I am a Berlin-based professional with a long-standing focus on European Union funding, project development, and organisational capacity building, particularly within the fields of democracy, civic participation, culture, and youth engagement. Over the past years, I have developed a solid and comprehensive profile that combines strategic thinking, operational expertise, and a strong commitment to social impact.
My academic background is rooted in communication and storytelling, including a Master’s degree in documentary filmmaking from London and earlier studies in film and broadcasting. This foundation has shaped my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and to structure narratives in a compelling and audience-oriented way—skills that I later transferred into the field of EU project development and proposal writing.
Professionally, I have accumulated extensive experience in EU funding and organisational development. As Head of Development at Alliance4Europe in Berlin, I have been part of the management team, contributing to the strategic direction of the organisation and building key internal structures, including funding systems, HR processes, and organisational workflows. I have coordinated numerous EU-funded projects focused on democracy and citizen participation, managed partnerships with international stakeholders, and overseen evaluation, reporting, and compliance processes.
Alongside this, I have worked as a freelancer in copywriting and communication, strengthening my expertise in storytelling, clarity, and audience engagement. Earlier in my career, I was involved in EU fundraising and project management for various organisations, including NGOs and European initiatives, which allowed me to develop a deep understanding of funding mechanisms and the challenges faced by smaller organisations in accessing EU programmes.
Building on this experience, I am currently developing my own consultancy focused on EU funding and capacity building. The core idea of my business is to act as a bridge between complex EU funding systems and organisations with strong social missions but limited administrative capacity. My approach goes beyond traditional grant writing by combining consultancy with training and long-term capacity building, enabling organisations to become more autonomous, sustainable, and effective in their work.
My interests and passions are clearly concentrated at the intersection of European cooperation, democratic participation, organisational development, and knowledge transfer. I am particularly motivated by supporting civil society actors and contributing to a more inclusive and accessible European funding landscape. This also reflects my personal engagement in social initiatives, such as supporting refugees and promoting integration, which further reinforces my commitment to social impact and European values.
My decision to participate in the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme was influenced by a combination of professional curiosity and external inspiration. In particular, I was encouraged by a colleague who had already participated in the programme and shared very positive experiences regarding both the learning dimension and the international exchange. At the same time, I had a strong personal motivation to gain experience abroad and to immerse myself in a different professional and cultural environment, in order to broaden my perspective and challenge my existing ways of working.
Beyond these initial motivations, I see the EYE programme as a highly valuable opportunity to further develop both my entrepreneurial and professional profile. The planned collaboration with an experienced host entrepreneur will allow me to deepen my competencies in key areas such as advanced proposal development, strategic positioning, budgeting, and workflow optimisation.
I expect this experience to contribute significantly to my human and professional growth. On a professional level, it will strengthen my ability to design high-quality EU projects, manage complex funding structures, and build scalable systems for my consultancy. It will also help me refine my service offer and position my business more strategically within the European funding ecosystem.
On a personal level, living and working abroad will enhance my adaptability, intercultural communication skills, and resilience. Engaging in a close, structured collaboration with another entrepreneur will also provide valuable insights into different working styles, decision-making processes, and business approaches.
Overall, I consider the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme as a key step in my transition from an experienced professional to an independent entrepreneur. It will not only support the consolidation of my business model but also contribute to my long-term goal of building a sustainable, impact-driven consultancy that empowers organisations across Europe to access and effectively use EU funding.