Dr. Kerstin Humberg

Dr. Kerstin Humberg is the founder of 'Yunel'​, a mission-driven start-up in Berlin. Yunel aims to ‘make happiness work’ based on Applied Positive Psychology. Before embarking on this endeavor in January 2015, Kerstin worked as a Business Consultant for McKinsey & Company in Hamburg (2006-214). As a Senior Engagement Manager she developed sustainability strategies and social business solutions for public, private, and social sector clients in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Since 2011 Kerstin also serves the German Karl Kübel Foundation as a Vice Chairperson and Member of its foundation council. Being a former journalist and business consultant, she supports the foundation’s overall strategy development and communication efforts. Kerstin is a trained journalist and certified consultant in Applied Positive Psychology. She also holds a PhD in Economic Geography from Cologne University. Her dissertation focused on ‘Poverty Reduction through Social Business' in Bangladesh. During her field research she joined Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus and companies such as Group Danone and Veolia Water in their effort to develop sustainable business solutions for the poor. Before joining McKinsey in 2006, Kerstin studied Geography, Political Sciences, and Psychology in Hamburg and Granada. For her research and reports she received various journalism prizes and academic awards – lately the KfW Bank’s Prize for Excellence in Applied Development Research and the German Study Award of the Körber Foundation.