Our team
Dr. Max Senges, has more than ten years experience working on internet and innovation projects with companies, higher education institutions and public sector. He currently works for Google's policy team in Berlin and hence serves only in an advisory function.
Max’ specialization is on knowledge systems (e-learning, training)
and knowledge ecosystems (communities of practice, intranets), as well as the cultivation of an entrepreneurial
organizational mindset. His thematic expertise is complemented by a quick comprehension of strategic contexts,
strong project management skills and experience in roll-out and change management.
Max holds a Master in Business Information Systems (TFH Wildau, Berlin), a PhD in Philosophy (UOC, Barcelona).
In 2008 he conducted post-doctorial research at Stanford University.
Howards Rheingold is an eminent pioneer, analyst and innovation facilitator in the area of social media and
online culture since the early 80ies. He coined the term “virtual communities” (1987)
and was one of the first to focus, analyze and publish about the phenomena related to the socio-cultural
dimension of online media.
Over the last decades he has successful worked as Internet strategy and social media
consultant with companies from a variety of sectors (esp. media and technology), as well as educational and public sector institutions.
Thomas Praus is an online consultant, project manager, passionate blogger and DJ
(stylewalker.net), he studied business and communication in Berlin and Barcelona. He published
books about organizational identity and weblogs, Second Life’s importance for education and weblogs
as challenge for pr and marketing. He worked for several online agencies, an e-learning company and in music journalism.
Currently, he is Director Concept for Panorama 3000 and lives in Berlin, Germany.
Peter Bihr, is a digital native working as a freelance consultant for Web 2.0, Weblogs and Social Media.
For his clients, he develops and deploys online strategies to foster relationships of value with their stakeholders,
customers and communities. Before, he studied Communications and Media at Freie Universität Berlin and University of
Sydney and holds masters degrees of both universities. He also worked as an editor for several small online magazines,
and blogs about the topics Web 2.0, Social Media and digital life on his private weblog
thewavingcat.com. He currently lives in Berlin, Germany.
Michael Hodel began his career in 2000 in Berlin working as a brand consultant for clients like Renault,
Kraft Foods or the West LB with the crossmedia-agency "im stall" / TBWA Berlin.
In 2002, he joined the dmmv (German Association for Multimedia and Internet), one of the biggest associations
in its field in Europe. As an expert for e-commerce, e-marketing and European projects he was responsible for
several internal & collaborative projects.
In 2002 and 2003, Michael was the representative of the German Ministry of Economics at the German Pavillion of
the E3 Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, California.
From 2004 to 2005, Michael was Marketing Consultant at the online media and marketing agency Spacedealer.
After having worked as Concept Director for McCann Erickson in 2005, Michael is now running his own company
called Astraco in the field of media concepts, information architecture and strategy in Berlin.
Astraco has worked for Clients like InBev, o2 Germany, Vodafone, Audi AG, Mercedes-Benz, PricewaterhouseCoopers and others.
Johannes Graef, studied English and American cultural studies, communication and politics.
Before his studies he collected considerable experience in the fields of journalism and event management while
working for radio sunshine live and he still writes irregularly for the “How to-Magazine”. Furthermore he
deepened his competence in event- and project management during the past seven years through his work for AKT Zwei,
where he was involved in the planning and on-site production of large trade fairs for customers like Alfa Romeo, FIAT, Lancia and Smart.
While working for TRIAD Berlin on a strategic communication-consultancy for Deutsche Telekom he became acquainted
with the topics of Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Social Responsibility and brand ethics. Ever since he is keenly
interested in exploring the role of business in society. Especially the integration of societal stakeholder needs in
business strategies in order to gain a win-win situation. This interest was fostered through his successful work as
CSR-consultant for the charity project *Stars of Tomorrow.
Additionally Hannes gained valuable insights in the fields of recruiting as well as the market for higher education
in general through his current employment at the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT).
Throughout his work-life Hannes has benefited substantially from his broad background. Due to curiosity being one of
his main drivers, he likes to raise different perspectives towards a posed problem or issue in order to find a holistic solution.
Andreas M. Braendhaugen holds an MFA degree from Stanford University in product design, and a BA from the
University of Oslo. A recurring question in his work is how media technology affect political developments and societal transformation.
His academic career has been eclipsed by an ambition to apply design methods in territory usually confined to other disciplines,
such as public policy, media, and international relations. As a dedicated generalist, he has worked with a diverse set of public,
private, and academic institutions, most recently Autodesk Inc, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, and the Design for Change
Center at Stanford.
A collection of his design work can be found at ambwork.com.