Risk competence is rooted in context – not in models.

Confident decisions require data, models – and the ability to read context. With more than two decades of field-based and analytical experience in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, I help decision-makers and teams to turn complexity into clarity.

Strategic Development and Risk Management Solutions for Eastern Europe & Central Asia


Operating in Eastern Europe and Central Asia presents unique challenges—from navigating high-risk environments to adapting within diverse cultural and economic landscapes. With nearly 30 years of experience (field and theory), I support enterprises with strategic insights and foresights, and certified expertise in risk strategy and crisis response.


Throughout my career, I have had the privilege to live and work across diverse political environments—growing up in East Germany, fleeing to the West before the fall of the Berlin Wall (at 19), and - for almost 25 years now - constantly moving between Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Western Europe.  This was preceded by a decade of entrepreneurship and politics in the exciting (and often tough) transformation phase of the 1990s in East Germany.


My professional experience spans entrepreneurship, politics, academia and science, and intergovernmental organizations. This also includes experience in conflict zones. Key milestones include:


  • 1993 - 1996: State Executive Manager Saxony, Young Liberals of Saxony; Germany (political youth organization)


  • 1995 - 1999: Co-founder of PR company Zastrow & Schandera Dresden (Germany). Specialized in designing and rolling out events with substantial media effects. See case study


  • 1999 - 2000: Lecturer for Marketing and for Startup Management at HTW Dresden University of Applied Sciences (Germany)


  • 1999 - 2002: Lead Consultant and interim CEO at Mentor Unternehmerberatung GmbH (Germany)


  • 2002 - 2004 UN: SME Development Expert for United Nations Volunteers at SODBI Business Incubator Shymkent (Kazakhstan). See case study


  • Since 2004: Independent advisor and analyst for strategy, risk management, and organization development (OD). Assignments include private sector (enterprises), development agencies, gov, NGOs, as well as science & academia. Focus on Eastern Europe and Central Asia. For work examples, please see Reference chapter.


  • 2006 - 2014 World Bank: Regional Facilitator for the World Bank’s infoDev program in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. infoDev was a World Bank program that supported high-growth entrepreneurship in developing and emerging economies. See case study


  • 2009 - 2013: Coordinator for an international climate tech (bioenergy) scientific project at the DBFZ German Biomass Research Centre (Federal German gov), connecting leading German and Eastern European (Belarus, Russian Federation, Ukraine) scientific institutions. See case study


  • 2013 - 2015: Head (principal / rector) of an International business school in a conflict zone in Northern Kosovo. See case study


  • Full return to entrepreneurship in 2016 (see "current" below) as entrepreneur and angel investor.


Education:  Business administration (Dipl.-Kfm. FH) at Dresden University of Applied Sciences (HTW Dresden); East European Studies (M.A.) at Free University Berlin (FU Berlin); Irish National Diploma in International Marketing (International Business Studies) at RTC Sligo (Atlantic Technological University Sligo), Ireland. Russian language studies at Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute Ukraine (ХПI) in 2000, and at St Petersburg State University Russian Federation (СПбГУ) in 2007. Completed carpentry apprenticeship.


Certified risk and crisis manager. Certified turnaround consultant.


Current (2025):  Managing partner and co-founder of:


Gigahertz Ventures GmbH
Provides business angel investment to hardware and deep tech start-ups (focus Germany, industrial).


ua.ventures GmbH
Offers early-stage funding for Ukrainian tech start-ups and scale-ups.


EDUVISO GmbH
An international HR and capacity-building service provider, with a focus on the medical sector.


Independent risk management and strategy advisor (current).


References