Your Journey to a Fulfilling Life

Engineering felt like a natural path for me. I’ve always been fascinated by how things work, how they can be improved, and ultimately, how they can enhance quality of life—particularly in urban transportation. My interest in technology is not just about innovation for the sake of it, but about how it can genuinely make our lives better. That’s why I don’t believe in tech as the answer to everything but rather in minimalism—doing more with less, an idea that stuck with me since reading Factor Four during my university years.

Beyond engineering, I love reading, especially science fiction, which constantly challenges me to think about both desirable and undesirable futures.

At heart, I suppose I’m a humanist—believing in the potential of people to create positive change, while also recognizing the urgent challenges of climate change, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss. Therefore, my goal is to contribute to solutions that balance innovation with sustainability and social good.

Starting at age 17, eager to explore, I left home and enrolled at the University of Technology of Troyes in France to study Material Engineering and Environmental Sciences. It was there that I discovered Life Cycle Assessment, alongside mechanical and electrical engineering as well as chemistry. But it was a class by Dominique Bourg on the Philosophy of Ecology that truly shaped me. That moment crystallized my commitment to sustainability – wanting not just to study it, but to actively make a difference (or try, at least!).

That commitment carried me to Munich, where a six-month internship turned into ten incredible years in a city I still consider one of the most livable in the world. Without fully realizing it, I embarked on a PhD at the Technical University of Munich, drawn more by the research on Sustainable Consumption than by the title itself. Under Prof. Gabriele Weber-Blaschke, I learned the rigor of scientific methodology and writing, and her passion for ecology fueled my own. During my PhD, I discovered transportation’s immense impact on sustainability. A conversation with Prof. Gebhard Wulfhorst set me on a path that has defined my career ever since: urban mobility. My thesis, “Sustainability screening tool for decision-making assistance in the field of urban mobility“ focused on innovations in public transit, developed in collaboration with Munich’s transit agency, MVV.

But I wanted to explore different sectors, so I joined Audi, analyzing the CO₂ reduction potential of alternative fuels. Later at BMW, I dove into the world of electromobility, working on projects like Battery 2^nd Life, where I assessed business models for repurposing i3 batteries for stationary storage. I also helped teams secure government funding for innovative battery cells, battery management systems, and electric motors.

Feeling too settled – too comfortable maybe? – I sensed it was time for another leap, both in topic and geography. That’s when I moved to Singapore to lead a team of industrial designers at TUMCREATE under Prof. Fritz Frenkler. Having traveled to Cambodia and Japan before, Southeast Asia felt like a natural fit. There, I immersed myself in Human-Centered Design and autonomous mobility – a topic I’ve never left since. My team explored VR-based communication for AVs, robot companions to support passengers, and other cutting-edge concepts. It was the most creative period of my career, shaped by an exceptional team. One of our most memorable projects was the Citizen Dialogues with Yves Mathieu from Missions Publiques, engaging people across the globe — including Singapore — to discuss the future of AVs.