Hi, I'm Jan Schenk. I help organisations work smarter with AI, automation, and data.
I also write about ideas less ordinary.
About me
Hi, I’m Jan Schenk — a data sociologist turned systems thinker, blending a background in social research with a lifelong fascination for technology.I was born in Germany and moved to Cape Town to study at the University of Cape Town, where I completed a Master’s in Development Studies and later a PhD in Sociology. My doctoral research explored how taste and cultural preferences shape racial identities among youth in South Africa and Brazil — a project rooted in Bourdieu, fieldwork, and a deep interest in the forces that shape how people see themselves and each other.Alongside my academic journey, I’ve always followed a parallel path in tech. I taught myself to code in high school, launched a 3D photography and VR startup while studying politics in Munich, and wrote for Macwelt, one of Germany’s leading Mac magazines. That dual interest — the social and the technical — never left.It eventually led me to co-found ikapadata, a Cape Town-based survey research company that pioneered digital data collection tools in the academic and development sectors. I focused on building efficient, scalable systems for high-quality fieldwork, including mobile data capture, database design, automation, and real-time visualisation.Later, I joined Genesis Analytics where I established the Primary Data Intelligence unit — integrating fieldwork innovation with broader strategy and impact consulting. Today, I work independently with organisations that want to get smarter about how they work — by leveraging the right mix of AI, automation, and data intelligence.My core belief: technology should extend what people and organisations can do - not overwhelm them. And today’s wave of accessible AI and automation opens up opportunities that were unthinkable just a few years ago. But imagination, clarity, and trust are often missing. That’s where I come in.When I’m not building or advising, I write about the intersection of technology, culture, and meaning — especially the socio-philosophical dimensions of AI and automation. If you’re curious about systems, structure, and the ways we try to make sense of change, we’ll likely have a lot to talk about.