Ellen combines an international background in marketing and innovation at Henkel, Sara Lee, and Heineken with venture-building experience as the founder of martech startup accelerator Collider—a perfect match to help innovate the future of market research with 5hellos.

Ellen also founded Stichting Long COVID to fund biomedical research. In her free time she can be found on a tennis court, golf course, or in a concerthall – ideally all in her favourite country Italy.

Nellie is passionate about people-centred solutions, drawing on a rich multicultural background and global experience. From her time at Heineken (Africa Foundation) to founding an NGO in Ghana that empowers children through education.

She’s also a true sports enthusiast, happily setting her alarm for F1, the Olympics, or a thrilling football match, wherever it’s happening in the world.

A native New Yorker living in Amsterdam, Lea started life as a banker, but quickly moved onto marketing at P&G. Since then, she has founded multiple companies: UX software firm Fredhopper, CX design agency Cnote and research platform 5hellos.

Most recent great read: Brotherless Nights by V.V. Ganeshananthan about the civil war in Sri Lanka – lots of parallels to today.

Tess brings a unique combination of knowledge from business economics and social psychology to 5hellos. An expert moderator and project lead, Tess trains our partner companies in the 5hellos method.

Tess is also the founder of the award-winning impact company Stamps – the app enables those  going through a difficult time to easily share updates with friends and family.

Hailing from Zeeland, Alexander has worked in innovation and market research for 5+ years, leading projects for 5hellos. With a masters from Rotterdam in Innovation and A.I., he specialises in quantitative work at 5hellos, in combination with sessions.

And… he works remotely, enjoying the good life  in Valencia, Spain.

Originally from France and now based in the Netherlands, Vita came here to study Social Psychology—and stayed for the cities, the people, and the borrels (though she still misses fresh baguettes). At 5hellos, she brings curiosity and warmth to every project, helping turn real conversations into meaningful insights.

Current favorite restaurant in Utrecht: Sarban, a cozy Afghan spot that’s definitely worth a visit.

Now based in Rotterdam and soon heading to Amsterdam, Jasmijn still holds London (which was once her home) as her all-time favorite city. With a Master’s in Strategic Management from Erasmus, Jasmijn blends analytical thinking with a love for people and purpose.

She is also a dedicated Rocycle and Pilates enthusiast and lifelong animal lover!

Jan is the senior of the company. At his best, he’s nurturing his network—through meaningful conversations (and increasingly, long walks) with people close to his heart. He never misses a chance to share the benefits of using 5hellos.

He also enjoys life with his wife Cia, children, and grandchildren. Dog Eefje helps him hit his daily goal of 20,000 steps. Feyenoord and Willem II bring joy—and sometimes a tear. Brabant, carnaval, and (still) the irresistible Beatles keep his world bright and full of life.