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Home: London and Berlin. Age: I never thought I’d reach that age. Birthplace: Hamburg. Profession: Active investor, catalyst, connector and seeker. Organization: Independent family office. Title: Formerly, and for almost twenty years, CEO of publicly listed companies. Pronouns: He/Him/His. Alma mater: Studied Art in Hamburg and then dropped out. Like many others with a similar path, I then went on to build and IPO a few businesses. Languages spoken: German and English.
Current project: I have 20+ portfolio companies. The core project is an immunotherapy to cure cancer. Recent recognition: I’m proud to have been called “probably one of the most reliable and loyal people in the investment space.” Recent professional development: Building, managing, advising and investing in 20+ businesses within several industries at the same time is a journey of non-stop learning, every day. Latest accomplishment: Going through a very tough challenge and still standing. Helping to develop and grow a business with the potential to cure cancer. Latest contribution to others: Pro bono advice and support to companies and individuals on a very regular basis. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Bringing NAGA.com from an idea to IPO within less than 24 months. Hobbies: Spiritual literature and practice, scuba diving, problem solving, sports. Recent travel or adventure: For decades I lived on planes and in airports and hotels, literally all around the world, from the glamorous to the rotten to the jungle. I’m now so very happy to be able to spend time at home. Last book read: The Myth of Normal, Dr. Gabor Maté. Recently viewed and recommended: We See It Too Late - 103 Year Old Dr. Gladys McGarey's Secrets to Health, Longevity and Love (YouTube).
Personality profile: Tolerant, accepting, supportive, disciplined, conscious. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Dynamic. Moral compass: Guidance from a higher power. We all hear it when we listen. How do you define a perfect friendship? Reliable, low maintenance yet solid, non-judgmental. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Loyalty, trust, reliability, openness. What is your greatest joy? Peace, nature and spending time with loved ones. What is your greatest fear? Losing hope, losing faith. What is your guilty pleasure? Binging on all kinds of harmless and legal dopamine kick creating activities. What word or phrase do you use far too often? Sorry. What natural talent have you neglected? Creative arts. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? All healing professions.
What three emojis best describe you? 😀🌠🙏.
What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Holidays and dinners. What is at the top of your bucket list? New Zealand. How do you relieve stress? Meditation, Wim Hof breathing, prayer, exercise. What is your go-to workout? Calisthenics and Yoga. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? Nature or wonderful people.
What was your first paying job? Paperboy. What was your favorite college course? Art. What was your favorite childhood toy or game? Playmobil. What book have you repeatedly read? Siddartha, by Herman Hesse. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Aviator. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? A painting of trees in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? Gandhi. What’s the best advice you received growing up? “An eye for an eye will leave the world blind” (Gandhi). What’s the best advice you received in your career? Focus on relationships. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Just the basic internet and the communication and sharing of information it enables, as well as its function to connect us. What is your favorite app? Audible. What is your go-to source of news and information? Instagram and TikTok. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? Being open to literally everything – things that come up during meditation, conversation, a movie or a walk. What company or organization do you most admire? Every activist or activist organization whose members risk their life, reputation or career in order to be a catalyst for positive change. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? The fall of the Berlin wall and 9/11. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? The birth of my son.
What is your big idea? Enabling a healthier physical and mental life by rebalancing the immune system. What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Working on an immunotherapy biotech firm and writing and educating regarding a vision to organize society in a more humane and beneficial way. What change would you like to see in the world? The end of nation states; universal basic income. What message do you want to send out into the world? Engage with compassion, forgiveness and understanding. What widely held belief do you reject? That our system is fair and just and superior to indigenous cultures and societies. I believe that indigenous, especially tribal cultures and societies are far more harmonic ways to exist in the world. What mega-trend most excites you? I hate mega-trends. They usually turn out to be Ponzi Schemes created by certain groups to exploit others. What mega-trend most concerns you? Scientific materialism and the unquestioned belief in data.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Learning by Burning. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Bradley Cooper. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? I would leave this choice to whoever runs heaven. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? Working in a zoo with animals. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? A pile of papers with memories from events, holidays etc. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With my family, in nature. What advice would you give your younger self? Enjoy life more, work less and take less risks. Spend more time on the things you love, and trust in life. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? While I have always believed that the best is yet to come, probably a holiday with the entire family in a big house together. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? My twenties. I would far less or not at all, study more, enjoy life more and travel.
Personal mission: The growth of my soul. And as everything is connected, this will also serve the universe. Personal motto: The best is yet to come. Favorite quote: Be in this world but not of it. Desired epitaph: Really conventional: ‘in loving memory of…’.
