I'm Fabienne,
hi there!
A former engineer from a small town in Germany turned side hustle coach & enthusiastic Product Leader in Austin, Texas.
My friends describe me as an infectious ray of sunshine, bookaholic, life-long learner, and motivational-mug collector.
I love sports cars (& playing loud music in them—yep, I’m that person), my basset hound Ernie, Alo Yoga yoga pants and all things health-related (green smoothies, fasting, and F45 are my jam).
Helping you build a side hustle that makes you want to backflip out of bed every morning, all without giving up your salary is what I’m passionate about.
I’m here to show you there’s no need to become a “corporate dropout” in order to pursue your dream of personal and financial freedom—I found a better way.
hi there!
It’s a hot August Thursday night when I find out that an early stage of a serious cancer has decided to reside in my body.
While I sit there on the terracotta tiles of my bathroom floor in Palo Alto, California, my basset hound Ernie sits next to me sensing my despair.
As I pat Ernie’s ears, one question starts rattling around in my head, and it’s probably one—if not THE—most powerful question you can ask yourself in life…
The Day the Universe
Threw Me into an Ice Bath
Where it all began, and how I got here…
If I were to die this year, what would I have contributed to the world so far?
"
Is Climbing the Corporate Ladder All I Want to Do in Life?
It seemed all I cared about was hitting another bullet point on my resume and getting that next promotion as fast as possible.
But I felt empty.
Suddenly I was asking myself:
- Is climbing the corporate ladder all I want to do in life?
- Does it move the needle in a meaningful direction – for me?
- For the people around me?
- For the world?
After my diagnosis, I decided to go bonkers on two things:
One, beating cancer (and I successfully did—yay!) and two, researching THE most amazing people on planet Earth who have lived meaningful and fulfilled lives that have made a difference in the lives of others.
I was convinced that there must be a playbook out there that would show me how to create the most meaning and impact in my life.
However, I couldn’t seem to find a common denominator. Until the day I was stuck in traffic on the 101 in Palo Alto. For some reason, that’s when it hit me:
My Cancer-beating
Green Smoothie
_
Learning to Live a Life that Makes a Difference
The people who have lived the most meaningful and impactful lives in history, have all been extraordinary entrepreneurs.
"
At that moment, I realized that entrepreneurship is the answer not only to living a more meaningful and purposeful life but also to creating a career that makes you want to backflip out of bed every day.
It’s when you have an impact on other people’s lives that you give your own life meaning.
In the years that followed, I spent hundreds of hours (!) reverse-engineering the playbook of the world’s best leaders. And once I started on this entrepreneurial journey, my life started to take on more meaning and purpose
A goal started to formulate in my mind that I wanted to teach more people about the core pillars of entrepreneurship to help them create meaning and purpose in their own lives.
But then…
“crickets chirping”
NOTHING happened for two years.
Something was holding me back.
And my guess is that it’s the same thing that’s holding you back.
By May 2020, we were in hardcore lockdown due to the global pandemic. One day, while my husband and I were sitting on the couch watching Seaspiracy on Netflix, I was thinking to myself:
On one hand, we have all these Mount-Everest-sized problems in our world (e.g. climate change, species extinction, pollution of our oceans, etc.).
My eyes then wandered away from the TV, back down to my phone, staring at my corporate inbox.
On the other hand, we have all this amazing talent that’s trapped in the corporate hamster wheel.
What’s Holding You Back From Pursuing Your Dream Life Right Now
It seems there are plenty of people hungry to drive meaningful change in the world, but…. They don't do it!
"
Because they don’t want to give up the financial freedom they’ve worked so hard to achieve (especially when job security is at stake during a global pandemic).
They don’t know where to start their journey. And, most importantly, they don’t know how to reprogram their mind to truly unlock their full potential.
They’re trapped in their comfort zones. They’re trapped in the corporate hamster wheel.
That’s when I almost dropped my phone.
OMG—I’m trapped in my own comfort zone!!!
Dang—that’s what’s been holding me back from going out in the world and teaching others.
Because they don’t want to give up the financial freedom they’ve worked so hard to achieve (especially when job security is at stake during a global pandemic).
They don’t know where to start their journey. And, most importantly, they don’t know how to reprogram their mind to truly unlock their full potential.
They’re trapped in their comfort zones. They’re trapped in the corporate hamster wheel.
That’s when I almost dropped my phone.
OMG—I’m trapped in my own comfort zone!!!
Dang—that’s what’s been holding me back from going out in the world and teaching others.
What if I were to help more talented people trapped in the corporate hamster wheel to break free?
What if I were to help them gradually build a career they truly love, one that helps make a difference in the world. Without asking them to cancel their Netflix subscription or move back into their parents' place (just picture that for a second, right!?).
What if I could help build the next generation of leaders?
And That’s When I Put One and One Together...
Let me say: It's SO nice to meet you, and I’m beyond grateful that you’re here right now.
I couldn’t be more thrilled for you to join this movement towards becoming part of the next generation of leaders.
- A generation who puts what makes them come alive first.
- A generation who fights for a cause that’s bigger than themselves.
- A generation who actively works on changing the world in a positive way.
And That Night During Lockdown...
Let’s get started—because, it’s no secret that we have quite a bit of work ahead of us ;) Shall we?
—Fabi
DOWNLOAD NOW
Got passion? Crave impact? Want to create financial freedom?
… but don’t want to quit that well-paid job that you worked SO HARD for over the past years?
Stop looking—you’re in the right place.
Here’s a free step-by-step guide to give you a head start on making progress on a side hustle you truly love.
