About us

We unleash purposeful DOers to use business as a force for good!

The DO empowers people to take action and create positive impact in their companies, their communities and the wider world. It is home to The DO Group, The DO School as well as the global DO Community of top leaders, young impact entrepreneurs, experts and innovators from around the world.

At The DO Group, we work with companies and organizations on their purposeful transformation. The DO School is a life-long learning center that believes in the power of hands-on learning. And, as a social business, The DO Community is our effort to connect our global ecosystem in the belief that together, our actions can solve the big challenges of our time.

The DO is based in Berlin and Hong Kong with offices in Hamburg and New York.

Our Approach

SKILLS &
MINDSETS

We create upskilling and lifelong learning programs that bring your people together with relevant leaders and innovators from other organizations, countries and ecosystems for your success. 

INTRAPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

Powered by a global DO Ecosystem, our team and facilitators enable your people to become effective intrapreneurs – from unleashing their purpose to measuring their impact effectively.

TURN IDEAS INTO ACTION

We engage your people to learn and grow using our award-winning DO Method that rapidly turns ideas into action around topics that are crucial for your organization’s future.

The DO in the Media

The tools for a radical new kind of leadership

What skills will be important in the future world of work? (German)

If We’re Sharing Everything Else, Why Not Our Coffee Cups?

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DOers Manifesto

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Meet the DOers!

Nomad Hope Hot sauce advocate Empowerment
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IPSITA BHATIA

Program Director, Count Us In

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ALEXANDER KIESEL

Catalyst Individual and Organizational Development

Generalist Implementer DOer Enjoyer
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PETRA VAESSEN

Finance & Administration Officer

communication creativity personal development techno 4 lajf!
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OLOF EKMAN

Creative Director

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FLORIAN HOFFMANN

Founder

Smart Finance A-Z Innovation in Operation Crashing drones
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JAN-OLIVER SUER

Head of Finance and Operations

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ROUVEN STEINFELD

Managing Partner DO Group & Co-Founder

Entrepreneur Innovation Strategy Local living
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AMY DETAVIS​

Managing Director of Dream Local

Community Curator Business Behaviour Systemic Festival Proof
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Anja thiem

People Director

DOer Future skills Impact Travel enthusiast
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KATHERIN KIRSCHENMANN

Founder

DOer Future skills Impact Travel enthusiast
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KATHERIN KIRSCHENMANN

Founder

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Belinda esterhammer

Managing Director, The DO Asia

GOOD MOOD SCANNER PERSONALITY INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOODIE
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Lisa Hennes

Executive Assistant to the Founders

Strategy Curiosity Experience
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ULRICH BECKER

Chief Operating Officer

PAOLA BORRERO

Space Manager

MARGUERITE BELLEC

Senior Programme Manager Entrepreneurship & Ecosystems

STORYTELLER COMMS ARCHITECT THOUGHT MOVER HUMAN PERSPECTIVE CHANGER
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ANNE NÜRNBERGER

Director Communications & Marketing

STORYTELLER COMMS ARCHITECT HUMAN PERSPECTIVE CHANGER
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ANNE NÜRNBERGER

Senior Director

Intersectional Inclusion Active Listener Engagement Films & salty popcorn
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Margherita Pisoni

Count Us In – Project Coordinator

EVA SPILLMANN

Program Manager

Learning design Future skills Collaboration Coffee Lover
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Marta Piasentin

Senior Catalyst | Learning & Development

Event Management Experiential Learning Employee Engagement Cats, Cats & Cats
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CYRus wong

Senior Manager, The DO Asia

Program Management Facilitation Complexity Pottery
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BIRTE SCHULZE RAESTRUP

Program Manager

Design & Facilitation Leadership Development Upskilling Ranch Dressing
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HAUKE STACHOW

Director of Leadership Development & Intrapreneurship

Design & Facilitation Leadership Development Upskilling Ranch Dressing
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HAUKE STACHOW

