Alumnus Jannes Dawe: From Processes to Possibilities - The Operations Mindset Behind Dreitausendsassa

Name: Jannes Dawe
Position, Company: Founder, Dreitausendsassa Gmbh 
Program, year: MSc Management 2015

Best about my degree program: 

One of the most valuable experiences during my MSc Management at KLU was studying in an extremely international environment. The majority of my classmates were from outside Europe, which meant that every discussion brought a fascinating variety of opinions and problem-solving approaches. This exposure to different cultural and geographical perspectives deeply shaped how I approach collaboration and decision-making today — it taught me that there’s rarely a single right answer, only contextually smart ones.

A pivotal realization during my studies was that I wasn’t built to thrive in a large corporate structure. Having been self-employed and having also held a leading position in a small company group before my studies, I discovered that I’m happiest when I can shape things — not just follow processes, but design them. (Let’s say I prefer drawing the map over just reading it.) Around that time, I also became fascinated by dynamic pricing, a topic I’ve since applied extensively in our own e-commerce ventures as well as in client projects, helping optimize pricing strategies and drive sustainable growth.

I was fortunate to learn from inspiring professors such as Prof. Dr. Jan Becker, who sharpened my marketing thinking; Prof. Dr. Christian Barrot, whose entrepreneurship course left a lasting mark; and my master’s thesis advisor, the one and only Prof. Dr. Joern Meissner, whose mentorship, brilliance in the field of dynamic pricing, and open-door policy were invaluable for my academic and personal growth.

Best about my job: 

Before founding Dreitausendsassa GmbH, I worked as the CMO of an e-commerce startup. When the technology we had developed was acquired, we found ourselves at a crossroads — ready to look for the next challenge together. We spent months researching ideas, meeting with VCs, company builders, and industry experts. In the meantime, we returned to what we did best: building great software and creating sustainable digitalization strategies. After working with a few early clients, we recognized a clear need in the market for something between an agency and a consultancy — a partner that focuses on enabling clients rather than making them dependent in the long term.

Today, Dreitausendsassa builds tailor-made software solutions across industries — from aviation and banking to e-commerce. We build customized software for our customers — from ERP systems to mobile apps — while also helping them develop digitalization strategies and design digital business models. In addition, we create and invest in our own software products that we can rapidly test and scale.
What I find most fulfilling is seeing how a process that once required several people and hours of manual work can be executed flawlessly through a piece of software we’ve built. That moment — when technology turns complexity into elegance — never gets old.

How KLU helped me get there: 

My time at KLU was instrumental in shaping both my personal and professional growth. Studying alongside classmates from such a wide range of industries, cultures, and backgrounds helped me develop a much broader perspective — one that continues to influence how I approach problem-solving today. It taught me to listen deeply, question assumptions, and value collaboration across disciplines.
The KLU network also continues to play a meaningful role in my professional life. I’ve stayed close with many fellow alumni — particularly a group of former classmates who have since founded their own companies or taken on executive roles. We regularly exchange ideas, challenge each other’s thinking, and speak openly about the realities of entrepreneurship. Having that circle of trust and shared ambition has been invaluable.

For current students, my advice would be simple: focus on improving something within an industry you already understand. Deep domain knowledge gives you both credibility and a built-in network to test and refine your ideas. Real innovation often comes not from inventing something entirely new, but from rethinking what already exists — and making it work better.

How I use the "operations mindset" in my current job: 

At Dreitausendsassa, I’ve learned that a strong operations mindset is the difference between great ideas and real, working systems. Especially in IT infrastructure projects, holistic and systems thinking is key — you have to see how all components interact and ensure that every external dependency is considered. Overlooking just one interface or system can break an otherwise perfect solution. Thinking holistically helps us design solutions that fit seamlessly into complex environments and simply work.

Being data-driven is equally important to me. KPIs are my compass — they transform intuition into measurable insight and help us make decisions based on facts rather than assumptions. Data doesn’t just show what’s happening; it reveals why it’s happening, and that understanding allows us to continuously refine our strategies.

Finally, I strongly believe in hands-on implementation and agile execution. Instead of overthinking ideas, I prefer to test them quickly, observe the outcomes, and evolve them into lasting solutions. This iterative, experimental mindset keeps our projects dynamic and our team motivated — and it’s often where the most innovative results emerge.