Gemic

Abdullah is a Strategy Lead based in Gemic’s London office.

He brings over 7 years of education and strategy consulting experience. He believes that strategies are most impactful when they create learning organizations that are able to self reflect and proactively respond to change. Deliberate learning, whether at the individual, organization or system’s level, is always at the heart of his work.

Abdullah holds a BA in International Relations from Brown University and an MBA from the Quantic Institute of Business and Technology. He has worked on improving and reforming education systems and organisations across several countries, including the UAE, KSA, Jordan, Pakistan, and Lebanon.

Aditi is a Strategy Lead based in Gemic’s Berlin office.

A true believer in interdisciplinary research, Aditi combines theoretical tools from science and technology studies, anthropology, history, and literary studies to understand the cultural, societal, and technological forces shaping peoples’ lives. They believe that the most innovative strategy is inclusive and draws on stories from unexpected sources.

Aditi holds a PhD in Middle East, South Asian, and African Studies from Columbia University, and has been a research fellow in Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge. Aditi has worked extensively in the non-profit sector, with a focus on humanitarian aid for refugees and addressing climate change in the Global South. Outside of Gemic, they can be found in their ceramics studio, on a long hike, or reading Japanese fiction.

Aija-Rose is Gemic’s Operations Coordinator based in New York.

She believes that the best operational practices are driven by empathy and efficiency. She brings nine years of professional experience managing inventory, events, and communication in several industries including arts non-profit, publishing, digital fabrication, private household management, and health tech.

Aija-Rose is a graduate of SUNY Ulster, a public community college in upstate New York where she studied Art History and Graphic Design. She has earned certificates in Brand Management and Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in NYC.

Alexander is a Senior Strategist based in Gemic’s Helsinki office.

He is passionate about understanding how changing political, social, and economic realities around the world temper the ‘things’ that affect peoples’ subjectivities. This allows him to curate those compelling and evocative stories of peoples’ lived experiences that underpin truly meaningful strategy. 

Alexander has honed his empathy and analytical skills as both a research consultant and as a product manager. Whilst he enjoys working across a range of industries, Alexander finds the challenges of the healthcare and healthtech space particularly thought-provoking. 

Alexander first read for an honours BSc in Social Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. After this, he read for an additional MPhil in Health, Medicine, and Society (with a specialisation in Medical Anthropology) as a Wellcome Trust Scholar at the University of Cambridge. 

When he’s not occasioning strategy magic at Gemic, Alexander can be found dreaming of the gluten-free food revolution or working on his writing skills. He hopes to one day write with the clarity, minimalism, and emotional elegance of, say, Hemingway—or a Dane. 

Anna is a Strategy Lead based in Gemic’s Berlin Office.

In her thinking, she has been influenced deeply by the idea of “adaptive leadership”, the notion on how in times of constant changes, the ability to adapt and thrive in challenging environments is critical. Anna brings a rich portfolio of experiences in accompanying complex change in various settings. In her experience, whenever people face change they share a fundamental need for leadership that provides clarity, direction and vision.

Anna holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Technology Management from TU Munich and an honours degree from CDTM Munich. She also holds a Master in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy school of Public Policy. Prior to Gemic, Anna worked for the strategy consulting firm BCG, specialising in the energy and public sector, with a lens on innovation. Next to her work, Anna is engaged in building job markets for people fleeing from war zones, with her initiative Imagine Ukraine. 

Arth is a Strategist based in Gemic’s Toronto office.

He is a definite optimist and believes that successful innovation comes from ‘secrets’ – truths about the world that are not yet public knowledge. At Gemic and beyond, he’s on the hunt for secrets across disciplines, peoples, and cultures by incorporating a multidisciplinary approach in his thinking. He believes that the best strategies start with a bold, disruptive image of a better future and deploy meticulous planning to get there.

Arth graduated with a BA in Economics and Philosophy from the University of British Columbia. He is interested in everything ranging from existentialism to credit default swaps, and has previously worked in equity research and in product at an AI startup.

Outside Gemic, he can be found talking to strangers, practicing guitar, or chasing down esoteric ideas.

Audrey is Gemic’s Operations Coordinator based in Berlin.

She believes that supportive, compassionate and people-driven practices are essential to company culture and effective operations. She brings years of experience in employee experience, people operations and workplace management in Berlin based startups.

Prior to relocating to Germany, Audrey studied and practiced veterinary technology and hospital administration in Seattle Washington. In her spare time, she continues her work with animals at local shelters.

Behzad is a Director of Strategy based in Gemic’s Toronto office.

He believes in the combined power of Social Science and Human-Centered Design to identify new product and service opportunities while generating the actionable strategies required to unlock them for clients, their customers, and stakeholders. 

Behzad has honed this ability across client-side and agency-side roles, from steering exploratory innovation projects detailing new lines of business to the design and de-risking of new products to enable them. He holds a PhD in Socio-Cultural Anthropology and specializes in the social study of finance, technology, and identity. Prior to joining Gemic, Behzad led design research initiatives for AI product teams and helped clients discover customer-facing AI opportunities while working at Element AI. 

On the weekends, he enjoys cycling with his son. 

Benjamin is a Knowledge Management Lead based out of Gemic’s Berlin office.

Benjamin works at the intersection of hand-crafted insight and data. He helps Gemic manage the ways we generate, collect, grow and share our knowledge using state-of-the art technologies. He enjoys enabling project and client teams to learn, experiment and make best use of such technologies. A trained Cultural Analyst, experienced innovation consultant and self-taught developer, Benjamin enjoys immersing himself in the intersection of these fields and navigating both its potentials and challenges.

Before Gemic, Benjamin worked at ReD Associates (Copenhagen, New York) as well as a freelance innovation and strategy consultant. In his free time, he is a passionate father of two, musician, and skier. Benjamin holds a degree in Communication & Cultural Management from Zeppelin University (Germany) and Macquarie University (Australia).