Senior Director of Leadership Development & Intrapreneurship

sustainability innovation system-change global justice
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PIA HILLEBRECHT

Program Manager & Facilitator

Social Innovation Purposeful Fair believes chess is a sport
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Artem Kaufmann

DOer in Residence

Community Joy Balance Vulnerability
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Hannah Grover

Program Manager

Community Joy Balance Vulnerability
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Hannah Grover

Program Manager

Leadership development Coaching Food rescue
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GIORGIA TRASCINELLI

Specialist for Learning & Development

Movement builder Innovation specialist Systems thinker Nice person
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DAVID LUBELL

Senior Director The DO Group, Movements & Ecosystems

Social Impact Organizational Psychology Change Nature
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Liliana Thimm

Senior Transformation & Program Manger

Social Impact Organizational Psychology Change Nature
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Liliana Thimm

Senior Transformation & Program Manger

Empathy Traveling Positivity Haven of peace
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THOMAS SCHÄFER​

Recruitment & People Experience

Social Business Commitment Complexity Adventure
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SIMON KAISER

Senior Program Manager

equation triad bicycle touchdown
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Henry Peuckert

Finance Manager

Innovator Entrepreneur Educator Advisor
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Hannes Gurzki

Senior Director Innovation & Transformation

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nim Lepcha

Digital Marketing Manager

Want to join our team of DOers and use business as a force for good? Check out our open positions.

Advisors

ALEX MARASHIAN

ANSON WONG

ASSAF HARLAP

CHRISTOPH POPPEN

DANIEL PINE

DOUGLAS WOO

FARAI CHIDEYA

GREG WACKS

JOHN DUTTON

LENA HEUERMANN

LINDSAY LEVIN

LISA WITTER

MARTHA KANTER

MARTINA NEEF

MEI WANG

MICHAEL NORTON

MIRJAM SCHÖNING

NAVRINA SINGH

NINA SMIDT

RAFAEL SAMUEL-LAJEUNESSE

SARA NIESE

SCILLA ELWORTHY

SETH TABAZNIK

SIMON HAMPEL

TANYA SELVARATNAM

TARA GOLSHAN

TONY TABAZNIK

JOIN THE DO COMMUNITY

The DO Community is the foremost online, global community of DOers with purpose – from experts and innovators to industry leaders and entrepreneurs.

Join the DO Community to find curated learning opportunities, join thought leadership webinars, and collaborate on ventures.

Find out more here and sign up!

Stay Updated with our
Latest News

IPSITA BHATIA

Program Director, Count Us In

ALEXANDER KIESEL

Innovation Catalyst

Alexander übernimmt bei 24YOU vor allem die Planung und Koordination. Inhaltlich ist er in erster Linie für die Themen rund um die „Welt der Arbeit“ zuständig und begleitet euch bei eurer Challenge (das sind die Teamprojekte, an denen ihr nach der Praxisphase arbeitet).

Alexander hat lange im Jugendregatta-Bereich gearbeitet und aus den Erfahrungen im Sport ein ganz klares Ziel mitgenommen: Das Beste aus jedem Einzelnen herauszuholen. Und gleichzeitig das Beste aus jedem Team zu machen.

Wenn du Fragen an Alexander hast, dann erreichst du ihn per Mail an alexander@thedoschool.org.

PETRA VAESSEN

Finance & Administration Officer

Born in Hamburg, Petra decided to become a foreign trader after finishing high school. She gained experience working with people of many different cultures during her business travels as chief purchasing manager for a German jeans brand.

As a woman in a male dominated sector, Petra started to gain interest and get active in social and political issues, such as women’s rights and the rights of migrants and children in the early 90s. As a result she pursued a degree Political Science at the University of Hamburg. In 2005, she founded Kulturbrücke Hamburg e.V., a non-profit organization with the mission to better integrate migrant children into German society and to increase cultural awareness, reducing stigma. As a co-founder, she was a member of the executive board for more than seven years and has significantly contributed to growth and success of the organization.

