Max' End of 2023 update

Launched into professional freedom by 42, I've used the past five months to embark on the awesome journey to discover and pursue what I really really want to do with my life (Frithjof Bergman). Given my background in philosophy and entrepreneurship, it was evident that my answer also needed to align with what is really really needed. Below, you'll get a sneak peek into (1) my path toward what I believe is the answer and (2) an update on three new roles I've recently embraced to steer me in the right direction (i.e. providing fertile ground for 1.) as well as to fund my family.

(1) For me, life is entrepreneurship, it goes beyond seizing market opportunities or pushing for innovation; Entrepreneurship is first and foremost a weltanschauung; it’s the force behind the project of Enlightenment (“man's release from his self-incurred tutelage”); it’s about self-determination and designing the life you desire. As many of you know, I was lucky to define my life philosophy (Knowledge) Entrepreneurship in my PhD; thus I am grounding my new life design on those insights: viewing the world as a landscape of opportunities and challenges, requiring skillful assessment to choose the right ones and the right path. The term Life Entrepreneurship (TED Talk) really resonates with me.

The other ingredient is “Bildung” rather than vocational training. I'm intrigued by the concept of learning about oneself; as Aristotle eloquently put it: “To know thyself is to become wise”. For me, education is only subordinately about skills; it must start with defining what a good life means to you, and then you go about learning what you need to pursue your dream → #LearningForLife. At 42, I had the great fortune to build and operate two schools using the powerful pedagogy of project-based peer-learning. This method is not only great to learn-to-learn and to train communication skills, it also scales incredibly well; so fingers crossed that good dynamics emerge when we unleash peer-learning onto the world to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs!

Yes, there's a venture evolving under the surface, but that's a story for another time. If you share a passion for these topics and are interested in teaming up or contributing even a little, please reach out. I'd be delighted to share, deliberate, and explore potential joint ventures.

Today I'm really happy to share about three roles I've recently started that are meant to pave the way for (1): 

(2.1) Together with incredible Monika I. (Deputy Director) I will lead the almost 25 year old Institute of Electronic Business e.V. (www.ieb.net), a research and transfer institute associated with the Universität der Künste Berlin founded by Thomas Schildhauer, Prof. Dr. Dr.-Ing. aka Thoschi, with whom I collaborate for more than a decade. The institute's mission is to transfer insights from academia to the private and public sectors (aka third mission or triple helix). If you're an academic seeking real-world impact or an organization looking to benefit from top researchers and to hire talents, don't hesitate to get in touch and see post here.

Secondly (2.2.), I've reconnected with my German PhD supervisor, Prof. Günter Faltin, a pioneer in entrepreneurship research and practice in Germany. I've committed to supporting him and his school of thought - initially for one year as Entrepreneur in Residence @ his Foundation - in their mission to spread entrepreneurial spirit and practice to the next generations. 

If you believe a better, more social, and eco-sound economy is needed and if you agree that a multitude of smart entrepreneurs can be the answer, please get in touch!

Lastly (2.3.) I am proud to share that I am taking the leap to offer my competencies and experience as boutique consultancy. You can learn about my offerings (in German) @ MaxSenges.com and of course… please get in touch, if you have a need I might be qualified to address. 

Allow me to close with a BIG BIG THANK YOU to my wife Birte Senges and the many many friends and peers without whom these last months would have been devastating and certainly less inspiring: Prof. Dr. Günter Faltin , Thomas Fuhlrott , Dr. Johanna Richter , Thomas Schildhauer, Prof. Dr. Dr.-Ing. , Thomas Flum , Filip Rajsic , Pavel Richter , Astrid Aupperle , Sven Ripsas , Gesche Joost , Max von Grafenstein , Bastian Unterberg , Janett Kalina , Denis Özdemir , Joana Breidenbach , Monika I. , Moritz Ettl , Hannes Graef , Christoph Jungfleisch , Nikos Green and last but certainly not least Dr. Olivier Flückiger