Laurien Verstraten
Moderator and RTL Z presenter
Meet Laurien Verstraten, who has a passion for meaningful conversations. Curious, sharp, and unafraid to ask the tough questions. Whether she's interviewing a CEO, leading a panel discussion, or engaging an audience of hundreds: she always seeks the story behind the story. She presented various television programmes at RTL, including Ondernemerslounge on RTL Z, and worked as a moderator for organizations such as Google, Shell, BMW, KLM, ABN AMRO, and the Chamber of Commerce. Her combination is unusual: a Master's degree in Law combined with training in musical theatre. Analytical prowess and stage presence in one, which means a conversation with her not only sounds good but also matters.
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Biography
Presenter with a passion for conversation
Laurien Verstraten is a television presenter, chairperson, and lawyer. What ties these roles together is her fascination with meaningful conversation: curious, sharp, and willing to ask follow-up questions when answers remain vague. She has presented various programs at RTL, including Ondernemerslounge on RTL Z.
Lawyer and music theater
She studied law at the University of Amsterdam and simultaneously pursued training in music theatre at ArtEZ Conservatorium. This combination is defining for her work: the jurist provides substance and analytical precision, the conservatory brings performance at the highest level. She asks the questions others leave unasked, and knows how to pose them in a way that resonates in a packed hall.
Moderator for big corporations
As a moderator, Laurien has worked for organizations such as Google, Shell, BMW, KLM, ABN AMRO and the Chamber of Commerce. From intimate sessions to halls with hundreds of attendees, she knows what it takes to make a stage both professional and personal — a balance where many programs falter.
Executive training and coaching
Prior to an event or congress, she helps CEOs and leaders prepare and refine their speech or keynote. She looks at the content and message, but equally at the way it is delivered. This ensures that a story not only makes sense, but also convinces.
Expertise
Chairmanship of the day
A smooth day starts with preparation. Laurien dives deep into what the client wants to achieve, what each speaker will deliver and where the dramatic arc should be. On the day itself, she monitors the pace, creates connections between contributions and handles the unexpected — without the audience noticing that anything has gone wrong.
Interviewing and Conversation Management
Her legal training taught her to understand files thoroughly and identify weaknesses in reasoning. She applies this on stage: she prepares substantively, asks the question the audience has in mind, and dares to push back with a CEO. At the same time, she keeps the conversation pleasant, so the guest remains open rather than shutting down.
Presentation Training for Executives
Prior to a conference, Laurien refines speeches and keynotes for CEOs and leaders. She works on two levels simultaneously: ensuring the message is substantively sound and logically structured, while also verifying it lands as intended. Her conservatory background enables her to be concrete about voice, timing and stage presence rather than focusing solely on the text.
Podium and performance
Music theater teaches you to read a room, feel the rhythm, and be present without demanding attention. Laurien brings those skills to business stages, where they're usually missing. It's the difference between someone who talks through the program and someone who carries it.
Themes
Entrepreneurship
Meetings about entrepreneurship, growth and the choices that come with it. A field where Laurien is well at home, both through Ondernemerslounge and her work for the Chamber of Commerce.
Leadership and ambition
Congresses on leadership, performance drive and the question of what success really costs. Laurien conducts conversations with executives without settling for conventional answers.
Innovation and Change
Programs for organizations in the midst of a transition. She keeps the thread visible and ensures that abstract change language becomes concrete.
Communication and Persuasiveness
How to deliver a message that resonates. A subject on which Laurien not only leads the conversation, but also trains others personally.
Personal Growth and Resilience
Gatherings where personal storytelling takes centre stage. Laurien puts speakers at ease and creates space for what lies beneath the surface.
Media, entertainment and music
Sectors where she has inside knowledge from her television work and conservatory background.
Why Laurien
Legal acuity, theatrical presentation
Master of Laws and trained at the conservatory. She has a deep understanding of complex content and knows how to deliver it to an audience with perfect timing.
Television Routine
Her work for RTL taught her to switch gears under time pressure, with an earpiece in and without the audience noticing any shifts. That's exactly where a day chairman earns their money.
Experienced with demanding clients
Google, Shell, BMW, KLM, ABN AMRO and the Chamber of Commerce. Organizations that know what they want and where a program needs to run professionally.
Professional and personal
She safeguards your program's business objectives without creating distance. Speakers feel at ease, and the audience remains engaged.
More broadly applicable than the day itself
Besides chairing sessions, she trains executives in their own presentation skills. This means you can deploy her both before and during the event, which elevates the quality of your entire program.
She keeps asking
Where many presenters move on to the next question, Laurien lingers on the answer that was too easy. That's the difference between a panel you sit through and a conversation people talk about afterwards.
Reviews
“Laurien chaired our real estate event on November 3rd, 2023 and did an excellent job. She had prepared thoroughly and visited our office a few days before the event to prepare, which was very pleasant. During this meeting, we were able to not only get to know her better but also discuss the day and content in greater detail. Laurien is very professional and a pleasure to work with.”
“5 star Host! We had a great experience working with Laurien for a solar industry event in Amsterdam. She was very well prepared in advance, with a clear understanding of the agenda and flow. Her delivery was HIGHLY professional, confident, and engaging, ensuring the entire launch ran smoothly and on time. She managed transitions perfectly and maintained a great atmosphere throughout the event. Overall, an excellent performance, and we would be very happy to work with her again in the future for sure.”
“I would like to thank you. The smooth running of both broadcasts is partly due to your professional contribution. I have great admiration for how you can lead a conversation on an unfamiliar topic. If we organize an online event in the future, we will certainly think of you.”
“I am very impressed by your qualities as a presenter, truly outstanding. Most presenters could learn a lot from you. We would therefore like to use your services again.”
“It went well with Laurien yesterday, we felt she did very well. During the dry-run we had a few adjustments and she picked them up well. So we're very satisfied with how Laurien handled it yesterday.”
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