Bernardo is Gemic’s Visual Communications Lead based in the Berlin office.

He believes visual design is an instrument for fostering clarity, understanding and action. Bernardo has honed his ability to tell stories visually through his background in the editorial, web and information design fields. He has also helped brands transform strategy into visual expression. 

Bernardo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Santa Catarina Federal University and a Master’s degree in Information Design from the University of Reading. Prior to Gemic, Bernardo has worked as a designer at an independent publishing house, co-founded a design studio in Brazil, and worked for a fintech startup in London. When not working, he can be found admiring the beauty of vernacular graphic design he finds on the streets.

Carmen is a Strategist based out of Gemic’s New York office.

Carmen utilizes skills honed through the scientific study of language to recognize patterns, analyze diverse cultural influences and trace the historic roots of social changes. She believes in curiosity as a powerful tool that should be at the foundation of any project.

A graduate of Harvard College, Carmen has pursued her passion for language and culture by studying Linguistics and Comparative Literature. She brings varied professional experience that ranges from research for international non-profits to creative work at a start-up.

Caroline is Gemic’s Global Director of Operations

Results oriented and empathetic, Caroline believes that no initiative can be successful without the involvement of the people who it aims to empower. Leveraging this philosophy, she brings over 10 years of operational and project delivery experience,  managing the lifecycle of strategy and innovation projects and enabling teams to yield human-centered solutions to complex problems. 

Caroline is Prince 2 certified and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland, with a major in Psychology. Formerly at Idea Couture, she led delivery excellence initiatives, the creation and management of a Project Management Office, and the integration of project delivery and operational systems into those of the parent company post-acquisition.

Christian is a Strategy Lead based in Gemic’s Berlin office.

He believes in the power of holistic insight to drive the creation of valuable futures. Attentive to the productive interspace between what is, and aspiration, he helps clients uncover lived experiences of consumers as well as emergent perspectives that shape tomorrow’s world.

Christian received his PhD in Anthropology from the London School of Economics. Prior to Gemic, he was a research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany where his research explored dynamics of cultural change, radical uncertainty and urban transformation.

Constance is the Senior Director of Business Success at Gemic and responsible for Finance, HR & People, IT, Legal & Compliance and Project Operations for our offices world-wide and is currently based in Berlin.

She believes in human connection, data based decision making and efficient process design to solve problems, reach strategic goals and create an environment that serves a company’s purpose and people alike. 

Constance holds a BA(hons) from European Business School in London and has more than 20 years experience in the field of operations. She has lived in Germany, France, Argentina, the UK, Spain and India. In her spare time she is a passionate mum, studies Hindi and takes care of her little home zoo.

Dave is a consumer insight and market strategy expert with 32 years of experience in identifying opportunities for Procter and Gamble to launch and grow brands and businesses. He was inducted into P&G’s ‘Brand Mastery Society’ in recognition of a life-long career of brand-building. He’s guided the launch, growth and sometimes the revitalizing of dozens of household-name brands in multiple countries, categories, and market contexts.

Dave’s skills in insights and pattern recognition, honed over decades, enable him to rapidly ‘see the wood for the trees’ and highlight where to focus to maximize the value of your ideas for both you and your customers.

Dave received a first-class honors degree and MA in Human Geography from Cambridge University, and has served on the advisory boards of several US universities.

David is Partner based in Gemic’s Abu Dhabi and New York offices.

As the head of Gemic’s Education & Societal Impact practice, David applies systems thinking to advise senior leaders in both the public and private sectors on their most complex strategic challenges. Under his leadership, Gemic helps to build flourishing communities through projects in areas such as learning design, public school reform, environmental and social sustainability, individual and collective wellbeing, interfaith cooperation, and the future of knowledge and innovation.

A former university professor, David earned his Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Chicago, where he serves on the Alumni Board of Directors.

He loves to cook, swim, and swing kettlebells.

David is a Senior Strategist based in Europe.

An anthropologist by training, David is supremely interested in the stories that people tell about themselves. And as a strategy consultant, his aim is to help clients become a transformative part of those stories, in a positive and empowering way.

Originally, from Florence, Italy, David has a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge. In his academic research prior to Gemic, he explored questions of individual and collective self-cultivation and cultural change from the somewhat unusual perspective of hardcore football fandom. He is an experienced and highly analytical field researcher.

Devika is a Strategist based in Gemic’s New York office.

Driven by curiosity and a commitment to following her intuition, Devika believes a multi-disciplinary perspective is key to understanding human decision-making outside of a one-dimensional, homo economicus framework. In her work, she delivers growth strategies that sit at the intersection of generations, cultures, and spaces, with an understanding that sustainability has to underpin any system bent on success.

Devika graduated with Special Honors in International Relations and Global Studies, Economics, and Plan II Honors from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining Gemic, she led research in sustainability, circularity, and international environmental regulation at an Austin-based research lab. When she’s away from her computer, Devika can be found testing new blends of hojicha tea at home or creating something new at the local pottery studio.

Duncan is a Stratgist based in Gemic’s London office.

He believes that technological innovation is destabilising the concepts that humans use to construct reality – it’s changing what it means to think, to know, to be conscious. In attending to the philosophical stakes of contemporary technology, Duncan hopes to help guide it to positively shape the new.

Duncan holds a masters (MEng) degree in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London and a BFA in Fine Art from the University of Oxford. Before joining Gemic, he worked in insight consulting, helping a global technology company to develop a new strategic vision and product innovation framework for one of its major verticals.

Away from the office, Duncan makes installation art, and cycles up hills in his native West Yorkshire. 

Duo is a Visual Communications Designer based in Gemic’s Berlin office.

Curiosity and empathy weave through the evolution of design. Being a pragmatic thinker, she believes good visual design tears down the language barriers by translating the intangible, complicated into the tangible, meaningful.

