Berlin, Germany

This is

my story.

As a child I wanted to save the world. Growing up, I realized that a) systemic change is a collaborative effort and b) getting to the heart of complex problems instead of fixing symptoms is more challenging than little me imagined.

Now as an adult I still want to make a positive difference with my work. So far I've researched and taught computational social science at three universities, co-directed a cross-cultural social tech start-up, digitized German government bodies as a consultant, and shaped the future of food donations through digital solutions as an innovation project lead. I also used data for good with an international network of data scientists as a team and project lead and openly shared scientific knowledge as part of the steering committee of a global MOOC. Currently, I'm serving as the interim managing director of an independent economic think tank to jointly advance the social-ecological transformation.

These diverse experiences strengthened my interest in designing solutions to complex problems that build bridges between sectors, disciplines, and people to co-create value for good. By integrating analytical methods and people-centered design I reframe those challenges as opportunities to analyze the world as it is―and explore how it might be in the future.
Black and white photography of Lisa Hehnke.

These are my experiences.

With a multidisciplinary background in the quantitative and computational social and behavioral sciences, business, mediation, and human-centered design plus a wide variety of experiences across roles and contexts, I am well-equipped to work at intersections and address complex challenges holistically.

As a director, team and project lead, consultant, mentor, researcher, educator, and speaker I've worked with social impact organizations, government bodies, social businesses, and research institutions. And while I truly enjoy co-creating change across cultures and traditional boundaries, I thrive in innovative, forward-thinking, and inclusive environments.

Sounds like a lot? This is how it all came together...

2014-2016
MA, Politics & Public Administration (1.1, excellent)

Graduated from the University of Konstanz with specializations in management and quantitative and computational research methods.

2017
Big Data & Analytics Summer School

Studied abroad at the University of Essex and completed postgraduate courses in machine learning, agent-based modeling, and geographic information systems.

2016 - 2018
Researcher & Lecturer

Used big data and computational methods to research digital behavior and led multiple (under-)graduate seminars on empirical research methods and social data science at the universities of Konstanz, Hamburg, and Bielefeld.

2019
Started freelancing 🚀

Facilitated my first data science workshop as a freelancer after moving to Berlin.

2019-2020
Project Lead

Designed and led two pro bono data science projects for CorrelAid and acted as the interim project lead for an international cooperation project on computational thinking at a Berlin-based research institute.

2019-2020
Steering Committee Member

Provided strategic direction and guidance on the future development of the Open Science MOOC as part of the international steering committee.

2020
Operations Director

Co-directed and strategically developed an international tech start-up with the mission to build decentralized open source software.

2017-2021
Data Science Consultant & Team Lead

Provided project-based pro bono data consultancy to social impact organizations with CorrelAid. Established and scaled the network as part of the core team, co-led the project coordination team, and co-founded the Berlin local chapter.

2020-2021
Mediator (univ.)

Completed a professional training program on conflict management and principled negotiation.

2021
Consultant

Advised two German federal and state-level ministries as an IT consultant for governance and change.

2021
Project Lead

Led a government-funded innovation project for a major German food bank to build a digital ecosystem platform with partners from academia, industry, and civil society.

2021-2022
Mastering Design Thinking

Completed an executive program on human-centered product and service design at MIT Sloan.

2022
Digital Strategies for Business

Completed an executive program on innovative strategies and business models for the digital age at Columbia Business School.

2022
Futures Studies & Speculative Design

Completed project-based courses in design futures and immersive scenario planning at Parsons School of Design.

2023
Power and Influence for Positive Impact

Received a scholarship from Harvard Kennedy School's Social Innovation + Change Initiative (SICI) to complete their program at Harvard Business School Online.

2022-
Inhouse Consultant

Providing strategic direction, facilitating agile workshops, and co-creating IT solutions to enable PHINEO's team to build a civil society where doing good and creating social impact belong together.

2022-
Deputy & Interim Managing Director

Advancing the social-ecological transformation with Green Budget Germany, an independent economic think tank.

2023-
Oxford Executive Leadership Programme

Completing Saïd Business School's executive leadership programme.

What's next?

You now know quite a bit about me, but I'm also curious about your perspective. Share your experiences and challenges with me below.

Share your story

These are my certificates.

(Well, at least some of them. Channeling my inner Leonardo da Vinci and learning across disciplines is one of my favorite activities.)

© 2023 Lisa Hehnke | CC BY-SA 4.0