Swapping meetings and business pitches for whips and chains might sound like a drastic decision. But for me, it was the only path that made sense after 24 years of chasing success in the corporate world.
A Childhood Forged in Ambition
Born in Frankfurt am Main in 1982 to a German father and British-Austrian mother, I grew up in a household that valued ambition above all. My father held senior roles in the printing industry, orchestrating major deals that shaped the companies he worked for. The family relocated frequently — from Munich to Paris to Bern to Marlow, UK — exposing me to diverse cultures and languages. I attended the International School of Bern and later John Hampden Grammar School in High Wycombe.
The Dot-Com Dream and Suppressed Desires
At 17, during the dot-com boom, I launched my first startup with friends, expecting rapid success. When the bubble burst, the company collapsed. Around this period, I experienced my first significant relationship and discovered interests in BDSM. But I suppressed these desires due to societal stigma — a pattern that would continue for years.
Chasing Success and the Cost of Suppression
I co-founded multiple startups and worked in ad-tech at Vibrant Media in 2005. I married, but eventually separated in 2012, finding the relationship sexually incompatible. A five-month stay in Berlin afterward proved transformative, allowing me to explore my authentic identity within the city's thriving kink community.
The Breaking Point: Burnout and Reflection
By my early thirties, cumulative stress from the business world had caused significant burnout. Multiple failed ventures and grueling work depleted my passion, creating a persistent sense of emptiness that no business success could fill.
"Why Don't You Become a Professional Dominus?"
In 2016, while building startup Orvitas, a friend asked the question that would change everything. I trained under a renowned Hamburg Domina and found the work deeply fulfilling. Unlike corporate profit-chasing, this work involved emotional depth, human psychology, and genuine connection with people at their most vulnerable.
From Suppression to Acceptance
Through the kink community, I came to terms with my bisexuality in a non-judgmental environment. This self-acceptance extended beyond sexuality — I began prioritising mental health and setting boundaries against the relentless pursuit of traditional success.
A New Chapter in Berlin
In late 2018, I moved to Berlin permanently under the professional name Master Samael. New sex worker registration laws complicated the BDSM business, forcing a temporary pause. But Berlin's LGBTQ+ and kink communities provided meaningful friendships and healing during this transition.
The Final Epiphany
By late 2022, burnout had returned with a vengeance. My therapist warned of an impending health crisis if I didn't change course. Then, in December 2023, meeting Raphaela Morning — a confident, unapologetic sex worker — inspired my final decision to leave business permanently.
Studio Atrium: A New Beginning
In 2024, I fully transitioned to professional BDSM work, joining Studio Atrium — Berlin's premier BDSM studio led by "der Dominus" Kolja-André Nolte. Working with real people in meaningful exploration replaced faceless corporate meetings, providing the genuine fulfilment I'd been chasing for two decades.
Leaving the business world was one of the hardest things I've ever done. But it was also the most necessary. I've traded boardroom politics for something far more authentic — and I've never looked back. If my story resonates with you, I have one piece of advice: listen to your inner voice. It usually knows the way.