Coming from a Business and Hospitality background, Duo made the leap into Design where she has over 5 years of in-house experience working for startups, an advertising agency as well as freelancing, she had helped brands tell their stories by elevating their visual identity and leading numerous campaigns which reached an impactful, measurable goal. Out of her working hours, she can be found documenting lasting moments on her analogue camera, or appreciating renaissance art in the local gallery.

Elisabeth is a Partner based in Gemic’s Toronto office.

Over the past 13 years, Elisabeth has been immersed in both brand and innovation strategy worlds, namely within life sciences, health delivery, consumer health and technology sectors. She has a passion for human understanding and delivering solutions that is deeply shaped by her philosophy that good strategy is both a critical and creative endeavour.

Elisabeth came to Gemic from her role as Head of Strategy of the Health Team at innovation firm Idea Couture, and since joining Gemic has led the growth of both the Toronto team and the Health & Wellbeing practice. She holds a diploma in Fashion Design and a B.A. in Sociocultural Anthropology, Literary Studies and Political Science from The University of Toronto.

Emily is a Strategy Lead based in Gemic’s Toronto office. 

She sits at the unique intersection of strategic thinking and product development, working with clients to solve for system change, rather than symptoms. Emily has spent the last 8 years fostering meaningful relevance and sustainable growth for clients around the world, in industries such as public health, transit, banking, and technology. 

Emily graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelors of Industrial Design. Prior to Gemic, she worked as a Design Strategist at Fjord. At the start of the pandemic, she enrolled in a tour of duty with the Canadian Federal Government to support the pandemic response, where she partnered with top leadership in Canada to develop and deliver key digital initiatives.

Outside of work, you will find Emily leaning into a lifetime of learning – from renovating houses to riding motorcycles – she’s on this planet for adventure.

Enya is a Strategist based in Gemic’s Berlin office.

She believes that the big picture is a mesh of the minute and so-called mundane. Enya strives to decode systems of signification—understanding their externalised manifestations in the wider world, and their internalised meanings in people’s everyday lives. Her original research, including topics such as subcultures and soft power, has honed her ability to translate complexity into coherence.

Enya holds a BSc in Applied Psychology from Glasgow Caledonian University and an MA in Cognitive Semiotics from Aarhus University. She has lived in Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Spain, Denmark, and South Korea. On the weekends, she can be found browsing an art museum.

Hani is a New York-based Senior Advisor for Gemic.

He is a political risk analyst with more than 20 years of professional experience focused on the Middle East.Hani believes that a sophisticated knowledge of politics, history, and culture is necessary to understanding and projecting future trends. He applied that philosophy during his 10-year tenure at Eurasia Group and at his own boutique practice, Alef Advisory, since he established it in 2017.

Hani graduated from the American University in Cairo and has lived in Toronto, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Cairo, and New York. He is not fast but running keeps him sane.

Harper is a Director of Strategy based in Gemic’s New York office.

She believes that the most powerful brands are those that do not rely on constant competitive audits, but stay true to what they are all about. Carving out and deploying a unique position in the world as a means for innovation is Harper’s specialty. She has led this kind of thinking for brands across industries and around the globe.

Prior to joining Gemic, she led brand strategy for MINI within the BMW Group, growing the brand value by 35%, according to Interbrand Top 100 rankings. Previously, Harper worked at the innovation agency, Redscout, and global advertising companies, like Ogilvy & Mather. Her work spans categories, from automotive and consumer packaged goods, to fitness and media, to e-commerce and cultural institutions, to real estate and non-profits. She won an Effie for her strategy work within CPG, conceived award-winning new products in food and beverage, and starred in a national campaign of one key client. 

Harper has a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Vermont and is a born and bred New Yorker

Ian is a Senior Strategist based out of Gemic’s Toronto office.

He believes that transformational strategies emerge from a clear understanding of what’s most deeply at stake for people, organizations, societies, and the planet. And he knows that inclusive and participatory processes drive the most visionary insights and sustainable solutions.

To his practice at Gemic, Ian brings 10+ years of experience in academia, public policy, and journalism. Originally trained as a historian (PhD Stanford), he has worked with complex organizations across a wide range of industries, from healthcare systems and technology companies to several world-leading public transit agencies. In 2020, he coauthored a report on Covid-19 communications that was featured in The New York Times and attracted the attention of public health officials worldwide. As a critic and journalist, Ian has written for The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, and elsewhere. He remains a frequent contributor to The New Republic.

Sometimes he can be found far away from his computer screen, running along the water or settling into a woodsy cabin for a cozy weekend retreat.

Iida is a Strategist based in Gemic’s Berlin office.

She believes that organizations embracing their role in making social change find sharper focus and opportunities for differentiation. Iida also believes that the best strategies draw from a deep understanding of the human condition. Building on her academic research in collective emotions and their motivational power, Iida helps companies, NGOs, and educational institutions create authentic social impact.

Iida holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Education from the University of Helsinki. She has also studied Intercultural Education, English Philology, Visual Arts, and Cultural Studies in the University of Oulu and in the University of Melbourne. Iida has more than a decade of experience across the education sector, including teaching in K12 and higher education. A former competitive synchronized swimmer, Iida feels most at home in the pool or on the yoga mat.

Ikumi is a Senior Strategist based in Gemic’s Berlin office.

Growing up in Japan where collective responsibility and unspoken rules play a pivotal role in shaping people’s perceptions and behaviours, Ikumi truly believes that understanding cultural narratives is essential to the success of a brand. A keen observer, her empathy and curiosity towards people and cultures have been instrumental in her ability to help brands develop powerful innovation strategies.

Ikumi holds a Master’s degree in Critical and Creative Analysis from Goldsmiths, University of London. Before joining Gemic, she worked as a consultant at boutique brand strategy agencies in Tokyo and as a brand manager for a music education app in Berlin.

Jahmel is Gemic’s Finance Lead based in our Toronto office.

He believes that an effective and impactful Finance function is based on transparency, accuracy, and a forward-looking mindset to changing business needs. 

