Personal Milestones
Moving and forming moments in my life and carrier
Graduating at ZHAW
ZHAW School of Engineering | 2022 – 2026
Starting out with a hands-on technical background and a healthy skepticism for pure academic theory, my Bachelor's studies fundamentally shifted my perspective. I tackled my old nemesis MATH and discovered a deep fascination for mathematical modeling, Statistics, and Operations Research.
Key Highlights:
- Results: The hard work paid off, and I graduated with a place on the ZHAW Dean's List, representing the top 5% of my cohort.
- Exchange Semester in China: An exchange semester at PolyU in Hong Kong allowed me to study the Asian economy firsthand and learn Mandarin up to the HSK 3 level.
- Bachelor's Thesis («Free Jura»): Co-authored with Rahmatullah Jafari, we investigated the regional economic impact of transforming the Canton of Jura into a special economic, tariff-free zone. We programmed a quantitative general equilibrium model based on Caliendo and Parro, which earned us the top grade of 6.0. You can read the ZHAW article about our project here.
Next Steps:
I am continuing my academic journey with a Master's in Business Engineering at the ZHAW. Alongside my studies, I am stepping into a new role as a Research Assistant, where I will focus on my core competency: quantitative modeling and supply chain.
Acknowledgments:
A sincere thank you to my thesis partner Rahmat, our supervisors Prof. Dr. Armin Eberle and Dr. Dario Fauceglia, as well as Dr. Richard Bödi and Dr. Elisabeth Dumont. I am also deeply grateful to the Swiss Study Foundation, the Otto Mihm Foundation, and my family and friends for their invaluable support throughout these past years.
Image from the graduation ceremony together with Dr. Richard Bödi (left) and Dr. Elisabeth Dumont (right)
Launch of ROKUSAI Schweiz
ROKUSAI Schweiz | Launch 2026
Together with my good friend Shota Nishigaki from Japan I launched a passion project.
Shota runs a Matcha-Café in the rural area of Fukui in Japan. We met each other by chance on a evening in Kyoto. I was so fascinated from the images he showed me of Fukui and his beautifuk Café that I decided to change my travel plans and visit him there.
From this ROKUSAI Schweiz was born. We are importing the unique Matcha mixture Shota has created and offer it here in Switzerland.
I am responsible for the operation in Switzerland. So besides following a passion of mine, Tea, I also get to gain experience in how to run a business.
In particular I learn a lot about ERP and Supply Chains as I manage everything on this side. This is basically a application of the theories I learned at University.
Social Media
A picture of a Popup I ran with Shota (left)
Exchange in China
The Polytechnical University of Hongkong | 2025 - 2026
In February of 2026 I returned from my half-year exchange at The Polytechnical University of Hongkong in China.
This semester was truly amazing!
I still vividly remember the moment I arrived to China, I was really interested in everything I saw. The language, the people, the buildings, the history, the economy.... I felt like I was starving from knowledge from this place I desperately wanted to have.
I quickly realized that to really understand China you need to speak the language. Initially I planned to mostly fill my free time with exploring the country but I then decided to dedicate my time to learn as much Chinese as possible.
So I enlisted in a intensive Mandarin (or Putonghua) course and studied every day.
It was really a experience to study a language again after being in engineering and mostly studing math related things all the time. But I really found that I enjoyed it.
Chinese takes time. The first three months I could not even order a drink in a restaurant. I couln't read anything, although I was always very proud when I recognised one character in a sentence.
But slowly I learned and practiced by often going to Shenzhen, the neighbouring city of Hongkong where Mandarin is spoken. Hongkong is Cantonese speaking. I did think about learning Cantonese first but I decided for Mandarin as it is more widely used in China and considered the standard language (Putonghua means "standard language").
In the end of the semester I was really able to speak day to day conversations which enabled me to then do trips all around China and speak with the locals.
In January I mostly travelled in the Yunnan Province of China and accompanied Mao Kemmotsu from Japan on a tea-related research tour of her where I really got to apply my Chinese.
Mao wrote wonderful articles about this trip that you can see here (it's in Japanese):
- 中国旅行記#1「茶」と「人」のはなし 〜中国・雲南省 茶馬古道を辿る旅 まえがき〜｜京都常民新報
- 中国旅行記#2 深圳で学んだ中国茶のはなし｜京都常民新報
- 中国旅行記#3 普洱で出会った人々のはなし｜京都常民新報
Acknowledgments:
I want to thank the ZHAW School of Engineering and especially the Department of Foreign Relations for this great chance. Also I want to thank the Swiss Study Foundation for supporting me financially to be able to attend the Chinese classes.
