seif supports and promotes individuals or teams seeking to apply innovative business ideas to respond to current social and/or environmental problems, otherwise known as “social enterprises”. We do so by offering companies programs, consulting, training and general support according to their needs and stage of development.
To contribute to the professionalism of the social entrepreneurship community and build up the capacity of the social enterprises, seif also act as a bridge between stakeholders by connecting actors from the financial sector, corporate world, universities, foundations and others to create the highest social impact possible.
Team
Prof. Mariana Christen Jakob
Mariana has a background in social sciences from University of Zurich (UZH), an MBA from University of St. Gallen (HSG) and recently absolved the Impact Investing Executive Education at Oxford University. She has more than 20 years experiences in research, coaching and training in the field of social innovation, social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility as a Professor at the University of Applied Sciences in Lucerne as well as a free consultant. As a founder of seif Mariana is active in the Impact Academy, in the Innosuisse courses and in the Impact Investing projects.
Mandats
BREF-First Venture, Gebert Ruf Foundation, Jury Member
The programme promotes UAS students with an innovative business idea with financial contribution as well as tailored coaching
BRIDGE, jointly offered by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and Innosuisse, Member Steering Committee
The programme offers funding opportunities at the intersection of basic and science-based innovation for young and experienced researchers
Karen Rauschenbach
Before moving into social entrepreneurship Karen held senior management roles in programme and operations at AIRBUS. She did a social entrepreneurship course at Oxford University and Executive Leadership programme at THNK school of creative leadership in Amsterdam. Her aspiration is to use her business experience to support and grow social entrepreneurs.
Aimée van der Wolde
Project Manager & Research Email • LinkedIn
With a background in cultural studies and history, Aimée has experience in managing and developing several (social) innovation programs. She consulted social entrepreneurs and local governments how to cooperate with each other and how to find innovative financing, like civic crowdfunding and social impact bonds. In her free time you can find her somewhere on top of a mountain.
Sarah Linder
Project Manager Email • LinkedIn
At seif, Sarah is responsible for the Impact Award and the Innosuisse Start-up trainings together with our partners. Her academic background is in Marketing with a specialization in sustainability and she just recently completed the Social Innovation Management PGC at the Amani Institute in São Paulo, Brazil. In the past years, she has worked for the marketing departments of sustainable brands and has been engaged in social projects abroad. Her overall goal is to create awareness, engagement and collaboration between people, organizations and sectors to foster ideas and solutions beneficial to society and the environment.
Kevin Blättler
Junior Project Manager Email • LinkedIn
Kevin studies Economics at the University of Bern and has gained experience in think tanks, startups and in the area of corporate social responsibility. In his role as Junior Project Manager, he is supporting the Project Managers wherever needed.
Stephanie Tauber Gomez
Impact Ambassador Email • LinkedIn
In her role as Sustainable Impact Ambassador Stephanie manages the international collaborations in the UK and specially London. After her studies in International Relations she has experiences the power of connecting people and ideas by promoting the exchange of knowledge at her various stations within think tanks, international governmental bodies and startups. Currently enrolled at the Msc Environmental Technology at Imperial College London to further identify the arising social and environmental challenges as opportunities for businesses to contribute to a more sustainable future.
Emily Elsner (Adams)
Impact Measurement & Management Email • LinkedIn
Emily is a consultant specialising in impact measurement and NGO management (www.elsnerrc.com). She has a background in social-ecological relationships, and a PhD in Human Geography. She is co-founder of Capacity, a non-profit entrepreneurship incubator in Zurich for people with refugee and migrant backgrounds.
Advisory Board
Dr. Monika Binkert
Monika Binkert successfully founded in 2010 her own consulting company for SMEs with a focus on strategic management, change processes and leadership. She also acts as interim manager advising businesses from a variety of sectors. Dr Binkert has a PhD in Law and an Executive MBA, as well as extensive practical experience in working at managerial level with private companies and public institutions. She is currently working with an online marketing firm operating in Switzerland and Germany.
Hansjörg Utz
Hansjörg Utz has studied law in Zurich and finished his studies with a doctorate in Basel. After several years as a lawyer in 1983 he moved into journalism where he started as a freelance to become chief reporter at the “Tages-Anzeiger”. In 1989 he moved to the Swiss television where during eight years he moderated the „Kassensturz” show and was later in charge of the news magazine “10vor10”. In 2013 he founded Media Check GmbH. Hansjörg Utz currently works as a media coach, consultant and journalist.
Holger Schmid
Holger is director for the sustainable economy programme at the MAVA Foundation. He leads MAVA’s strategy development and portfolio management on natural capital, green finance and circular economy. He facilitates and advices on collaborative civil society initiatives with diversity of partners in various European countries. He serves as a board member for the Plastic Solutions Funds, the Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture and a private mountain transport company. He joined MAVA in 2005 having previously worked for WWF in the Mediterranean and in Mongolia.
Jürg Kronenberg
Jürg Kronenberg lives and works in Zurich. He has worked for almost 40 years at UBS in various management positions, most recently as Head of Corporate Clients, Zurich region as Relationship Manager for Large Corporates in the Zurich region. He also acts as Chief Executive of the Commercial Association of Zurich and Switzerland, Society for Business Cycle Research at ETH Zurich and is a member of the Association Bahnhofstrasse Zurich.
Otto Bitterli
Otto Bitterli holds a Masters in Political Science and has worked for more than 25 years in the Swiss insurance industry in various executive positions. As former CEO of Sanitas health insurance, he took on various responsibilities at the Swiss Insurance Association (umbrella organisation representing the private insurance industry in Switzerland) and curafutura, the association of innovative health insurers. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sanitas Group.
Peter Zollinger
Peter Zollinger is responsible for assessing the value added of Globalance Bank’s investments on the economy, society and environment (impact). He supports the selection of suitable investments and develops and leads the Globalance Portfolio Footprint for its clients.