Magdalena Żelasko, originally from Poland, has been living in Vienna for over 15 years now. The certified marketing and advertising expert with a diploma from the Business School in Cracow studied Slavic studies, journalism and communication sciences at the University of Vienna, which she soon after rounded up with a Ph.D. in 2005. She has worked as a manager for several international companies and as a journalist for various Austrian and Polish media. The university lecturer with focus on culture and communication is also involved in a number of associations and supports several non-profit organisations.