5 Most Overlooked Steps to
Building a Business Around Your Passion
05
01
02
5 Fun Facts About Me
Bookaholic
Dog Mom
03
Motivational Mug Collector
04
Health Enthusiast
Sustainable Fashion Advocate
1992
2007
"We do not remember days,
we remember moments."
Cesare Pavese
(thank you for coining this term, Jesse Itzler!)
Building My Life Resume
My dad kicks us out of our home in the middle of the night
My mom, brother, and I move into a small apartment IN WOLFENBüttel, Germany
1992-2007
Underwent speech therapy to overcome a lisp
Was very socially awkward in school
My love of learning propelled me through school
Went to college to study engineering and business in Hamburg, Germany
2010
Experienced a quarter-life crisis after college
Purchased a one-way ticket to Sydney
Slept in a 10-bed dorm for 25+ days
Worked two jobs as a waitress to afford rent
SAVED MONEY TO GO bungee jumping and skydiving in New Zealand
Experienced a quarter-life crisis after college
Purchased a one-way ticket to Sydney
Slept in a 10-bed dorm for 25+ days
Worked two jobs as a waitress to afford rent
SAVED MONEY TO GO bungee jumping
and skydiving in New Zealand
2011-2012
Attended Grad School
Studied abroad at Columbia University in New York
Met my now-husband Ben
Fell in love with entrepreneurship
& product management
2012-2014
Survived a long-distance relationship
with Ben (Germany/US)
Started my first job out of Grad School
in Stuttgart, Germany
Got transferred to the Bay Area, California
one year into the job
Opened a new office in Silicon Valley
Scaled a team from 2 to 40+ employees
2014-2018
Continued climbing the corporate ladder
2018
WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE PRE-STAGE CERVICAL CANCER
Started researching ENTREPRENEURSHIP like crazy
Booked a trip to Australia, Bali, and New Zealand
2018-2020
Left my cushy corporate job in Silicon Valley
Moved to Austin, Texas
Started a new job with the vision to help people live life more affordably
2020
The Pandemic
Found my “Why”
Started experimenting with side hustle ideas
2021
Officially founded my LLC in April
Landed a new Product Leadership role in eCommerce
Camper Van Adventure in Western Australia
The memories that deeply shaped who I am today.
Photo Credit: Mercedes-Benz Reserach & Development, North America
Met Ben at Columbia University
Survived a long distance relationship with Ben (Germany/US)
Started my first job out of Grad School in Stuttgart, Germany
Got transferred to the Bay Area, California one year into the job
Opened a new office in Silicon Valley
Scaled a team from 2 to 40+ employees
Backflipping out of the airplane, because...Why not?
Met Ben at Columbia University
Innovation lab in Silicon Valley
Day after my surgery
Moved to Austin, TX
launched my company
Fabienne’s vision is to empower 100M leaders in the corporate world to pursue their Side Hustle to achieve personal growth and financial freedom.
To do this, Fabienne became a side hustle coach, helping tech professionals to build a side hustle they truly love without burning out, sacrificing social life, and giving up financial stability.
Beyond her side hustle, Fabienne found her passion in eCommerce, designing experiences to make every shopping trip an occasion to celebrate for Rue Gilt Group members.
Prior to moving to her new home in Austin, Fabienne led the Product Innovation & Design Group at Mercedes-Benz Vans in Silicon Valley, where she oversaw the development of new technologies and transportation concepts from idea to market-ready solutions.
As a founding member of the Mercedes-Benz Future Transportation initiative, she was instrumental in establishing a new office and incubator footprint for Mercedes-Benz in North America that got sold successfully to external investors.
Originally from Germany, Fabienne comes from a diverse background in product innovation through Lufthansa, Volkswagen, Porsche, Frog Design, RetailMeNot, and Mercedes-Benz before founding her coaching side hustle in 2021.
She holds a dual Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Business from the University of Hamburg and also studied at Columbia University in New York.
If you don’t spot Fabienne, the former engineer from a small town in Germany, reading a book at her favorite coffee shop, you’ll find her out on a neighborhood walk in Austin, Texas with her husband and their basset hound, Ernie.
Fabienne's Bio
Join the Journey Toward Building the Next Generation of Leaders
MY COMPANY's MiSSION (IT'S PRETTY BOLD)
A CURATED BOOK COLLECTION UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU’VE COME ACROSS BEFORE
Do You Love Books as Much as I Do?
Do You Love Books
as Much as I Do?
Picture me taking my basset hound mix Ernie on a morning stroll around the neighborhood with a podcast in my headphones. The interviewer mentions a book, and the next thing I know I find myself hitting that bright orange “Buy Now” button on Amazon.
Ooops, I did it again.
Another day, another book.
Yes, I’m a bookaholic—and damn proud of it.
A few years ago, I committed to reading at least one hour every day—and it would be a total understatement to say that it has completely changed my life for the better.
This is why I hand-picked the best books I’ve ever read in a curated list that’s just for you. To not only save you time and money, but also to kick start your personal growth—because you deserve to be the best version of yourself.
GET FABI'S FAVES
ps—if you have untouched books piling up on your shelf throwing a dust-collecting party, I have some pro hacks for you to go from reading one page a day to one book a week.
Start your Fridays with a sip of coffee on your comfy couch and Fabi’s Failure Fridays emails—side hustle insights + laughter guaranteed.
No spam, just my mission to save you money, time, and most importantly, … embarrassment. (Yep, I have some pretty entertaining stories to share.)
Fabi's Failure Fridays