Jahmel graduated from York University with a double degree in Business Administration and History. Before Gemic, he has worked for 8 years in technology and professional services. 

James is a Senior Strategist based in our London office.

He is passionate about helping organisations to improve their decision-making by thinking very deliberately about the human values that underpin the attitudes and behaviours of the people they are trying to reach.

James holds a BA in Human, Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge. Before Gemic, he worked in the Office of the Founder/CEO at a FTSE 100 home services conglomerate and as a staffer to Members of Parliament in the UK House of Commons.

Outside of Gemic, he can be found struggling to convince people that he is in fact fully Swedish or showing people pictures of his two cocker spaniels, Bella and Minnie.

Jana is a Senior Strategist based in Gemic’s Toronto office.

She brings the belief that foresight is a capacity to cognize change and consequence and inform action in the present. At Gemic, Jana links foresight to action to develop winning strategies, and provide insights into cultures, perspectives, and interests that lay the foundations for the future people want to create.

Jana earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Central European University, where she studied the intersection of Islamic ethical traditions and consumer boycotts in Europe, North America, and the Middle East. She continues to remain active in academic spheres, both teaching and publishing.

Jehanne is a Director of Strategy based in Gemic’s New York office, where she also spearheads Gemic’s thought leadership.

She believes that the most impactful brands tell the most compelling stories, not just about goods, but about the future; and not just through marketing, but through a unique value logic, innovation process and exchange with everyday people. As a result, she embraces challenges that combine insight, strategy and innovation, helping to galvanize and focus growth around a clear future vision for companies in the tech, luxury, apparel and CPG space.

Jehanne graduated from Williams College with degrees in English Literature and American Studies. As a national Herchel Smith Fellow, she went on to study Anthropology at Cambridge University and apprentice at the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. A quintessential millennial, she boasts several occupational past lives and stints overseas that shape her self image as “a woman who knows a little about a lot.”

Jenna is Gemic’s Resourcing Manager based in Toronto.

Jere is a Director of Strategy based in Gemic’s Berlin office. 

He believes that human value and business value intertwine, focusing his efforts on helping European companies align their strategy with emerging paradigms of what people truly find meaningful. Over several years at Gemic, he has duly guided business leaders across FMCG, finance, tech and luxury toward sustained growth, helping them identify and innovate around new engines of value in European, Asian and American markets.  

Jere holds a Master’s in International Relations from the London School of Economics. Prior to Gemic, he worked in a variety of fields ranging from construction and nursing, to manufacturing and foreign affairs, which trained him to intuitively connect pragmatic know-how with abstract theoretical knowledge. Wherever he is in the world, he likes to start the day with a run, soaking in all he can of the local air and culture.

Jessica is a Senior Strategist based in Gemic’s London office.

She has over 10 years academic experience in deep historical, textual, and philosophical analysis, Jessica explores how people navigate moral life with everyday storytelling and material culture. She believes that the future can be found somewhere between the real and the imagined, and with her interdisciplinary approach, she aims to reveal the meaning within the belief systems we use to ground our daily experiences. Before joining Gemic, she worked as a research fellow in History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge where she studied the intellectual and cultural history of women’s appetite control, dietary medicine, and body image. 

Jessica holds a PhD in English, plus a specialization in Gender Studies, from the University of Montreal. She is also a creative writer and an avid home seamstress.

Johannes is the Founder and Chairman of Gemic. Based in New York, he advises executives in fashion, automotive, tech and FMCG on how to respond to cultural, structural and behavioral change.

To do this, he believes in starting with the right questions: What business are banks really in? What role do “indulgences” actually play in our lives? Where is the value in being an “iconic” brand? In helping executives arrive at the right questions, Johannes has helped top-tier companies define their markets and create meaningful value for shareholders and everyday people. 

Johannes received his Master’s degree in Business and Culture studies from Copenhagen Business School and studied at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad. Besides serving as a mentor across Gemic’s professional and intellectual community, he is an avid Arctic skier.

Julia is a Financial Operations Analyst based out of Gemic’s Berlin office.

Jun is a Partner in Gemic’s New York Office, where he brings 20 years of experience in research and product development in communications, digital media use, automotive mobility, and home life. 

His long career has been defined by a desire to understand why people embrace, reject, and in some cases, appropriate technologies in unanticipated ways. At Gemic, this translates into a desire to help companies reimagine the ways technology might change how people work, socialize, and connect to one another. 

Jun has a Master’s degree in Design from the Institute of Design and an BA in Neuroscience and Behavior from Columbia University and has lived abroad in Seoul and Copenhagen before returning to New York.

Justin is a Partner based in Gemic’s Berlin office. 

As a digital entrepreneur with 10+ years of experience developing successful business models and a former Product Owner and Agile Coach, he is passionate about translating strategy into actual products and coaching agile teams to work at their best.  

Justin holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley and an MSc in International Management from Instituto de Empresa, Madrid. Before Gemic, he worked at McKinsey & Company leading strategy and innovation projects across firms such as Siemens, BMW, Deutsche Bank, and Adidas. Later he served as COO to Digital McKinsey’s Berlin Studio, growing the design and engineering team and building new technology businesses for clients from scratch. An Improvisation Theater enthusiast, Justin sometimes performs in Berlin. 

Kamari is a Strategist based in Gemic’s New York office.

Kamari views the unique perspective that each individual brings to their everyday interactions as crucial to solving their problems. He believes in creating a shared understanding by getting to the root of the “why” that lies underneath the lens of perspective.

He received his BA in Cognitive Science with a focus in Decision and Cognition from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In his free time he produces music and DJs, creating soundtracks for daily life.

Katalin is a Director of Strategy based in Gemic’s New York office.

She believes that good strategy is all about helping organizations shape clear pathways towards an internally shared vision of a desirable future, based on a thorough and systemic understanding of today’s reality as well as a good dose of logic, creativity, and cultural awareness.

