“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi
I was born in 1981 in Saxony, Germany. After spending time in the USA and in Berlin, I’ve returned to my roots and now divide my time between my hometown of Plauen and Flöha. I share my everyday life with my family – my husband, my partner, and our six wonderful daughters – and together we experience a rich and vibrant diversity.
I’m a curious and versatile person, always eager to learn and open to new perspectives. I consider this ability to connect different fields and ways of thinking one of my greatest strengths. Over the course of my career, I’ve gathered a broad spectrum of experience through several career changes and parallel roles across various sectors. Challenging transitions – including resignations and fresh starts – have taught me valuable lessons and equipped me with practical resilience.
My colorful and multifaceted career path…
… is a mosaic of experience that reflects my curiosity and love for learning. I hold a degree in (micro)biology from the Free University of Berlin, have worked as a chemical-technical assistant in an environmental analysis lab, and earned a second degree in environmental engineering and recycling at the University of Applied Sciences in Zwickau. Alongside my studies, I spent many years teaching as a tutor and lecturer – something that continues to bring me joy.
For eight years, I led the department for hygiene and environmental medicine at a municipal health authority. It was a role full of responsibility and complexity – and it taught me how to hold the balance between professional leadership and the needs of a growing family.
Since 2018, I’ve also been part of the analog astronaut team at the Austrian Space Forum – a role that challenges me to stay grounded while thinking far beyond Earth. Working in simulated space missions has deepened my ability to stay calm, creative and collaborative under pressure.
In 2020, I took the leap into self-employment as a consultant, translator, and keynote speaker. Between 2021 and 2024, I also supported training programs for public health professionals at the Academy for Public Health in Düsseldorf.
In January 2024, an important chapter came to an end when I completed my doctoral degree in public health and health sciences at Bielefeld University – after more than six years of study, research, and growth.
Since the summer of 2024, I’ve been working full-time independently – as a systemic counselor, author, translator, lecturer, and podcaster. It’s a rich and fulfilling mix that allows me to bring together everything I love.
My journey as a systemic counselor…
…began in January 2023, when I started my training at the Systemic Institute in Chemnitz – a path that continues to enrich both my personal and professional perspective.
In 2024, I also completed the certification to become a gifted and talented education specialist (Begabungspädagogin) through the IFLW, a qualification that reflects my deep interest in individual potential and how we nurture it.Â
www.iflw.de – Prüfnummer HB-348-PR-23292
Since April 2025, I have been expanding my expertise through further training as a trauma educator and trauma-informed counselor. In parallel, I’m also pursuing qualification as a sectoral alternative practitioner for psychotherapy (Heilpraktikerin für Psychotherapie).
For me, learning is a lifelong journey – one that constantly opens up new perspectives and deepens my ability to support others with clarity, care, and curiosity.
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by Sarah Mehlis