we are Travelling U.
The learning (r)evolution.
Travelling U is a Global Learning Platform with the world as its campus, developing transformative programs in cooperative entrepreneurship, leadership, and intercultural intelligence—from the LEINN International bachelor’s degree to university study tours and corporate learning expeditions.
Meet the Team
We are a global collective of entrepreneurs, educators, and social innovators dedicated to transforming how the world learns. As a cooperative, our strength lies in our multidisciplinary approach—combining industrial expertise, pedagogical innovation, and a "Learning by Doing" philosophy.
Aitzol Garmendia
Leader of Travelling U
Board Director & Head of Travelling U Aitzol leads Travelling U, the educational arm of the Tazebaez S.Coop, where he applies a career’s worth of expertise in industrial innovation to the world of learning. A working member and Board Director, Aitzol joined the cooperative in 2019 following a 14-year tenure at Danobat S.Coop, where he was instrumental in leading the company’s service business unit. Aitzol’s multidisciplinary approach is backed by an Industrial Organization Engineering degree and a Master in Open Innovation from Mondragon University, as well as a Master in European Business from ESCP-EAP.
Iskander Alkate Ibarrola
Leader of the Innovation and Design Project Line
Co-founder & Lead of Learning Expeditions Iskander Alkate is a co-founder of Tazebaez and a member of its Board of Directors, where he oversees the cooperative’s strategic innovation initiatives. He leads all Learning Expeditions programs, accompanying approximately 1,000 participants annually through immersive entrepreneurship and innovation processes in destinations such as Bilbao, Valencia, Berlin, New York, India, and Seoul. A specialist in "Learning by Doing," Iskander has served as a Team Coach for Mondragon University’s LEINN program and holds a Master’s in Team Coaching and Data Analysis.
Kaisu Tuominiemi
Leader of Educational Programmes and Senior Learning Facilitator
Senior Learning Facilitator & Educational Program Lead Kaisu Tuominiemi is a Finnish entrepreneur and learning designer with nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of higher education and social innovation. As a Senior Facilitator at Travelling U, she has been instrumental in designing and leading transformative programs such as LEINN and MINN. Kaisu specializes in experiential, peer-to-peer education, having built and supported learning communities in global hubs like Berlin, Shanghai, and Bilbao. Her work champions context-aware leadership and equitable economic futures.
Maialen Arrizabalaga
Coordinator of LEINN International
Academic Coordinator of LEINN International & Senior Facilitator Maialen Arrizabalaga is the Academic Coordinator for LEINN International and a Senior Learning Facilitator at Travelling U. A co-founder of three companies and a partner at the Tazebaez cooperative, Maialen has supported over 200 young entrepreneurs in launching approximately 20 companies over the last decade. She specializes in descriptive and psychological pedagogy applied to entrepreneurship and is the founder of social initiatives such as WE4ALL and Silk Routes for Knowledge.
Oihane Amurrio
Lead Cultural Entrepreneur Programme Developer
Programme Designer & Educator Oihane Amurrio is an educator and programme designer based in Berlin, specialized in designing educational programmes in entrepreneurship and collaboration. She applies learning-by-doing and project-based methodologies grounded in real-world challenges. Oihane has designed and delivered modules across international programmes, including the LEINN degree and BITLASI (ESADE). She holds an International Executive Programme in Team Coaching from Mondragon University and a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Athabasca University.
Amaia Garcia
Lead of Asian Ecosystems
Education Consultant & China Development Lead Amaia is an Education Consultant and China Development Lead at Travelling U, specializing in Business Design and Education Innovation. She co-founded S-There Technologies, a medical device startup supported by the Harvard-MIT program, and spent six years in China leading international expansion and innovation labs in Shanghai. Amaia holds a degree in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation (LEINN) from Mondragon University and a Master's in Intrapreneurship and Open Innovation.
Martin Fernandez De Labastida
Head of Berlin Office & Team coach
Head of Berlin Office Martin Fernandez de Labastida oversees the execution and operation of all projects and programs within the Berlin hub of Travelling U. With a strong entrepreneurial background, Martin has developed his own startups and helped growing businesses transform ideas into impactful ventures. He specializes in management and leadership, bringing hands-on experience in guiding early-stage companies through innovation processes. Martin holds a B.A. in International Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation from Mondragon University.