Katalin has 10+ years of industry experience (focused on CPG, food and beverages, consumer health and technology) and holds a Master’s degree in Communications from the University of Arts Berlin. A born and raised German and half Hungarian who has traveled extensively, while living in London and New York for most of her adult life, she has not only developed strong cultural fluency but also a rather odd accent.

Laura is a Strategy Lead based in Gemic’s Toronto office.

She is a global researcher and human insights expert. Trained in anthropology,  semiotics, and filmmaking, she specializes in using ethnography and social theory frameworks to illuminate overlooked, unknown, and emergent facets of lived experience. She is committed to building groundbreaking business strategy on the basis of real human emotion, desire, and need.

Laura holds a PhD in Anthropology from New York University, as well as an M.A. from Columbia University and a B.A. from the University of Toronto.

Laura is a Senior Strategist based in Gemic’s New York office.

She believes that good strategy centers people and their needs, values, and relationships. She has a fascination with systems-thinking, organizational design, and multi-disciplinary approaches to aligning culture and business strategy.

Laura brings over a decade of strategy experience in the arts, education, and philanthropy sectors. She applies a strong mission and impact-driven lens to her work. Laura holds a M.S. in arts administration from Drexel University and a B.A. in music, management and women’s studies from St. Olaf College.

Linda is a Senior Strategist based in Gemic’s London office.

She is an experienced strategy consultant who draws on her expertise in anthropology, digital cultures and behavioural science to advise businesses on how to become deeply customer-centric. She is particularly interested in bringing rich ethnographic data into dialogue with big data analytics to build actionable, bespoke strategies for clients in the technology and finance industries.

Linda holds an MSc in Social Science of the Internet from Oxford, and completed undergraduate studies with honours in anthropology from the Australian National University. Before moving into consulting work, she was a research project manager in the Australian Government’s nudge unit.

Lindsay is Operations Lead in Gemic’s New York office, where she brings almost 20 years of Operations Management experience.

From finance and business operations to people management, Lindsay believes that a thoughtful, yet efficient approach is key to cultivating a successful office and culture. She brings a wealth of knowledge of office systems, strategies, policies, and procedures married with quick thinking, a service-minded perspective and excellent communication skills. 

In addition to overseeing New York ops, Lindsay manages global talent acquisition including the internship program and has piloted some of Gemic’s people-focused internal initiatives including DEI and a company culture initiative focused on providing inspiration, well-being and development to employees outside of project work.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Susquehanna University, a small school in Pennsylvania, her home state.

Liubava is Research Lead based in Gemic’s Helsinki office. 

She believes that anthropological imagination paired with critical thinking can uniquely inform complex business decisions. Intensely curious about human behavior and the cultural factors that shape it, Liubava has worked with companies across automotive, tech, food, facility management and more to develop systemic approaches to innovation and growth. 

Liubava holds three master’s degrees, in the philosophy of culture, comparative sociology, and cultural anthropology. Before joining Gemic, Liubava worked as a researcher at the Center for Science and Technology Studies at the European University at St. Petersburg, taught social science in and outside academia, and organized art events to foster social change. She is an avid fan of art film: there is a good chance she has been to your local independent movie theater.

Louis is a Strategy Lead based in Gemic’s London office.

He believes that the most thrilling innovation comes from the alchemy of combining disparate ideas and methods from multiple disciplines. Louis brings a wealth of niche expertise, insatiable curiosity, and a passion for generating unique and useless thoughts and speculations.

Louis was trained as a chef at Leiths School of Food and Wine. He then graduated with a BA in Theology, Religious Studies, and the Philosophy of Religion from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in the Social Science of the Internet from the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford. 

Before Gemic, he spent his early career juggling artificial intelligence policy and working at a beloved fermented foods laboratory under a railway arch in London. Outside of Gemic, he can be found eating, drinking, walking his poodle Moses Mendelsohn — and obsessively doing the washing up at 2 am while listening to audiobooks.

Mara is a Partner in Gemic’s New York office.

By uncovering what’s meaningful to consumers across different industries, she leads organizations to better business decision-making. Her work at Gemic involves two main functions: 1) immersing herself in the worlds of everyday people to explore changing relationships to things like health, money, time, identity, and technology; and 2) developing commercial strategies out of a deep understanding of the human experience. 

Before joining Gemic, Mara’s advisory work spanned projects ranging from designing an innovative operating model for a new university in an emerging market to developing a human-centric go-to-market strategy for a big data consultancy. A teacher at heart, Mara is a former professor who developed award-winning courses on anthropology and global health & health policy at Harvard University. Mara is also a flying trapeze instructor. She holds a PhD in religion and the history of medicine from Harvard and a BA in physics from the University of Redlands.

Marc is Gemic’s Chief Operating Officer, based in our London office.

He believes that trust and reputation are critical, strategic assets for the defence, sustainability and growth of any organisation. Behind these assets lies a myriad of considerations that should be shaped through deep insights, such as organisational culture, governance, brand and strategic communications, for example. Marc brings a wealth of experience in advising leaders and their organisations on culture, leadership and pathways to future growth through the lens of trust and reputation.

Marc holds a Master’s degree in global affairs and civil society from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor’s in International Studies from the University of Western Ontario.

Marcella is a Senior Strategist based in Gemic’s New York Office.

She has spent 4+ years working at the intersection of brand and innovation strategy–defining new brands, products, and experiences alongside multidisciplinary teams.
Marcela views success not only by a clearly articulated strategy, but by its ability to be implemented.

With a range of global experiences across industries – tech, consumer goods, energy, financial services, retail – her specialty is taking a people-centric approach to help clients uncover the human truths that underpin their categories and challenges.

Marcela graduated from Syracuse University with a BS in Advertising Outside of Gemic, you’ll run into her at a museum or lost in a podcast.

Mariana is a Senior Strategist based out of Gemic’s New York office.

