating learning.
Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
Events are picking up again and I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.
Diverse Leaders in Tech Events
If you like being in the know about what is happening in the DEI space, Diverse Leaders in Tech is the place to be.
Every last Thursday of the month, they have monthly in-person meetups for tech people, HR leaders and supporters of diversity to exchange insights, tackle challenges, and take action. It’s a vibrant, safe space where diversity is celebrated.
The next meetup (co-hosted by Techleap) is on 25 September. You can register on the DLiT website. Did I mention that joining your first event is free?
Women’s Health In The Workplace
A must-attend event for women and men who want to learn how they can improve productivity and well-being in the workplace.
Date: 1 October 2025
Location: Equals, Amsterdam
Time: 12:00 – 17:00 hours
Tickets: on Eventbrite
FemHealth: women-friendly healthcare in 2040
Hear from the experts on female health what the future of Female Health in the Netherlands should look like.
Date: 7 October 2025
Location: Dauphine, Amsterdam
Time: 15:00 – 18:00 hours
Tickets: on Eventbrite
What I Want To Leave You With
Curiosity led Henny Hoekstra into tech when people around her told her not to bother. It helped her build trust with developers, navigate leadership among older peers, and grow into a role model she never expected to be.
Her story is proof that companies thrive when leaders stay curious, invest in people, and dare to follow their own spark.
👉 Listen to the full conversation on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast 