Brazilian Martial Arts & Product Engineering
[…] Connecting the dots between movement/culture & product/engineering
My work in a nutshell 🌰
I create engaging digital products, build effective teams & software, and scale start-ups sustainably. In the past years, I have built impactful products as a Web Developer, Product Manager and Head of Engineering.
Capoeira since 1999 🥋
After studying Capoeira and teaching kids in Hamburg, I started my own Capoeira school in 2012 in Frankfurt, Germany. Since then, I hosted martial arts festivals, taught workshops, and played percussion music all over Europe.
What I'm up to 🧑💻
Currently, I'm focused on growing Opencreek - a Frankfurt-based Boutique Software Consultancy in the roles of Chief Operating Officer & Senior Product Development Consultant.
We support companies in achieving their goals towards digital transformation and conduct product discovery workshops to sharpen digital product visions.
PRODUCT
ENGINEERING
Hello, I am Sami, Senior Product Engineering Consultant at Opencreek and responsible for the strategic growth of the company as the Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Previously, I served as Head of Development at Amorelie, where I managed the engineering team and later led CRO strategies for the web shop as Head of E-Commerce, significantly contributing to the company's scaling.
In my role as COO at Opencreek, I focus on maximizing conversion rate optimization for B2C products and developing value-driven B2B software that aligns with our clients' product visions. My extensive experience in product development enables me to identify scaling and automation opportunities early and implement them in close collaboration with our development teams.
My goal is to create innovative, user-centered solutions that deliver real value and ensure sustainable success.
📣 “Flurfunk”
Testimonials are one of the most important pieces of text you can put on your websites, landing pages, or any other kind of product communication. That's why I'm so happy to share this collection of kind words from people I had the pleasure to collaborate with.
Sami joined our team as a Full-Stack Engineer. From his joining day on, I saw him impressing colleagues with his unique skillset. For Sami, it's not about Frontend or Backend - he handles both single-handedly. It's more about identifying problems and doing whatever is necessary to solve them. I've worked with many clients over the years, but Sami's performance was one of those I will never forget.
Andre Biel - Tech Lead & Senior Web Developer
For our B2B applications at Acomodeo, it was great to have Sami as our team's Lead Developer. Together with him, we created a fantastic user experience and improved our customer experience by automating most of the tedious onboarding tasks. He always ensured to bring full transparency to his team and stakeholders and was a great partner overall.
Malene Lißmeier - Senior Product Development Consultant
I hired Sami as Head of Development for our engineering teams. He helped to overcome the struggle with the agile development process, brought technology understanding on a whole new level, he supported projects and introduced various team and individual initiatives such as personal development plans, OKRs and technical excellence projects. Sami is truly a full-fledged part of the product and engineering world effortlessly bridging the gap between those dimensions and business world.
Sami has been a pure pleasure to work with, both as a professional and as a human being. Sami is honest, friendly, highly knowledgeable and very experienced. I would not hesitate for a second to hire him again! A wonderful person, a true leader, a great addition to any team!
Urs Martini - Director Technology & Software Development
Sami is highly perceptive, smart, a strong leader and truly passionate about creating an outstanding customer experience transforming every product he touches.
Sami learns incredibly fast, moving between software development, product management and performance marketing at ease.
His systematic thinking together with his captivating way to communicate with various types of stakeholders and customers make him an effective leader in the digital product sector.
Leon Strauss - Serial Chief Technology Officer
25+ YEARS OF
CAPOEIRA &
AFRO-BRAZILIAN PERCUSSION
Capoeira has been a vital part of my life since childhood, starting my journey in 1999 at the tender age of eight in Hamburg, where I began training traditional capoeira angola. This early exposure laid a solid foundation, fostering a deep appreciation for the rich cultural heritage and intricate movements of capoeira. As I grew older, my passion expanded to include contemporary capoeira, allowing me to blend traditional techniques with modern influences. This dual approach enriched my practice and gave me a broader perspective on the art form.
In 2011, I moved to Frankfurt am Main and immersed myself in the local capoeira scene, learning from various groups and absorbing diverse styles and philosophies. By 2012, I felt ready to establish my own practice, Capoeira "Aruanda," here in Frankfurt. Over the years, I've taught capoeira at sports clubs, fitness studios, cultural centers, and the Volkshochschule Frankfurt, sharing my knowledge and passion with a wide range of students. My practice is uniquely influenced by contemporary movement culture, animal flow, and physical therapy practices, alongside the global capoeira community, ensuring a holistic and dynamic approach.
My extensive studies in capoeira across Hamburg, Berlin, and Frankfurt, and my teaching experiences in Italy, France, and Austria, have shaped my understanding of this art form. With a background in cultural anthropology, I delve into the political and cultural roots of capoeira, aiming to impart these insights to my students. My goal is not just to teach the fundamentals but to inspire students to develop their own personal practice. I frequently collaborate with other teachers to create a rich, diverse learning environment that broadens our collective comprehension of capoeira.
While I respect the martial and physical aspects of capoeira, my focus lies in fostering connections between people and the dance elements of the practice. Emphasizing capoeira rituals, I strive to deepen my students' performative understanding of the art. Afro-Brazilian music holds a special place in my heart, and I believe it is essential to fully grasp the essence of capoeira. I've conducted music workshops across Germany and Austria, using my knowledge of music theory and an anthropological perspective to teach capoeira music. To me, music is a crucial element, intertwining with the movements and rhythms of capoeira, enriching the overall experience and understanding of this beautiful art form.
Classes are held in 🇦🇺 English & 🇩🇪 German (and occasionally 🇧🇷 Portuguese)