We work across borders, sectors, and disciplines.

Baptiste Raymond
Founder, Strategy & Organisation

Cristina Rue
Communications & Public Affairs

Mathias Zeller
Stakeholder Engagement & Dialogue

Mana Thion
Project Management Associate

Meet the team

Baptiste Raymond, Founder, Strategy & Organisation

“Leadership is a journey from rebellion to generosity.”

  • With over 15 years of experience at the nexus of the public, private and social sectors in Europe, the Middle-East, and Africa, Baptiste provides a systemic perspective to tackle societal challenges, reinforced by a dual expertise in management and conflict resolution.

  • Baptiste has worked with the Boston Consulting Group (Western Europe, Africa, Middle East), the Tony Blair Institute (where he was leading government advisory teams in Saudi Arabia), the Centre for Multilateral Negotiations (where he was in charge of the training practice), a Fortune 500 company, and consulted with governments, development institutions, and social impact start-ups.

  • Baptiste holds graduate diplomas from Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs, the École Normale Supérieure, rue d’Ulm (alumni), and the Paris School of Economics.

    He also holds certificates from the Harvard Law School, Programme on Negotiation (mediation and conflict management), the Aalto University in Finland (radical creativity), the École des Ponts d.School (design thinking), the IMD business school (WWF One Planet Leader), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (Future Leaders Team), and the IHEDN Jeunes (security leadership program).

  • Baptiste is a lecturer on leadership at Sciences Po Paris School of Management and Impact. He is a member of the jury for admission to the competitive examination at HEC business school.

    Baptiste is also a reserve officer in the French Navy.

cristina rue, communications & public affairs

“Communication is about spreading a message, but curiosity is the vehicle for outward success.”

  • Cristina is a public affairs expert who advises corporate, political, and advocacy clients across the United States, South America, and Europe. Her extensive portfolio bridges the intersection of politics, business, and the press. She also advises non-profits as a Board member.

  • Cristina worked for the Tony Blair Institute, advising their Eastern Europe practice through political analyses, integrated communications plans, and crisis management. Prior to relocating to Europe, Cristina worked for SKDKnickerbocker and CLS Strategies, two of Washington DC’s most influential public affairs firms. 

    Her extensive portfolio bridges the intersection of politics, business, and the press. She has served as a high-level advisor to several political campaigns across South America and has implemented aggressive government affairs campaigns to bolster corporate credibility. She has experience in both digital campaigns and traditional media engagements to strengthen a profile or suppress negative coverage.

  • Cristina is a native of Caracas, Venezuela, and holds a master’s degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. PR News named her one of the Rising PR Starts 30 & Under in 2015.

  • Cristina sits on the board of trustees of the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation in the United States.

Mathias Zeller, stakeholder management & Dialogue

“In fast-paced environments, taking time for decision-making is crucial for long-term success.”

  • A stakeholder management, dialogue and mediation expert, Mathias boasts more than a decade of experience in crisis environments in Europe and Latin America, which has shaped his perspective on leadership and what drives decision-making processes.

  • Mathias is a public affairs expert with a focus on dialogue and mediation support. He has a special interest in process design.

    His experience spans over 10+ years working both in theory and practice. In his time at the Swiss Peace Foundation, he co-authored various publications looking at how the field of mediation has been professionalized in recent years, and how norms and values of third parties influence peace negotiations. He has also contributed to several courses on mediation and peacebuilding overall, including the UN High Level Mediation Course, aimed at senior officials from the UN, regional organisations, and key Member States. 

    Moreover, he worked in Northern Kosovo, facilitating dialogue between Serbian and Albanian communities. He then joined the Swiss Foreign Ministry to implement its peace and human rights program in Colombia.

  • Mathias is a Swiss national and holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University.

mana thion, project management associate

“Leadership is within us all, we just need to unlock our potential to lead and inspire.”

  • With a Master’s degree in Marketing from Queen Mary University of London, Mana has developed practical experience in project management, communication, and product marketing. He values meaningful workplaces and is driven to contribute effectively while continuously enhancing his skills and knowledge.

  • Prior to joining Tembo Citizen, Mana has worked with H/Advisors, Foxintelligence, and Ampersand, in marketing and project management roles.

  • Mana holds a master degree in marketing and a bachelor in business and law, both from Queen Mary University in London.