Adrian Gonzalez Carreras
Business Incubator & Learning Facilitator
Business Incubator & Learning Facilitator Adrian Gonzalez is a member of the Travelling U team, where he contributes to the Business Incubator initiative. He is responsible for guiding second- and third-year teams through various programs, including design thinking, branding, and exponential technologies. His objective is to equip students with the necessary tools and knowledge to establish their own startups, addressing local needs while leveraging global resources and opportunities.
Alice Wood
Recruitment Officer & Learning Facilitator
Recruitment Officer & Learning Facilitator Alice Wood is a British talent strategist and learning facilitator working at the crossroads of higher education and entrepreneurship. As a Recruitment Officer at Travelling U, she plays a key role in identifying and guiding future entrepreneurial leaders into transformative programmes such as LEINN International. Alice specializes in building meaningful connections with students and families worldwide, helping them navigate innovative, team-based education models rooted in real-world impact.
Emma Arriortua López
Talent Recruitment, Admissions & Marketing
Talent Recruitment, Admissions, and Marketing Emma Arriortua Lopez leads the Talent Recruitment and Admissions Strategy for the LEINN International programme at Travelling U. With a degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), she focuses on strategic brand management and the coordination of multicultural teams. Emma leverages her background in digital content and social media to connect global markets and cultures, driven by a commitment to intercultural sensitivity.
Kristen Mongoven
Talent Scouting & International Admissions
Talent Scouting & International Admissions Kristen Mongoven is a member of the Talent Scouting team for Travelling U, where she recruits for the LEINN International programme. She hosts the weekly Open Days webinars, guiding students and families through the unique opportunities of a global-rotation degree. With a career rooted in international education and teaching experience at DePaul University Chicago and NYU, Kristen focuses on helping students find their footing in a global environment.
Leire San Salvador
Team Coach & Learning Facilitator
Team Coach & Learning Facilitator Leire San Salvador combines entrepreneurship and a global perspective to design experiences that challenge conventional learning models. At Travelling U, she supports the design and facilitation of international Learning Expeditions across Europe, guiding participants through processes that connect local ecosystems with global challenges. Her work focuses on experiential learning, team coaching, and helping individuals translate uncertainty into agency. She holds a Master’s in International Development Cooperation.
Koldo Bartolome
Business Development & Program Development
Business Development & Program Development Koldo Bartolome is a business development professional and internationalisation specialist. As part of the Program Development Team at Travelling U, he plays a role in designing global learning expeditions and scaling projects aligned with emerging market trends. Koldo specializes in guiding local companies through cross-border expansion, advocating for a vision of business where economic benefit and social impact go hand in hand.
Olatz Romero Urretxua
Business Development & Internationalisation
Business Development Olatz Romero works in Business Development at Travelling U, where she researches, designs, and implements strategic initiatives to expand services into new regions. She focuses on building strong relationships with potential partners and clients to scale the cooperative's global reach. Olatz holds a degree in Business Management and Modern Languages, as well as a Master’s degree as an Expert in Internationalization and Business Diplomacy.
Candela López Baldazo
Marketing & Communication
Marketing & Communication Candela Lopez is responsible for Marketing and Communication at Travelling U. She ensures that the impact generated through the organization's programs is effectively communicated to the world, while also coordinating marketing campaigns to ensure their successful execution. Candela holds a degree in Business and Data Analytics, as well as a Master’s degree in Digital Marketing.
Whether we are coaching teams in Berlin, scouting talent in New York, or designing expeditions in Seoul, our mission remains the same: empowering the next generation of purpose-driven leaders through experiential, team-based education.
Locations
Network
Travelling U connects various relevant purpose driven stakeholders around the globe.
Collaborating with Travelling U gives you access to being part of a global network of like-minded changemakers learning through similar values and methodology which helps you to expand your global network and the opportunities of learning and creating together.
TRAVELLING U KEY FACTS
4,000+ participants since 2016: Empowering thousands of people to explore new cultures and develop impactful projects.
700+ participants in 2024/25: Guiding hundreds of
students and professionals through transformative learning expeditions this past year alone.
10+ years of experience: Designing and facilitating global learning expeditions for over a decade.
10+ Global destinations:
Including cities such as New York, Seoul, Berlin, Pune, Shanghai, and Bilbao.
Our Values
Cooperative. Team oriented. Learning by doing. Social Entrepreneurship.