Petra has a school-aged son and her passions include cooking and any kind of sport.

OLOF EKMAN

Content & Storytelling

Olof is a Swede living in Berlin with 14 years of experience in the world of advertising, startups, organizational development, and coaching. He enjoys working with communication and creation in all forms the most. He is a certified ADAPT health coach and with his program ‘The 1-Month Habit Experiment’, he has equipped over 350+ with the skills to change their habits to live a more fulfilling life. He’s the founder of ‘five degree change’, dad of two, a brazilian jiu jitsu purple belt and a meditation buff.

JAN-OLIVER SUER

Head of Finance and Operations

Jan joined the DO School as Head of Finance and Operations. He has over ten years experience in consulting, start-up and foundation management, designing processes and organisations, implementing systems and structures and working to enable easier and betters ways of working for a variety of organisations.

His experience stretches from public sector organisations such as development consultancies and social insurance management authorities to international organisations, private sector banking and charitable foundations. His interest has always been with the area of social impact and he is delighted to bring his experience to support the creativity and impact of the DO School.

Jan studied European Studies at Maastricht University and Université de Provence before gaining his Masters in Public Policy and Human Development from the ILO and Maastricht Graduate School of Governance.

Jan has lived in Mauritius, France, Italy, The Netherlands and Belgium before settling in Berlin. He has a passion for new technologies and enjoys gardening, reading and spending quality time with his family and friends.

ROUVEN STEINFELD

Managing Partner DO Group & Co-Founder

Rouven Steinfeld is a Co-Founder of The DO and leads the DO Group, focusing on cultural transformation and organizational change through generating movement and mindset shifts for a greener, more innovative and equitable economy.

He has worked with leaders in industries as varied as supply chain, fashion retail, and automobiles. He is an expert in designing and leading co-creation teams and facilitating stakeholder engagements.

With an MA in International History from the London School of Economics and Political Science, Rouven specialized in international relations and conflict resolution at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel.

Rouven now lives in Berlin. He is an enthusiastic cook, hiker, and traveler.

AMY DETAVIS

Entrepreneur in Residence
& Director of Innovation

Amy DeTavis is the Entrepreneur in Residence for The DO’s new venture, Dream Local.

She’s also the Director of Innovation, overseeing the management and growth of innovation programs.

Originally from New Mexico, she moved to New York in 2012, and eventually traded NYC for Berlin.

ANJA THIEM

People Director

LISA HENNES

Executive Assistant to the Founders

ULRICH BECKER

Director and Head of Growth

Ulrich started out at the Boston Consulting Group and later led the Corporate Development of Deutsche Börse and the proprietary M&A of Credit Suisse. Before joining the DO School, Ulrich was responsible for the financial services practice at ESMT Berlin. Ulrich holds a PhD in Business from the Goethe Universität Frankfurt

ANNE NÜRNBERGER

Senior Director Communications & Marketing

Words create reality, and reality is a question of a multitude of perspectives that all deserve our respect. I love to fuel a true dialogue that unites people in living narratives that create a future that is good for society as well as for business. 

That’s in my hand baggage: A great team spirit! Plus: Editor-in-chief know-how from journalism & corporate publishing. Marketing & PR strategy from Silicon Valley, transformation & change expertise from working for big corporations.

Talking stories: One Friday morning a king invited me for a cup of tea in his garden. In Siberia I have defrosted a mammoth with a hair dryer for science. I reported from war zones & supported the peace movement – and I am mum of three terrific boys.

My great passion is the big picture and a clear focus on orchestrating a fresh but consistent mix of the buzzing creativity around.

MARGHERITA PISONI

Project Coordinator

ALONDRA MEDINA

DOer in Residence

As a DOer in Residence, Alondra is ready to dive into and co-create our unique projects, is committed to support all purposeful DOers on their journeys, and help align visions to strengthen the community.