Mariana’s value proposition is rooted in the simple but generative exercise of making the familiar strange. Committed to the idea that the best insights come from participants’ own analyses of their circumstances, she is a firm believer in collaborative ethnographic research that invites theorization and experimentation from everyone involved. In her work as an innovation strategy consultant, she draws on her training as an economic anthropologist and organizational ethnographer as well as on her 10+ years of experience as an educator to facilitate both research and client interactions that result in actionable recommendations and transcendent shifts in perspective. 

Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Mariana holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Cornell University and was formerly Assistant Professor of Global Commerce at Denison University. Prior to joining Gemic, she spent a year working on her first book with the support of the Hunt Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research. This upcoming monograph draws on long-term ethnographic fieldwork in Colombia’s private sector and analyzes the social and cultural dimensions of corporate governance among Colombian family-owned business conglomerates.

Mei is a Strategist based in Gemic’s Berlin office.

She values the power of in-depth, contextualized analysis. She believes that in order to understand the future, it is necessary to trace the long process of how we arrived at where we are. Combining journalistic and academic expertise, Mei is passionate about telling the untold stories of humans and societies by weaving together data in various forms.

Mei is currently pursuing a PhD at Freie Universität Berlin, conducting research on China’s health policies. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Hong Kong and an MA in Modern East Asian Studies from Frankfurt University. Previously, she worked for magazines and TVs in Asia as a reporter and editor, covering sociopolitical and cultural issues in the region.

Michael is a Strategy Lead based out of Gemic’s New York office. 

He believes the most effective strategic decisions are informed equally by people and technology, individuals and systems, art and science. Michael has ten years of consulting experience and has worked across many sectors including the technology, automotive, and luxury industries. 

With a B.A. in Social Anthropology from Harvard, an M.A. in Performance Studies From NYU and a Masters of Architecture from Princeton, Michael combines the tools of social science, cultural analysis, and design in his approach to strategy and innovation. Outside of this work, Michael creates artworks that engage the systemic underpinnings of contemporary life, with a focus on the intersection of art, architecture, and ecological systems.

Michele is a Director of Strategy based in Gemic’s London office.

Working at the intersection of social science research and industry for over 20 years, Michele continues to be curious about the evolution of technology – how it impacts people’s lives and transforms the companies and institutions they engage with.

Beginning her career at Intel’s People and Practices Research Group, Michele worked with engineers, anthropologists and designers to define the next era of computing. Moving from R&D into strategy consulting, she joined the then fledgling social science consultancy, ReD Associates, where she helped Fortune 100 companies leverage human insight to create top-line growth. In a past life she has been yelled at by Karl Lagerfeld and conducted oral histories with elders in Harlem. She holds a Masters in Interactive Telecommunications from New York University’s Tisch School of the Art and a BA in Art History from Reed College.

Michele is a Strategy Lead based in Gemic’s Toronto office. 

In work and in life, she has been influenced by the concept of “cathedral thinking:” the bold vision, clear blueprint, and shared commitment to long-term implementation that enabled stonemasons and architects to begin work on a cathedral knowing full well that they would never see it finished. She believes that this mindset can help drive sustainable transformation and innovation in an age of short-term thinking.

With a passion for learning at the intersection of diverse disciplines, Michele holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Development from the University of Guelph, and a Master’s of Global Affairs from the University of Toronto. Prior to joining Gemic, she worked at the Royal Bank of Canada managing strategy and partnerships for payments and e-commerce innovation. 

Monica is a Strategy Lead based in Gemic’s London office.

Nadia is a Strategist based out of Gemic’s London office.

An anthropologist by discipline and by nature, Nadia believes empathy and deep listening are key to collecting valuable and meaningful insights. She believes in the importance of embedding these narratives within strategy to create a long-lasting and impactful implementation.

Nadia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Archaeology from the University of Bristol. Prior to Gemic, Nadia worked as a cultural consultant on various projects in the GCC on their national visions and strategies as well as on the Women’s Pavilion for Expo2020 x Cartier.

Oriana is a Senior Strategist based in Gemic’s Berlin office.

Otto is Gemic’s Managing Partner. 

Based in New York City, he has spent the past 15 years advising many of the world’s leading companies on innovation and corporate strategy.

Trained as a social scientist, Otto believes the most successful strategies start with a systemic understanding of how the co-evolution of culture, technology, and human behavior gives rise to new sources of consumer value. He uses this approach to empower business leaders to proactively shape the future of their industry, rather than reacting to market conditions created by other players.  

Otto holds a Master’s degree in political economy from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor’s in political science from the University of York (UK). Having grown up and lived in five countries, he is embarrassed to admit being fluent in only two languages.

Penny is a Senior Strategist based in Hong Kong. 

She believes that we live in stories we tell ourselves, others and of our surroundings, and by making sense of these unspoken narratives reflected in our physical and non-physical environment, we can foresee the natural next steps and respond with the so-called innovations that are bound to happen. 

Penny graduated from Northwestern University with a BSc in Journalism. She has a not-so-distant past as a financial reporter in Beijing and as a field researcher going into more than 50 countries to analyze inflation data while looking for stories about people in their cultures.

Pierre is a Senior Strategist based in Gemic’s Toronto office.

He believes that the most impactful strategies surface the unexpected intersections of people, places, and practices. During his time at Gemic, Pierre has helped gather insights and develop strategies around the future of F&B, mobility and the creative economy – working with leading automotive and technology companies.

Pierre holds a degree in Human Geography from the University of Manchester, and a Master’s degree in Heritage & Museums from the University of Cambridge. Prior to Gemic, Pierre contributed to a book that profiled the forgotten stories of World War 1 soldiers inscribed on the Cenotaph, a war memorial in Singapore. Outside the office, Pierre can be found experimenting in the kitchen preparing for weekly supper clubs.

Poe is a Strategist based out of Gemic’s Toronto office.

