Company culture advocate and a curator of diverse experiences to foster employee connections. As the chief experience officer at RUFARI, he offers unique culinary and cocktail experiences inspired by more than 15 styles of cuisine prepared for both in-person and virtual formats.

Fueled by his passion for building genuine connections, Rudi founder RUFARI in 2018 as a first-of-its-kind service in the team building and company culture development industry.

Centered around cultural storylines, he is dedicated to helping corporate teams share memorable and meaningful experiences through a hand-crafted mix of food, beverages, music and other elements such as team building activities. RUFARI is a portmanteau between two words: “Rudi” and “Safari,” alluding to how each experience is an exploration of human connection. Long after the event ends, Rudi hopes to instill a sense of increased trust and empathy between team members that contributes to healthier and happier work environments.

Rudi began his career as an Applications Engineer at NI (formerly National Instruments), and worked in a variety of roles at the company with greater levels of engagement and responsibility, serving in roles in business and technology. He served as a Global Director for Human Resources, where he grew an immense understanding of the corporate culture’s core elements of success and the need to bridge the gap between teams. He also worked in various leadership roles in Manufacturing, Product Development and Sales, giving him an understanding of how human connections impact business outcomes.

His expertise and passion for uniting people through unique, shared experiences lives on in RUFARI. He works alongside clients to determine their company culture goals and inspire the actions needed to achieve them. Prior to RUFARI, Rudi co-founded a pop-up dining experience called CAMEROMANIA in 2016. In addition to providing unique meals inspired by chefs across Europe, Asia and Africa, this brainchild became catalyst for building communities, enabling cultural immersion and inspiring empathy over food. Rudi is also a graduate of The University of Oklahoma with a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

Within his local community, Rudi has partnered with the World Bank to help entrepreneurs in Africa create solutions for improved water sanitation and energy efficiency. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Austin Classical Guitar organization with a mission of inspiring individuals through musical experiences of deep personal significance, and the Board of Directors of AUTMHQ, who aims to bridge the gap between the Black Hispanic community and the technology industry.