Her background lies in the intersection of business and design fields, transforming insights into strategies and action. Before joining the Do School, she collaborated with and mentored entrepreneurs and undergraduate students, transforming their purposes and dreams into reality. Originally from Chile, she specialized in design thinking and business administration in Santiago and then in international marketing and sales in Münster.

Alondra is also a Kundalini yoga instructor who enjoys wandering in the wilderness, swimming, visiting friends, and trying new recipes and foods.

MARTA PIASENTIN

Senior Catalyst | Learning & Development

Marta is a senior Learning and Development professional with a focus on learning design and program management. She is passionate about helping others grow professionally and empowering them to become high-performing employees.

Marta’s experience as an external L&D provider for European Institutions and in higher education equips her with the right mix of skills to design effective learning solutions and drive change within a complex institutional setup.

She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and has worked in the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland, before settling in Berlin.

CYRUS WONG

Senior Manager, The DO Asia

Cyrus is an event strategist specialised in engagement and experiential learning with regional experience across various industries. After graduating in Communications Studies from the University of Western Australia, Cyrus started his career by involving in some of the biggest trade-related events in Hong Kong. He then makes use of his event management skills on corporate event planning, employee engagement, and learning and development for different MNCs in the region.

With The DO Cyrus is the Lab Catalyst of the WLAB. He takes the lead to organise events for the WLAB community members with a mission of co-creating a happier and healthier Hong Kong.

BIRTE SCHULZE RAESTRUP

Program Manager

Birte co-creates and delivers organisational transformation programs at The DO School, with a focus on program management and facilitation.

Before joining The DO School, she put the knowledge gathered in her studies (B.Sc. in Integrated Environmental Studies and M.A. in Ecological Design Thinking) to practical use in international projects of resource management and for the mobilization of people. Having been part of interdisciplinary teams with a variety of stakeholders, she feels comfortable with The DO School’s way of working.

As a passionate potter, she has expanded her hobby into the fields of education and community building to open up conversations about sustainability and personal development.

HAUKE STACHOW

Director of Leadership Development & Intrapreneurship

Hauke is a seasoned designer and facilitator with extensive experience in the sports-, consulting- and energy industry and holds a degree in economics from Leuphana University. He has built and led thriving L&D teams in the US at adidas and has facilitated major leadership development programs across Europe, North America, South America and Asia. 

After being trained as a master performance consultant in the US Hauke has returned home to Germany in 2019 and has worked for Kienbaum and Total before joining the DO School. Hauke’s experience as external consultant and internal HR and Talent expert equip him with an ability to shift perspectives easily and thus create impact learning experiences. Supporting and coaching leaders and learners in a fast changing environment is what Hauke likes most about his profession.

PIA HILLEBRECHT

Program Manager & Facilitator

Pia is a firm believer in co-creation with diverse groups to achieve social global justice and healthy systems.
With a Master’s degree in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability she is our expert in this area and facilitating learning journeys for intrapreneurs towards more sustainable and just business models by unlocking their innovation potential.

As a value-driven person, she has worked in sustainability consulting and accompanied organizations from different sectors and sizes on their transformation journeys. Her overall goal is to drive system change by addressing root causes and upskilling people.

ARTEM KAUFMAN

DOer in Residence

Artem started his DOer journey by supporting our new venture Dream Local in Partnerships. Now, he is a DOer in Residence deep diving into The DO Group supporting companies and teams on their way to transformation and thriving towards a purposeful economy.

With his background in business administration, business development in start ups and social entrepreneurship he is obsessed with digitalization, organizational transformation and social innovation. Being born in Ukraine, raised in Berlin and studying in Korea and Taiwan makes a diverse work environment very important for him and a key factor for innovation.

On weekends you will mostly find him in Brandenburg hiking, swimming or canoeing. Otherwise meeting friends, playing Spiekeball or doing martial arts and yoga.

