In this episode, Danique speaks with Gijs Coppens. He started his career in consulting at Spring Associates and later BCG, but quickly realised that his interests went beyond strategy and business. What fascinated him just as much was the person behind the work.

With a background in engineering from Delft University of Technology, Gijs decided to study psychology, driven by the belief that understanding human behaviour is essential to building strong organisations.

After his time in consulting, Gijs continued his development as a psychologist in the Dutch mental healthcare system. He trained as a licensed healthcare psychologist and started his own practice in Amsterdam. When the practice quickly reached full capacity, he began thinking about how mental healthcare could become smarter, more accessible and more scalable.

That idea led to iPractice, an innovative mental healthcare practice that combines technology and psychology. Not long after, Gijs also founded OpenUp: a platform that makes mental support more accessible to employees and companies across Europe. Today, OpenUp helps organisations with coaching, preventive mental support and topics such as stress, workload, AI-driven change and wellbeing.

A conversation about moving from consulting into psychology, building companies in healthcare, and trying to remain a father, partner and person alongside being a full-time entrepreneur and founder.

This episode is a collaboration between Sweav and MIDDLE CHILD MEDIA.

Listen to the full episode on your favourite podcast platform, or watch it on YouTube.