Founding President
Michael became an entrepreneur at the age of 19 prior to focusing on academia and education, managing a family business following his career as an Austrian ski racer. His studies include philosophy, psychology and system theory, along with an MBA.
In 1994, Michael founded the 1492 group in Cologne, Germany, to enhance collective intelligence within organizations in balance with global consciousness. He also spent a decade researching social learning at the University of Witten/Herdecke. Today he continues to look beyond horizon, coordinating an interdisciplinary research network in exchange with the MIT Centre for Collective Intelligence in Boston, USA.
Michael is a scientific author, a blogger for Harvard Business and a life coach. He gives keynote speeches to large audiences and is an adjunct professor at several renown business schools and academic institutions around the globe.
Managing Parnter
David is specialized in Business Ethics and Organizational Development during his Philosophy & Economics studies in Bayreuth.
He furthered his education with International Management and Leadership Development studies in Japan. He’s been member of the 1492 board since 2012, and is the co-founder and dean of the 1492 New School of Business, offering collective intelligence seminars and consulting master classes. He is also a scientific author and publishes the Rethink Series for socio-economic change as well as blogs for the Harvard Business Manager.
David is a speaker and PhD candidate at the University of Bayreuth in the areas of Ethical Leadership, Corporate Social Responsibility and Collective Intelligent Governance.
Chairwoman
Katja began her career in 1982 as a classical actress in Germany, eventually becoming successful in award winning television shows and movies.
Since 2002, she’s developed “Shakespearience” at the University of Witten/Herdecke, a methodology that supports leaders in better incorporating and performing their role within their organisation. She conducts leadership programs worldwide in the public and industrial sector, developing authentic leaders through improvement of their stage performance skills, demonstrating how appearance and mindfulness create followership and engagement.
She is the head of coaching at 1492 and an experienced executive coach since 2007. She owns the 720° Sonar coaching certification program for the New School of Business, where she is teaching and developing leaders for 21stcentury.
Since 2018 Katja is also a certified teacher at the „Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute“ born at Google based on neuroscience. She conducts the program about emotional intelligence, mindfulness and leadership to organizations.
Managing Partner
Surrounded by parents working in the Raiffeisen sector it was obvious that Armin’s career started off there as well. Besides his regular job he studied Business Administration & Entrepreneurship at the Management Center Innsbruck followed by a MBA in Finance at the Danube University and University of British Columbia.
During his 20 years in banking and leading management positions he gained a proven track record in the holistic development of corporate strategies throughout the CEE and SEE region, general strategy development and execution, M&A, as well as the design and implementation of transformation and change programs.
As managing partner, Armin holds the CFO role and is also member of the 1492 investment committee. Moreover he consults private equity and start-up companies to support their corporate development.
Armin’s heart beats for working with people in a participative manner to unfold the collective intelligence of corporate systems by raising the consciousness of leaders combined with a clear sense of purpose.