From the Campus of The Polytechnical University of Hongkong
KYBURZ Switzerland AG
KYBURZ Switzerland AG | 2020 - 2025
In spring 2025 I finished my role at KYBURZ Switzerland AG as Lead Automation Developer because I would leave for China the coming semester.
I worked in the following roles at KYBURZ:
Just after finishing my apperenticeship at MSW, I started in the electronics department at KYBURZ where I did diagnosis of vehicles.
I also started working in the electronics development where I created a solar-powered second-life battery trailer for the DXP.
After half a year in the electronics departement I transitioned to the Second Life where I took charge of the technical side of the Second Life battery BESS (Battery Energy Storage System).
I worked together with modual GmbH in their early startup phase. They developed a ESS using the Second Life Batteries from KYBURZ.
My longes role I held in the Battery Recycling Department which is today a independend company called Direc GmbH. The CEO is my good friend and former colleague Olivier Groux.
In my role I was responsible for the Automation of the Battery Recycling Machines we were developing under different research projects from Horizon Europe and the Swiss Government.
This was truly a interdisciplinary role. Due to the small team and the intrapreneur setting of the department I would often do management tasks, finance, engineering and more.
During my time at at KYBURZ Switzerland AG, I played a key role on a part-time basis in establishing a new business unit dedicated to the sustainable recycling of lithium-ion batteries.
- Plant Development & Automation: As Lead Automation Developer, I was responsible for the development, PLC programming, and industrialization of the recycling machines, as well as the integration of MES and SCADA systems.
- Research & Innovation: The developed technology garnered significant interest and was supported by government funding and the EU's "Horizon" research fund, where I held the technical responsibility for two specific projects.
- Spin-off to Direc GmbH: Parallel to the technical engineering, I developed business plans to scale the technology, which culminated in the successful spin-off of the department into the independent startup Direc GmbH in the summer of 2026.
- Strategic & Operational Support: Today, I continue to support the newly founded company and its CEO, Olivier Groux, in an advisory capacity regarding IT, management and automation matters.
A picture in front of the Battery Recycling Machine "Liberty"
Video which shows our work in the Battery Recycling
WorldSkills Gold Medal
Mechatronik Schule Winterthur (MSW) | 2020 - 2022
One of the most important milestones in my life was the Gold Medal at WorldSkills 2022 in the discipline "Industry 4.0".
Together with my good friend and teammate Silvan Wiedmer (LinkedIn of Silvan), we won in total three Gold Medals in the disciplin Industry 4.0 after finishing our apprenticeship at MSW Winterthur.
- SwissSkills 2020 in Zürich (Gold Medal)
- EuroSkills 2021 in Graz (Gold Medal)
- WorldSkills 2022 in Stuttgart (Gold Medal)
This time was truly amazing and incredible. I got the chance to work with so many international talents and really learned to work in a high stakes environment.
Here are some notable media posts of the time:
Some other fun-facts related to WorldSkills:
Together with Vera Stocker (left) I was on the key visual of SwissSkills 2022 in Bern.
🤯Have you ever found your photo in a Museum and you didn't even know that it is there beforehand?🤯
This unbelievable moment happened to me in Shanghai during my exchange in Hongkong.
I visited Shanghai for a couple days during my stay. I didn't really have a plan for the day and I just decided to check out the city center first.
I was wearing my Team sweater fromSwissSkills🇨🇭, which became one of my favorite pieces of clothing.
By accident, scrolling over the Museums in Shanghai, I found one called "WorldSkills Museum" of course I had to check it out!
It is located near the center of Shanghai near the Danyang Road Subwaystation and the entrance is free!👍
Walking through the exhibition I felt thrown back to my time at WorldSkills together with my dear friend and teammate Silvan Wiedmer. But I couldn't imagine what would happen next!
In one room there were many displays about former competitions. At some point I turned around a corner and I couldn't believe what I saw there!
It was MY PHOTO hanging there as one of the main exhibits about the WorldSkills 2022 Special Edition!🤯
And, by total Chance, I was also wearing the SAME SWEATER as on the picture🤯
At some point the staff noticed it as well and soon enough I was surrounded by preschool students from China who visited the museum with their school and everyone wanted a photo😂
Truly my 2 minutes of fame😂
I donated my WorldSkills Gold Medal and Team-Outfit to the Museum.
Acknowledgments:
I want to thank the Mechatronik Schule Winterthur (MSW) and especially Olivier Riesen who was our teacher and supported and motivated us throughout the whole WorldSkills and even before.
Also I want to thank Silvan Wiedmer for going through this with me :)
Additional thanks goes to Swissmem.
If you want the best apprenticeship ever:
I highly recommend the Mechantronik Schule Winterthur where I did my Apprenticeship as Automation technicial (Automatiker EFZ).
Silvan Wiedmer (right) and me win the Gold Medal in Industry 4.0 at WorldSkills 2022