Meet our
humans
Jo Bautista
Senior Consultant(Berlin, Germany)
I've worked at a unicorn tech company in Southeast Asia, hold a Master’s in Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Innovation, and founded a Berlin-based social enterprise that uses creativity for community-driven change. At YSI, I manage programs with a focus on operations, cross-sector collaboration, and scaling social innovation.
Emma Cornubert
Project Manager & Consultant(Berlin, Germany)
I focus on driving social and environmental impact through business. I’ve worked on corporate VC initiatives, intrapreneurship, market research at a multinational company, and purpose-driven transformation at a large consultancy. I've also earned a Master’s in Strategy & Digital Business. At YSI, I lead projects that connect corporations and social enterprises, fostering strong partnerships and scaling positive impact.
Lucie Durand
Co-Chief Executive Officer(Bordeaux, France)
Corporate social innovation has been at the heart of my work since the beginning. I worked for a corporate venture capital fund, joined a global corporate philanthropy and later launched the inclusive business branch of an eyewear company in Africa. Joining YSB in 2021, I built the Yunus Social Business social procurement practice and initiatives such as Unusual Partners. Today, I am proud to lead YSI as a Co-Chief Executive Officer and shareholder.
Janine Falkenberg
Impact Measurement & Advocacy Manager(Berlin, Germany)
With a background in Asian Studies and a Master’s in Strategy, Organisation and Leadership, I’m passionate about challenging the status quo and rethinking how we do business. I’ve worked on purpose-driven initiatives by building strategies and providing leadership development. At YSI, I lead impact measurement, thought leadership, and advocacy, helping partners create measurable impact and sharing insights with the broader social innovation ecosystem.
Maria Gakenye
Assistant Program Coordinator(Cape Town, South Africa)
My academic background is in jazz studies with a master's specialisation in Ethnomusicology. My interests in entrepreneurship led me to work with entrepreneurs in a student-run organization at the University of Cape Town. This journey led me to the world of social impact and YSI where I am currently training to be an impact-oriented professional.
Lisa Hiery
Co-Chief Executive Officer(Munich, Germany)
My professional journey began in investigative journalism and political campaigning, followed by strategy consulting, digital innovation, and corporate transformation. I led the Social Innovation unit at a global corporation, building synergies between corporate intrapreneurs and social entrepreneurs. In 2020 I joined Yunus Social Business to build the intrapreneurship practice. Today, I am proud to lead YSI as a Co-Chief Executive Officer and shareholder.
Marielle Khayat
Director & Principal Consultant(Bordeaux, France)
I’ve worked at the intersection of innovation and social impact, in strategy consulting, venture building, and corporate transformation. My curiosity about people and culture also fuels my podcast where I explore themes of identity and belonging, which I draw upon in my role at YSI where I lead our diverse team to drive social innovation.
Niklas Lange
Senior Consultant(Frankfurt, Germany)
With a background in industrial engineering, I’ve developed sustainability strategies, built management systems, and optimized processes in multinational organisations. I enjoy challenging the status quo and finding better ways to do things. At YSI, I work on pressing social and environmental challenges while building meaningful relationships—making the work both impactful and personally fulfilling.
Sergio López Ramos
Co-Chief Executive Officer(Madrid, Spain)
I’m a social innovation expert and entrepreneur at the intersection of business, technology, and impact. I led Technology for Good at a multinational and steered a consultancy supporting sustainability integration for multinational companies in the Nordics. I joined the global Yunus Social Business team in 2019 to shape our Acceleration as a Service practice. Today, I am proud to lead YSI as a Co-Chief Executive Officer and shareholder.
Virginia Rollando
Fashion & Textile Expert(Milan, Italy)
I am a sustainability expert with a focus on the fashion and textile industries. Having studied manufacturing engineering, I started my career in social procurement by setting up a social enterprise in the garment factory where I managed the social and environmental programmes. I now work with YSI remotely from Milan, providing my expertise on the fashion value chain.
Lara Schupp
Junior Project Manager(Munich, Germany)
I have a background in Business Administration with an international focus, and experience across startups, venture capital, and impact-driven organizations. I’ve held diverse roles spanning project management, sales, strategy, and market analysis. At YSI, I enjoy turning bold ideas into real-world impact alongside our team, clients, and partners.
Rowan Spazzoli
Community & Program Design Lead(Cape Town, South Africa)
I’m a connector and capacity builder in the social innovation space, with experience advancing South Africa’s impact ecosystem. I’ve co-founded social enterprises supporting purpose-driven youth and organizations. I hold a Master’s Degree in Economic Development, as well as two finance degrees. At YSI, I lead community growth and design learning journeys for social innovators.
Lucie Durand
Co-Chief Executive Officer(Bordeaux, France)
Corporate social innovation has been at the heart of my work since the beginning. I worked for a corporate venture capital fund, joined a global corporate philanthropy and later launched the inclusive business branch of an eyewear company in Africa. Joining YSB in 2021, I built the Yunus Social Business social procurement practice and initiatives such as Unusual Partners. Today, I am proud to lead YSI as a Co-Chief Executive Officer and shareholder.
Lisa Hiery
Co-Chief Executive Officer(Munich, Germany)
My professional journey began in investigative journalism and political campaigning, followed by strategy consulting, digital innovation, and corporate transformation. I led the Social Innovation unit at a global corporation, building synergies between corporate intrapreneurs and social entrepreneurs. In 2020 I joined Yunus Social Business to build the intrapreneurship practice. Today, I am proud to lead YSI as a Co-Chief Executive Officer and shareholder.
Sergio López Ramos
Co-Chief Executive Officer(Madrid, Spain)
I’m a social innovation expert and entrepreneur at the intersection of business, technology, and impact. I led Technology for Good at a multinational and steered a consultancy supporting sustainability integration for multinational companies in the Nordics. I joined the global Yunus Social Business team in 2019 to shape our Acceleration as a Service practice. Today, I am proud to lead YSI as a Co-Chief Executive Officer and shareholder.
Saskia Bruysten
Co-Founder & Shareholder(Berlin, Germany)
Saskia is a serial impact entrepreneur and investor. She co-founded Yunus Social Business in 2012 and continues to support YS as a shareholder and brings in her expertise as Co-Founder International at Carbon Equity.
Karen Hitschke
Co-Founder & Shareholder(Geneva, Switzerland)
Karen is an experienced board member and impact investor. She joined Yunus Social Business in 2012 as Managing Director. Today she supports us as a shareholder and lends her expertise as CEO of Building Bridges.
Lamiya Morshed
Founding Member & Shareholder(Bangladesh)
Lamiya is the Executive Director at Yunus Centre and sits on the Board of several Yunus and Grameen initiatives globally. She has 30+ years of experience in the Grameen universe, working closely with Prof. Muhammad Yunus.