HANNAH GROVER ​

Program Manager

GIORGIA TRASCINELLI

Specialist for Learning & Development

DAVID LUBELL

Senior Director – The Do Group, Movements and Ecosystems

LILIANA THIMM​

Senior Transformation & Program Manger

THOMAS SCHÄFER

Recruitment & People Experience

SIMON KAISER

Senior Program Manager

HENRY PEUCKERT

Finance Manager

HANNES GURZKI

Senior Director Innovation & Transformation

People with imaginative ideas are the driver in co-creating a more sustainable, equitable, and innovative future. I am excited about working with leaders and organizations to shape this future together and transform bold and visionary ideas into a concrete, tangible reality.

NIM LEPCHA

Digital Marketing Manager

Nim is the Digital Marketing Manager at The DO. With over four years in the EdTech sector, she brings her passion to further work with impact-based companies. By telling compelling and strong stories, she aims to underline the need for a more sustainable, innovative, and equitable world!

ISABEL MEYER-LANDRUT

Program Manager – The DO Group

Isabel does program management within the DO Group. Aiming to understand an organisation’s need by diving into the interrelations of structure, culture and people is driving her work. She is also training to become a certified systemic organisation consultant.

Previous to the DO she worked in Berlin’s startup scene, supporting companies in growing internal structures, communication and culture. Always aiming to find best solutions for ever changing environments. Her background lies in social science and European politics.

Besides relishing in the handiwork of concepting and building furniture, Isabel values fairness and is a true optimist.

CYRON CHAN

Program Manager

As Program Manager at The DO School (Asia), Cyron coordinates the InnoPower JC: fellowship of social workers and responsible for the planning, delivery, and evaluation of the programs with partners in Hong Kong. His work focuses on empowering social workers to become effective intrapreneurs leading innovative change projects within social work organizations. 

Before joining The DO school, Cyron initiated and developed the start-up center for the higher education institutes to nurture young people to be future entrepreneurs. Also, he organized global startup events and helped startups to grow locally and globally. He is experienced and passionate about social innovation as well.

Cyron is graduated from The University of Hong Kong (Computer Science) & The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Social Service Management) and continued his study of impact investing in Singapore. 

Last but not least, he loves cats & music!

ESAN LEE

Community Manager

Esan is part of the Asia team who is entrusted with building The DO School Community in Hong Kong.

Esan came from a background of event and marketing with product marketing experience in L’Oréal, GlaxoSmithKline and Nestlé. She has later dedicated her work on “Event” as it gives her enormous satisfaction in building mega event from scratch to completion, and the ‘human touch’ any event would give. Her work is marked by hands-on approach with stress on people with deep understanding about the audience.

Esan earned a major of Bachelor of Business of Administration from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and minor in History. She is passionate about cross cultural communication and connecting people with shared purpose that make the world a better place to live in. If you can’t see her working then you will be able to find her either in a boutique coffee shop or enjoying Hong Kong style hotpot with friends.

‘Life is Good’ is her motto.

FREDERIK NYGA

Director of Global initiatives and Partnerships

Frederik enjoys to develop relations, products and initiatives. In all meterological conditions he is the liaison between The DO and its partners. Frederik has a background in economics, media and education and was the publisher of several magazines and one of the organizers of Germanys leading conventions in HR and Compliance-Management.

EVA VANDER GIESSEN

Program and Community Manager

Eva supports The DO School’s impact entrepreneurs working on environmental and social justice, and connects them with a global community of purposeful DOers. Her background is in designing and facilitating workshops and incubators for entrepreneurs and artists to drive social change in the communities they know best. Previously, she worked with teams of Israeli and Palestinian entrepreneurs at Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow in partnership with MIT, as a facilitator in YES! Arts and Social Change Jams, and in education and vocational training alongside women and youth in Afghanistan. Eva is the co-founder of San Francisco Playback Theater and serves on the advisory boards of Afghan Friends Network and Playback North America. Her love of wild places, dance, and putting compassion into action continues to get her into the best kind of trouble around the world.

