About me

My name is Kathrin Pollow (she/her), I grew up in Hamburg, and I speak German, English and Brazilian Portuguese. I studied Medicine for 4 years (dropped out), completed internships in Nicaragua and Brazil, and received an MA in history from Temple University, Philadelphia (USA).

Further there were internships with NGO’s, work with multi-national teams in the hospitality industry, in cultural and arts institutions, dance-, theater-, music- and film-festivals, research for authors and artists, freelance consulting, teaching and lecturing in Germany, the UK, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Brazil, Cuba, the USA and South Africa.

I love bridging the gap between academia and the arts, and participating in the artistic transmission of knowledge. I have researched several productions for the film industry and traveled the world with international teams.

As a freelance lecturer and consultant and through the design of study modules and workshops, I close the circle of the study of African American history and workplace experiences with hierarchy and power (-abuses), by specializing in the analysis of colonial legacies and Eurocentric knowledge, using transcultural, intersectional, anti-bias and critical-whiteness approaches, non-violent communication and anti-racist and anti-discriminatory concepts. In addition to providing freelance trainings in the business world, for NGO’s and cultural institutions, I have been teaching as a freelance lecturer at Bremen University of Applied Sciences for over 10 years, where I reflect international work and study experiences with local and international students from different disciplines.

In 2018, I initiated, among other topics, the 2-day workshop format “Let’s Talk about Racism: Anti-Racism and Decolonization” for PIASTA at the University of Hamburg. For over 7 years, students were able to exchange ideas and further our education on the topic, sometimes quarterly. First on site, in Hamburg. Later in collaboration with colleagues, digitally and globally with participants worldwide.

I am a believer of lifelong learning and challenge myself and my work every day. I don’t always succeed, but tolerance for mistakes, continuous professional development, and constant alignment with current public and scientific discourse are essential to this work.

I believe in the healing power of art and nature, shared meals, dance and music, genuine friendship and explicitly open doors. In commitment and solidarity, clear positions and postures, sincerity, and the magic of special moments of connection.