Having transitioned from the International Development space into the world of Tech, Poe’s goal is to help build pro-social and human-centric digital products. With an academic background in tech policy and responsible innovation, her past research has focused on reducing online harms through policy and product recommendations.

Poe has a Master’s in Global Affairs from the University of Toronto and a BSc in Economics and International Relations from the University of the West Indies. Prior to Gemic, Poe ran a NGO in her hometown of Kingston, Jamaica and worked in AI Regulation at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Puja is a Strategist based in Gemic’s Toronto office.

She sees the world as interconnected systems; and seeks to listen for and uncover the invisible system dynamics that shape human experiences. Her approach to innovation combines tools from strategic foresight, systems thinking, and human-centered design. Through her work, she is keen on building capacity for long-term thinking and helping clients imagine and implement inclusive possibilities for the present and future.

Puja holds an MDes in Strategic Foresight and Innovation at OCAD University in Toronto. Before Gemic, her work spanned several sectors, including social innovation, international development, and tech. Outside work, Puja enjoys tinkering with textiles and nurturing her decade-long obsession with Indian classical music.

Rebekah is a Partner based in Gemic’s New York office.

She has spent the last two decades applying anthropological theory and methods to create change through her work in business, academia, public policy, and NGOs. At Gemic, she specializes in healthcare and tech. Her experience and training in social science research, DEI, ethics and regulatory compliance enable her to work in global contexts and across different topical areas.

She believes in exploring lives in a holistic way, and conducting participant observation as close to the object of study as possible. This approach offers clients new insights about the world and uncovers hidden processes at work. By combining the disciplines of strategy consulting and anthropology, her goal is to apply rigorous research to business solutions.

Rebekah has a PhD in Anthropology from University of California, Los Angeles, an MA in Applied Medical Anthropology from Universiteit van Amsterdam, and a BA in American Studies from Northwestern University. She was a Fulbright, Jacob K. Javits, and Congressional Bill Emerson Hunger Fellow. Before joining Gemic, she worked at ReD Associates and was a tenure track professor at Marlboro College.

Robin is a Strategy Lead based in Gemic’s Berlin office.

Believing in the power of empathy, he tries to focus on the human side of things first when working with clients and organizations to tackle complex problems.

Before joining Gemic, Robin worked for the City Football Group and the management consultancy McKinsey & Co. He holds an MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School and an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from SOAS. He enjoys playing, talking and watching sports.

Rohini is a Strategy Lead based out of Gemic’s New York office.

Over the past 16 years, Rohini has worked in multiple functions across a range of CPG categories. Her broad experiences have greatly influenced her perspective that useful strategy is born from the confluence of deep insight, bold creativity, and nimble pragmatism.

Prior to Gemic, Rohini worked at The Clorox Company in both strategy and marketing roles, while also helping relaunch their Diversity & Inclusion initiative. She has also worked as a consultant with Kearney’s Consumer and Retail practice and as an entrepreneur in both Apparel and Accessories. She holds an M.B.A. from Yale School of Management and a post-graduate diploma from the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad.

Outside of work, she enjoys learning about world history, philosophy, and economics.

Rowland is a Senior Advisor at Gemic, advising clients on brand, growth, organizational design, marketing communication, crisis management and product strategies. 

Rowland is the co-founder of Stake, the first loyalty program to invest in renters. Working at the intersection of customer experience and social purpose, he has also created products and branded experiences for companies in banking, tech, financial services, the arts, interiors, and fashion, and been on boards of social impact funds. 

Previously, he ran design and innovation at Teneo, a CEO advisory firm, and was head of product design for Accenture North America. His work has been nominated for an Emmy and he has been recognized for design Fast Company and Forbes. Rowland holds a M.A. in philosophy from K.U. Leuven, Belgium and lives in Manhattan, New York.

Sahar is a Director of Strategy based out of Gemic’s Berlin office.

She believes that Futurists don’t predict “The Future”, but use foresight to describe what could and, in some cases, should happen in the future. Effectively applying foresight to robust insight, Sahar develops strategies and translates these into tangible roadmaps to help clients act today and shape their tomorrow. She has designed and led strategy and innovation projects for international clients across public, private, and third sectors, advising on everything from the future of work to philanthropic donation, consumer healthcare, payments, snacking, and the future of mobility. A strong believer that good enough isn’t, Sahar interrogates the nuances of behaviours, practices, and processes to find ways to be better, and do better.

Sahar holds a degree in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Oxford, and had lived and worked in the UK, Netherlands, Iran, Vietnam, Finland, and Germany.

Sakari is Gemic’s Co-Founder. Based in the Helsinki office, he helps technology companies humanize emerging technologies and reimagine the future of customer experience. 

He believes in leveraging insight from the world of biological governance, bioinformatics infrastructures and cultural theories of the non-human and technology to develop the kind of experience strategy, new business models and future scenarios that guide clients towards actionable and prosperous tomorrows. 

Sakari, holds a PhD in Social Psychology and Anthropology from Helsinki University, and a pre-doctoral degree in user-centric design from the Aalto University School of Engineering. He was formerly a Visiting Researcher at the Swedish Institute of Computer Science, a Research Fellow at Austria’s Institute for Advanced Studies on Science, Technology and Science and an Adjunct Professor in Anthropology at the University of Helsinki. As an active member of the academic community, Sakari continues to publish in scholarly work. 

Sara is a Senior Strategist based out of Gemic’s New York office.

She believes that in this saturated branded world, abundant in easily available goods and services, smart positioning and authentic storytelling are more vital than ever. A former fashion model turned doctoral researcher, she is keen to understand how people wish to represent themselves, and how their aspirations shape their consumer choices. 

Sara has a Ph.D. in Sociology from Humboldt Universitat Berlin, and an MA in Branding from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Before joining Gemic, she worked on heritage and emerging luxury accounts for Mejuri, Borghese, Nanushka, and many more. 

Sarah is a Strategist working out of Gemic’s New York office.

