Commitment in Motion: How Constantin Runs to End Domestic Violence

Meet Constantin, Parisian by birth, European by experience, and at home wherever life takes him. Having lived across several countries, he’s learned to adapt quickly, connect easily, and find common ground in diverse environments.

By day, he moves between worlds: advising organisations on risk and internal audits, while also helping startups grow their presence and confidence through social media. When he’s not working, he’s running, not chasing medals, but celebrating movement and the simple joy of staying active. Let’s dive into the journey behind it all.

If someone’s never heard of you, what should they know about you in 20 seconds, what do you care about most, and what is your role at Spring ACT?

In 20 seconds? Indeed, that’s a short time. In one word, I would say “proactive”, whether in my professional or private life. Each day is an opportunity to learn something and to help. That’s why beyond being an AI-Ambassador at Spring ACT, I also work in risk management.

Why this cause? What made you personally decide to put your time, energy and platform behind ending violence against women? And why Spring ACT, what did you see in this organisation that made you think: “This is where I can make a true difference”?

Having the chance to come from a pretty healthy environment with strong values (thanks to my family for that), domestic violence has for a long time been invisible to me, until I looked at some numbers… The pervasive nature of violence against women is a critical societal issue that demands active engagement. My decision to dedicate my time and energy for this cause is quite simple: I find it personally totally unacceptable that those numbers are so high in 2026, especially in a country like Switzerland. Spring ACT stood out due to its innovative approach, combining AI, which is a very trendy and relevant topic these days and activism.

You literally ran across Switzerland for this. What was the hardest moment? What was the most rewarding moment during that journey? And what kept you going?

The hardest moment was undoubtedly the false start, where I got injured after 20km in the middle of the canton of Thurgau, a hip injury early in the journey, which threatened to derail the entire plan. I nevertheless managed to restart 7 days later, and move forward with some adjustments (trekking poles, which saved my life in the Alps!). I I would also say that the loneliness in the middle of the Swiss Alps, while enjoyable, could become a bit scary at some point since I sometimes had to run 40+km stretches on my own, without crossing paths with a single human soul.

The reward was definitely reaching Lake Lugano, in one piece, after more than 350km. Beyond the beauty of it, it’s also all the memories that will stay with me forever.

Was there a specific moment when this shifted from “I care” to “I’m taking action”?

Simply: I was given the opportunity the moment I decided to apply to the AI Ambassador Program of Spring ACT. I have always been more or less involved in social actions. As a student, I worked as a summer camp manager for a specific audience, and during COVID I also took the opportunity to work in nursing homes. So when I heard about Spring ACT, and given my strong interest in AI-related topics, I immediately took my chance.

You’ve linked sport + activism in a big way. What surprised you most about people’s reactions when you did that?

Sports + activism is not a rare combination. Many athletes, both pros and amateurs, link their sporting activities to a cause. Nevertheless, when it comes to Spring ACT and domestic violence, I would say the reaction was better than expected. First, domestic violence is, despite being widely known, still a very silenced topic, so speaking up about it is always positive. Also, from my experience, being a man taking action had a positive impact.

When you’re deep in discomfort (training, endurance, pressure), what do you tell yourself that actually works?

It depends on the level of discomfort we are talking about. But in general, I would say that persistence is key. You can feel very down during a training and totally smash the next race, and vice-versa. The body’s reaction is hard to predict. I would say that the key thing in running is: keep going… each step forward is one step closer to your beer and your shower!

What skills have you developed through your activism journey with Spring ACT so far that you think will be useful in your personal and professional life?

The key skill I can say is I considerably gained knowledge about domestic violence. Beyond being pervasive, it is also everywhere, to an extent I had no idea about! Then of course, I figured out with a bit more accuracy about which forms domestic violence can take and in that sense, detect a bit better when someone is experiencing a situation that they shouldn’t have to.

In real terms, what do you hope changes because of your involvement for someone who might need help, and for the wider public?

For someone needing help, I hope my involvement contributes to a world where access to support is immediate, confidential, and effective, exemplified by tools like Sophia. For the wider public, I aim for a higher awareness and a collective sense of responsibility regarding violence against women, leading to proactive prevention and stronger societal support systems.

You work in risk/compliance/AI governance. What do most people get wrong about “risk”? And what do you think about trust in a world that’s moving fast?

Most people misunderstand risk as solely a negative outcome and a cost-center, rather than an inherent component of innovation and progress. Effective risk management isn’t about avoidance, but about informed decision-making to navigate uncertainties and seize opportunities responsibly. In a rapidly evolving world, trust is key. It’s built on transparency, accountability, and consistent ethical conduct, especially concerning AI governance, where the ethical implications of technology must be carefully considered and managed to maintain public confidence.

What’s one common misconception about “being an ally” that you want to challenge?

A common misconception is that being an ally is a passive identity rather than an active, ongoing commitment. True allyship requires continuous learning, challenging one’s own biases, and actively using one’s privilege to amplify marginalised voices and break the silence, which itself speaks volumes. Taking action can be risky too in a way, because you might face situations of misunderstanding.

If someone reading this is unsure whether their voice or actions really matter, or are hesitant to make themselves heard, what would you want them to know?

Regarding the victim-survivors, I would tell them that speaking out is one of the bravest thing you can do. You stop being a victim the day you start to speak, and the reward at the end is greater than you can imagine. Not only you will have an impact on your own life, but it will also help others around you find the courage to speak out.

To neutral observers, I think presenting the issue in a way that there is practically no cost about raising awareness around you, while the cost of being silent is huge for potential victims.

Fast-forward 12 months: what would make you proud of this movement, and what role do you want to play in it?

In 12 months, I would be proud to know that Sophia is known well beyond the current circle of users and victims-survivors. That will take work, both online and physical, promoting Sophia and Spring ACT on social media, but also by engaging directly with institutions, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools, to provide them with materials they can share.

What’s next in the life of Constantin? Anything else you’d like to mention that we have not covered?

The life of Constantin will always keep going in this direction: working on interesting projects such as Spring ACT, and gaining professional knowledge and skills that will help me also to be a more efficient activist. And maybe one day, I’ll launch a project of a lifetime, which is very important to me, but still confidential so far.