Meet Team VOOR: Maja Mikolajek

We’re all passionate about sports. That’s why we created a platform designed to simplify the lives of athletes, coaches, and club managers. Your sport, our sport. Our team is here for your team! Meet Maja!

Who are you and what exactly do you do at VOOR? 

Since mid-October, I have been supporting voor’s marketing team as a working student, working closely with Jaana and Leonie, especially when it comes to social media – essentially everything content-related.

In September, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies at the University of Potsdam and started my Master’s program in Bielefeld, with the plan to approach my studies a bit more calmly this time. I am using my free time to explore hobbies and discover new passions, from graphic design, reading, and finance to line dancing and Greek mythology – I am giving everything a try!

What has your career been like so far? 

Throughout my studies, I have always worked as a working student in social media. I started at the University of Potsdam, where I helped students with their academic choices. After that, I spent almost a year and a half in finance, helping manage their social media channels.

Since my interests have always been in the sports field, I decided to join voor to work specifically in this area. In addition to gaining experience through training and as a volunteer, such as recently at the UEFA 2024 Championship in social media and photography, I have also broadened my skills along the way.

What would you like to achieve with VOOR? 

Since my strength is in social media, I would like to expand voor’s channels and reach a larger community. It is especially important to me to cover as many sports as possible – from soccer to hockey to volleyball and beyond. My focus is on inspiring people who, ideally, will use our app and experience an improved, simpler training experience through voor. It is all about making our platform more well-known and truly adding value for sports enthusiasts.

How can we help clubs? 

In today’s digital age, it is more important than ever for clubs to work with modern solutions. The voor app offers exactly that: it simplifies the training experience and enhances communication within the club.

When there is a change of coach or new members join, it is crucial that all information is quickly and clearly available. Instead of endless Excel sheets or printed documents that need to be posted everywhere, our app allows everything to be organized in one place. This saves clubs time and energy, allowing them to work more efficiently and focus on what matters most: sports and their members.

Which sport does your heart beat for and are you active? 

I am mainly active in different sports classes, like Pilates and cycling. I am from Berlin, where Urban Sports gives me the chance to try different classes. I find the extra motivation of group training especially valuable.

In recent vacations, I also discovered snowboarding and surfing. Although I don’t have much experience yet, both instantly captivated me, and I would love to develop these passions further – even if the ideal conditions are sometimes hard to find in Germany.

Another sport I really love is volleyball. Even though I am not necessarily the strongest player, it is just so much fun. My goal is to join a club or regularly meet up with others to play volleyball more intensely.

Are you a fan too? 

I can really get excited about many different sports without committing to a specific team. I enjoy watching basketball, hockey, or soccer – whether amateur or professional games, I always find opportunities to attend matches, whether in Berlin or my small hometown.

For me, it is the atmosphere at games that excites me. I love the sense of togetherness and energy of the fans.

Which sport have you never tried, but would you like to? 

Playing basketball on a team really interests me. I often hear that my height would be ideal, and I would love to see how I would do in a practice setting. I would also like to try out the trending sport of paddle tennis. Tennis attracts me too since it offers similar movements, and lacrosse is also on my list – so far, I only know it from movies, but I can imagine it would be a thrilling way to try something completely new. Each of these sports could bring interesting challenges and new experiences.

What impact do you think sport can have on society? 

Sports create a strong sense of community that connects people in a special way. I often meet up with friends for sports, and we use this time to catch up before or afterward. Without these shared experiences, we might not see each other as regularly.

Another key factor is motivation: participating in classes or team sports provides extra incentive to stay active even on less energetic days. Training together with familiar faces not only boosts motivation but also makes the training experience more enjoyable and fun.

Besides the social aspect, we can’t forget the health benefits – both physical and mental. Sports can play a crucial role in personal development, strengthening our well-being and helping us achieve personal goals.