She believes that at the core of every successful consumer-focused venture is a nuanced understanding of the cultural, social and behavioral fabrics that define the communities of people it serves. To gain this insight, She practices mixed-method approaches to tap into the perspectives of individuals, and pushes assumptions to examine the realities of others to understand where value is derived from. 

Sarah holds a BA in Anthropology and History from the University of New Hampshire, and an MSc in Applied Social Data Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Sebastian is a Strategist based in Gemic’s London office.

He believes in the importance of understanding and appreciating the nuances of cultural factors which drive the decisions people make and the values they hold. He strives to approach problems from an interdisciplinary perspective and believes that the most effective solutions are underpinned by a theoretical framework. 

Sebastian holds a BA in English from the University of Cambridge. Prior to Gemic, he worked at a digital consultancy in London

Sofia is a Strategy Lead based in Gemic’s New York office.

She believes that the best decision-making is attuned to socio-historical context and attentive to on-the-ground experiences. Starting from the premise that “the economy” is inseparable from social and cultural life, Sofia develops an understanding of how norms vary across time and space to help clients rethink the practices we take for granted and imagine future directions.

Sofia holds a Master’s in Social Anthropology and a Bachelor’s in History, both from the London School of Economics. Prior to joining Gemic, Sofia carried out research for Doctors Without Borders and the Mexican Embassy in London, worked in the heritage sector and was a translator for small trade unions. Outside of Gemic, she can be found enjoying long conversations over a home-cooked meal.

Stuart is a Senior Strategist based in Gemic’s New York office. 

Stuart brings the belief that strong foresight marries a fine-grain understanding of human behavior with a macro-understanding of the systems in which they exist. Combining his research background in cognitive science and anthropology, in topics ranging from the aesthetics of urban farming to algorithmic transparency, Stuart works with clients to develop their understanding of everyday human behavior and the actors that shape it. 

He graduated from Tufts University with a BA in Cognitive and Brain Sciences and Anthropology, with a concentration in the anthropology of science and technology. Prior to Gemic, he worked in the non-profit sector in housing reform and legal advocacy

Sufyan is a Strategy Lead based in Gemic’s New York office.

He believes that successful innovation hinges on a strong diagnosis of the phenomena that shape people’s lives. Beginning with his academic research into published quantitative analyses of the socio-economic impacts of corruption & globalization, Sufyan has honed an ability to measure and interpret the impact of these phenomena on future opportunities for companies ranging from PepsiCo to Procter & Gamble.

Sufyan graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Prior to Gemic, Sufyan worked on the capital markets side of the New York real estate industry and for an AI-enabled knowledge network in Hong Kong. In addition to a stint in Hong Kong, he has lived in Cairo, Beirut, Philadelphia and London. When not in the office, he can be found running on the streets of the Lower East Side.

Tamta is a Global People Lead based in Gemic’s Berlin office.

She is a high impact HR Leader, experienced in engaging with leadership as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to enable positive change within the organization. Tamta strives to maximize the potential of companies’ greatest assets – employees by developing and implementing policies and services that align with organizational goals, creating a safe and compliant workplace as well as an effective training and professional development programmes. She is a big believer in data-driven decision making, transformative HR and employee-enablement.

Her 10+ years of professional experience is reinforced by a Master of Arts degree in International Consulting and Human Resources Management from Berlin School of Economics and Law. Tamta is a life-long learner and holds Scrum Master and PHRi certifications. Prior to joining Gemic, she built HR functions from the scratch for 300+ employee company in the industrial IoT space and was the Head of the People department. In her free time Tamta enjoys doing drone photography and visiting art galleries.

Todd is a Strategy Lead based in Gemic’s New York Office.

He is an innovation and strategy consultant, the author of a book on social policy and the future of work, and an expert in the U.S. and German markets. He draws on his interdisciplinary expertise and global perspective to help clients act on what is not yet common sense.

Todd holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and has been a research fellow at Harvard, Berkeley, and the Freie Universität Berlin. At Gemic, he advises senior leaders in social technology, mobility, and higher education, among other sectors.

Vishnupriya is a Strategy Lead based out of Gemic’s New York office.

She believes that making impactful decisions requires paying attention to the messy ways in which humans navigate the world, looking at cross-regional shifts, and attending to the ways in which history repeats itself. As an anthropologist trained to study media and technology businesses, she believes that it is vital to empathetically consider the social, infrastructural and institutional pressures clients operate within, to help companies make thoughtful long-term strategic decisions. 

Vishnupriya has a PhD in Media and Communication Studies from the University of Michigan, and experience working as a Monitoring and Evaluation Researcher in the International Development sector. Her academic research is centered around ideas about intimacy, sexuality and emerging digital cultures.

Xiaoyan (Adele) is a strategist based in Gemic’s Berlin office.

Xiaoyan (Adele) is keen on understanding the interplay among states, industry, and human desire. Originally from China, Xiaoyan completed her BA in a liberal arts program focusing on Asia from Sciences Po Paris and holds an M.A. in public policy from Sciences Po and Hertie School in Berlin. Before joining Gemic, she worked in journalism in Beijing and public affairs in Brussels.

The cross-cultural and cross-domain background equip her with an interdisciplinary approach to tackle challenging business questions. Her expertise covers industrial transition, platform and tech regulation, European affairs and Asian studies.

When out of office, you can find Xiaoyan on badminton courts or Sunday markets in Berlin.

Zach is a Director of Strategy who oversees Gemic’s West Coast operations. 

He believes that the best strategy is born out of a simple formula: the right conversation, with the right people, at the right time. Zach was Gemic’s first full time employee in New York and has played a key role in building out Gemic’s retail, CPG, and automotive practice. 

He has an MSc in Design Ethnography from the University of Dundee in Scotland and a BA in History and Theater from Williams. Outside of work, Zach runs an upcycling side hustle with his wife and is an avid hiker and camper.