Meet The Team
The 42 Berlin team works hard to make sure the holistic student experience is the best we can provide. Our team is small but determined, motivated by our shared goal that brings us together at every step of the way. We bring our whole selves to work, allow our differences to complement one another's, and share a lot of laughs.
Headmaster & CEO
Dr. Max Senges
Max steers the 42 Berlin ship steadily into the open waters of innovative education, ensuring the team is thriving alongside the students. Max orchestrates our Learning SpaceShip‘s stakeholders and humbly leads our venture to maximise the happiness and meaningful success of the students. Max’s role extends to our sister school, 42 Wolfsburg, and ensures we both share in every success. Max has a PhD in Philosophy, a Master’s degree in Business & Computer Science, and has co-founded 2 startups. Max landed at 42 after working at Google for over a decade. With his mind happily focused on the future, Max’s vision guides us into the #NextGenerationEducation.
Find more on Max’s background here and find him on Twitter & LinkedIn.
Operations Lead
Viola Sommer
As operations lead, Viola takes control of all things to do with the daily running of the school: the campus, financials, HR, recruitment, networking, office management … and the list goes on! Viola is a psychologist specialized in neurodiversity, however she spent 14 years in London where she founded a successful tech company employing autistic people as coders. Her creation became the largest social enterprise in the UK and attracted investment by Richard Branson and the Porsche family. In 2020, she moved to Berlin with her family and fell in love with 42. Viola’s passion lies in making tech more diverse and wanting to build a campus with maximum flexibility to accommodate for different needs, alongside a community that is at the forefront of innovation and inclusion in Germany.
Pedagogy Co-Lead
Daniel Hadley
Pedagogy Co-Lead
Jonas Hagedorn
Jonas is the other beating heart of our pedagogy team and works to create the best school for future software engineers. After finishing high school, Jonas moved to Thailand to play online poker for a living, however his mind became fascinated by stochastics and statistics and he went on to study mathematics. Jonas worked as a Data Science Consultant for 3 years at Deloitte, before studying at 42 Heilbronn to understand the fundamentals of software development. Jonas very much integrates himself into the student community and is ready to solve any queries students may have.
Tech Lead
Denis ÖZDEMIR
As our technology lead, Denis takes charge of IT, the FabLab, and leads 42 Berlin’s Digital Health and Cyber-Physical System (CPS) practice groups. He ensures that there is the cutting-edge technology needed to contribute to a great learning experience. Denis studied mechanical engineering at RWTH Aachen University and Carnegie Mellon University (U.S.A.) focusing on cybernetics and mathematical optimisation. He then completed a Ph.D. in mechatronic design at WZL Aachen. Before working with 42, Denis worked as an engineer and expert for the Internet of Things (IoT) at Boston Consulting Group Digital Ventures and served as Managing Director of the Cluster of Excellence on “Integrative Production Technology”, one of Germany’s major projects on “Industrie 4.0”. Denis’ personal mission is to create an environment where we feel motivated to change the universe for the good.
Marketing Lead
MAGDALENA SKORUPSKA
Magda, Head of Marketing & PR at 42, makes sure the 42 word is spread as far as possible. She coordinates all of our marketing projects that put our school on potential students’ radars. Magda is a lawyer by education and a digital marketeer by experience of over 8 years. After working for Marketing Agencies in New Zealand and Poland focusing on Search Engine Marketing, she moved deeper into the Marketing-Tech world in Berlin where she’s been leading Digital Marketing teams and Strategy since 2015. Coming from a family of teachers, Magda has seen the injustices of the educational first hand; millions of people struggle to find well-paid jobs, whilst completely unaware of their potential. On top of this, there is an immense gap in the market and a need for well educated coders. Magda believes 42 builds a bridge for so many people to gracefully enter a job they love and use their skillset to create powerful tech.
EDITORIAL & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Mia Jaccarini
Mia makes sure the 42 Berlin message is heard by those who need to hear it; using social media and other platforms of communication to share the school with the world and using exciting means to put sustainable coding in the spotlight. Mia studied English and Philosophy at university, before going on to teach English as a foreign language. Mia founded her own vintage company that highlighted the need for sustainability in all realms of life … including tech! Mia felt instantly at home in 42 Berlin where purpose and meaning is central to the ethos. Her personal mission in the team is to make sure 42’s message is understood and accessible to all those who will thrive here.
Welcome Manager
KARSWARAN GANESH
Kars is one of two Welcome Managers at 42 Berlin, working within the operations team to ensure that the students have all they need for a comfortable learning environment, as well as overseeing the day-to-day smooth running of the campus. Kars’s previous experience lies in gastronomy, managing the restaurant Mrs Robinson’s in Berlin, where he gained valuable experience in running a tight ship, and dealing with people from all walks of life. Kars’s personal mission at 42 Berlin is to provide a smiling face to anyone and everyone, and make each student feel like they are part of a genuine community.
Welcome Manager
APATA OLUWAKAYODE AYOTUNDE
Ayo works alongside Kars as Welcome Manager for 42 Berlin, ensuring the campus is a welcoming and friendly space for all who use it. Before joining us, Ayo worked with Betahaus, the first co-working space in Germany and, with the experience gained from these years, Ayo chose to help shape the educational sector. Ayo has a degree in computer science and is helping with the upcoming FabLab projects. Ayo’s personal mission is to encourage, engage, and equip others to believe in themselves no matter the situations they find themselves
Tech Intern
ADRIEN CASTELBOU
Adrien is a tech intern at 42 Berlin. Having studied at 42 Paris for 1.5 years, he joined the team at 42 Berlin in June 2022. His mission is to provide technical support during the Piscines, help manage our IT infrastructure, and work on 42 Bear; our exciting AI project. Prior to this, Adrien studied sports science at the Paris Descartes University for 2 years, and found his way into computer science in the summer of 2020, when he did his piscine at 42 Paris.
Tech Intern
Pedro Ruiz
Pedro has also joined the 42 team as a tech intern this year. Coming from Spain, Pedro has a background in Agriculture Engineering … so if you need help with plants, he’s your guy. After lots of contemplation during the pandemic, Pedro decided to join 42 Madrid and, after 1.5 years, he fell in love with the methodology and wanted to participate in offering an alternative to traditional education. Aside from Pedro’s on duty missions, he loves music (his band has reached over 1 million plays on Spotify!), is an avid chess player, and loves to make things … so you’ll probably spot him in the FabLab once it’s in action!
Fellowships & Partner Management
Tobias Martens
Tobias leads the Fellowship Program of 42 Berlin/Wolfsburg. In this role, he facilitates bringing Partners on campus and engaging our network of Industry and Academic Fellows in our education programs. He previously worked in consulting, for private universities, and technology startups. With a motivation for science entrepreneurship, he runs as well projects about linguistics and industry standards for AI interoperability and is a contributor at several industry standard organizations. Tobias is fascinated by the peer-learning methodology of 42 and believes it should be spread to many more domains and organizations.
