the market using data?
the market using data?
After school and community service, Boas initially studied business informatics. At SAP in Mannheim, Germany, he became involved with programming and processes. "However, I quickly realized that this more mechanical predictive work was not for me. Rather, I enjoy looking for the unpredictable in people and how that manifests in them." So, he chose to study for a psychology degree in the Netherlands instead.
That Boas enjoys thinking and reflection is palpable in the interview. He seems calm, level-headed, his words seem well-considered. He is someone who likes to challenge himself and try out new things: Parallel to his studies, he initiated a startup that trains students and adults in programming, including websites. Newly trained, these students were referred to advertising agencies.
Boas doesn't want to be a psychotherapist. That much is clear. Rather, he seems to be looking for a connection between the emotional and the rational. For himself? For others? For society! "Empirical studies, for example, have always appealed to me," Boas continues. "I find statistics exciting. How can data be used to explain our behavior? How can they provide an approach to real life?" He pursued a master's degree in management, attended Harvard University in Boston and, in his final thesis, explored, "what conclusions people's video game behavior allows them to draw about their affinity for risk in everyday life." These contexts will accompany his path of life.
«Empirical studies, I find exciting. How can data be used to explain our behavior?»
In 2017 at the age of 25, Boas began studying strategic marketing at the University of Mannheim. How can data be used to better understand the behavior of markets, companies, and customers? "To me, data tells a story – of what was and is and what is to come – that's fascinating." As a research assistant at the university, Boas investigates how salary structures affect customer satisfaction and, in parallel, founded the startup "Aivy", which creates HR solutions for the future.
"Data gives us incredible insights into behavioral economics. It provides us with answers about how we can use this knowledge for different business models to both become better ourselves and to address customers' needs in a more targeted way."
«To me, data tells a story – of what was and is and what is to come – that's fascinating.»
This is exactly the connection Boas is looking to make in Baloise's mobility ecosystem. How do we use data to find young companies offering mobility solutions and connect them to a network of partners, startups and investors? "It's all about making the right initial contacts," specifies the 31-year-old, who most recently moved his personal life from Berlin to Basel. From the German capital, he brings valuable experience from strategic executive assistance. An ideal match for his new role.
"Personally, I am fascinated by how Baloise, as a classic insurer, is building up a new line of business in the field of mobility. The ecosystem approach strategically follows the idea of: ‘We are partners with our customers’. We want to offer more services from a single source. To do this, we are brave enough to try out new things, and this is precisely where I would like to contribute my know-how as a data expert."