Regine Dierse studied musicology, psychology and indology in Hamburg, Germany. She  worked as a freelance journalist and reviewer for several radio stations before completing postgraduate studies in cultural and educational administration in Hamburg, and establishing the agency KulturKontor Regine Dierse in 1997.

Maike Bruns studied law in Hamburg and Bordeaux as well as African studies in Hamburg and Bamako. She completed advanced training courses in cultural administration and public relations before joining KulturKontor in 2001.