Foundations
Technical curiosity, practical work
After my Abitur, I spent several years studying energy engineering, without completing a degree. I then completed vocational training as a chef and worked in kitchens for several years.
The person behind CB Digital Lab
Christian Blecke
Operations · Process Design · Automation · AI-Assisted Development
I turn operational problems and ideas into practical digital systems.
My background is in operations, entrepreneurship and team leadership. Software became part of my work when I repeatedly encountered processes that could be simpler, faster and better — and started building the tools myself.
Based on La Palma, Spain from February/March 2027 · Working remotely worldwide
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Background
A career shaped by responsibility.
Mid-2018 – end of 2022
Building and running a restaurant
I built and operated my own restaurant. Entrepreneurship meant taking responsibility for organisation and day-to-day operations, with decisions that had immediate practical consequences.
2023
A new operational context
I moved into bicycle retail and leasing, initially in an administrative role. Working directly with leasing processes made their requirements, repetitive tasks and opportunities for improvement tangible.
Since October 2023
Leading leasing operations
As Leasing Team Lead, I take responsibility for operational processes and team organisation. Process optimisation, automation and internal digital tools have become an increasing part of my work.
The process came first. The software followed.
My route into development grew out of operational work. Each step expanded what I could solve: from a repetitive task to a workflow, and from a workflow to a more complete system.
01 / Understand
Real operational problems → process analysis
Start with the work people actually need to do, then make the requirements explicit.
02 / Automate
Excel & Outlook → Python → local internal tools
Reduce repetitive work and connect steps that previously depended on manual effort.
03 / Structure
Structured applications → APIs & databases
Model data and process logic so that individual tools can grow into connected systems.
04 / Build & operate
React / TypeScript → FastAPI / PostgreSQL → deployment
Develop web applications and take them through server infrastructure, production builds and operation.
Software is a way to translate real processes and ideas into functioning systems. Today, AI-assisted development and coding agents are part of how I carry that work forward.
How I work with AI
Domain knowledge guides the implementation.
I use agent-based development workflows with tools such as Codex and Claude Code. AI supports the whole development cycle; I bring the operational context, decide what the system needs to do and evaluate the result.
Define & investigate
Requirements, architecture and research: clarify the problem, explore options and challenge assumptions.
Build & improve
Implementation, debugging and refactoring: work through solutions and refine their structure.
Check & iterate
Testing, documentation and iteration: examine behaviour, capture decisions and improve through feedback.
Domain knowledge + process thinking + human decision making + AI-assisted implementation
Where I can contribute
I am interested in work where understanding operations and building better systems belong together — through a long-term role, a focused project or a collaboration.
Long-term roles
Connecting the people who run a process with the people and tools that can improve it.
- Operations Management, Business Operations and Product Operations
- Process & Automation, Internal Tools and AI-enabled Operations
- Workflow and Systems Design
- Service Delivery and Operational Excellence
- Connecting business requirements, operations and technical implementation
Projects & freelance work
Taking a defined operational problem from analysis to a practical solution.
- Analyse manual processes, design workflows and automate repetitive work
- Build internal tools and small to medium web or business applications
- Develop prototypes and technical proofs of concept
- Design AI-assisted workflows and integrate AI into existing ways of working
- Translate domain requirements into functioning digital solutions
The work behind the words.
Operational experience
Leasing Operations & Automation
Process analysis led to an internal tool and a new workflow, with approximately 60% less processing time in the relevant steps supported by the new interface.
Personal architecture project
Bike ERP / Operations Hub
A modular vision connecting customers, bikes and products, inventory, sales, leasing, workshop, reservations, invoices, checkout, bike handover, transfers and APIs. My own development project, not an announced product of my employer.
Interactive development
Survival Game
React, TypeScript and Phaser put a different set of systems to work: procedural world generation, crafting, construction, resources and persistence. An ongoing exploration of game systems through AI-assisted development.
From code to operation
CB Digital Lab
This Next.js website runs on my own Debian Linux server. Git, systemd, Caddy and HTTPS form part of my deployment workflow — another practical step in understanding and operating the systems I build.
Get in touch
Let’s talk about a problem worth solving.
If your team needs someone who connects operational experience with practical digital implementation, I would be interested in hearing about it. The right conversation could lead to a long-term role, a project or a collaboration.
Remote collaboration worldwide. From February/March 2027, my base will be La Palma, Spain.
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