ADA RACHFALSKA​

People & Culture Assistant

Ada studied economics, management and currently doing cultural studies at the Freie Universität Berlin. Before The DO, she has mostly worked in large corporations (Google, Amazon), but her interests always revolve around social responsibility and activism. During her years at the Warsaw School of Economics, she took part in many student exchange programs, most importantly the Israeli-Polish Forum of Dialogue. Now, she’s part of an artistic-activist collective based in Poland, a music enthusiast, digging, mixing and playing parties in her free time. She’s also a Senior Fellow at Humanity in Action. At The DO, Ada is the People & Culture Assistant responsible for recruitment, and employee experience & well-being.

ALBANE SALZBERG

Count Us In Project Manager

Albane helps build the world’s largest community of people and organizations taking practical action on climate change. Within the Count Us In project, she supports the companies’ engagement initiatives. Our collective goal is to inspire 100 million employees to take climate action by 2025, and to make it standard for every business to empower their employees to take climate action.

After a business school education, Albane lived in China for six years. There, she learned Mandarin and worked as a project, event and community manager for public and private organizations within international teams. 

Purposefully driven by facilitating positive transformation, Albane uses improvisation theater and coaching tools to help individuals and groups bloom.

KATHERIN KIRSCHENMANN

Founder

Katherin Kirschenmann is founder and Chief Program Officer of The DO. In the past years she has built and worked in partnership with major institutions and corporations, including IKEA, H&M, the Deutsche Bahn, Unilever, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and various UN organizations.

Katherin is an international speaker, executive facilitator, and TV host with Deutsche Welle. She draws on her wide international experience across sectors to develop new ways to co-create innovation, develop Purposeful DOers, and impact entrepreneurs. Engagements under her leadership have empowered thousands of individuals and businesses to create meaningful innovation and lasting social change.

Before founding The DO, Katherin gained 10 years of experience in consulting as well as the inter-governmental and non-profit sector

FLORIAN HOFFMANN

Founder

Florian Hoffmann is a globally recognized social innovator, serial entrepreneur and founder of The DO.

Florian has been recognized with numerous awards for his work championing a vision of a global economy that is sustainable and innovative. In 2017, he was named one of the World Economic Forum’s 100 Young Global Leaders. He works closely with Fortune 500 companies, governments and foundations to solve some of today’s biggest challenges, partnering with the likes of H&M or the United Nations.

Founded in 2013, The DO enables individuals and organizations to drive a purposeful economy that is sustainable and innovative. The DO operates globally with offices in Berlin, New York and Hong Kong. The DO Method is amplified by the 50 000 experts and entrepreneurs within TDS’s network. The DO’s work has positively impacted over 5 million people’s lives.

Florian regularly contributes to thought leadership on topics such as social innovation, purposeful economy and the future of work with articles, speeches and publications.

SCOTT GOLDNER

Director of Entrepreneurship

Scott has experience building, developing and leading organizations, learning institutions, and programs at various phases of development – conceptual, start-up, local growth, national scaling, international scaling and improvement/turnaround. Developing people and teams and building community have always been at the heart of the programs that Scott has helped to design and has been a key part of his work with his own team responsible for delivering these programs. 

Additionally, Scott has always enjoyed coaching others to find both impact and balance in their lives and work. After his previous role as interim-CEO / Chief Educational Program Officer at Kiron Open Higher Education, Scott realized that this is what he wants to do most – to help others to do more purposeful, impactful work and to enable them to help and learn from each other.

The DO is an excellent home for Scott because it enables him to work with multiple partners and scores of participants – maximizing their learning and experience, as well his own and that of his team. The DO’s mission and vision fit so well with how Scott approaches his work – seeing purposeful DOing as the best way to work and community and movement-building as the only way for us to truly transform into a more purposeful economy and to together solve our most pressing challenges. He is thrilled to continue his journey at The DO – helping partners and participants to foster change and have positive impact through their ventures, teams, and organizations and as both individuals and part of a larger community of purposeful DOing.

Climate Action: Race to Zero

The Siemens Stiftung Education Challenge Africa

Climate Action: Race to Zero

beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship

View Program

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