about me

Hey, I’m Lazola, and I created the ARERA MYTHOS framework.

I’ve never really fit anywhere neatly: culturally, I’m half-South African, half-Australian, born in the UK, lived in Sydney for years, now making my home in the Netherlands.

I studied design, military history, psychology, and even machine learning, picking up extra diplomas along the way. On paper, it doesn’t make sense. But in my head, it all connects.

My brain works like a spider’s web: history links to design, which links to psychology, which links to a conversation I had in New Orleans five years ago. ARERA MYTHOS is simply that web, spun into a framework to help young founders integrate their own radioactive spider bite directly into their company.

If you’d like to see how my education and experience connect to the creation of ARERA MYTHOS, explore my CV below.

my cv

MSc War & Psychiatry

King's College London

London, England

Opened up my skillset from technical visual design to the written word and deep academic research
Developed skill in crafting 5,000-word essays that read like stories without losing academic rigour
Explored the psychology of narrative through dark and complex subjects
Wove real-life accounts, music, and history into academic work to make it immersive
Learned to combine human emotion with intellectual analysis
Graduated with distinction

BA Design (Visual Communication)

University of Technology Sydney

Sydney, Australia

Technical training across many visual design disciplines, excelling most in UX/UI, illustration, and video
Discovered my strength in creating compelling stories and rationales behind every project
Used transmedia storytelling briefs and research to deepen branding and design briefs
Achieved top grades by making narratives so strong that they became inarguable to my tutors and peers
Learned to sell ideas through emotional and intellectual resonance, not just visuals
Graduated with distinction

Diploma of Languages (German)

University of Technology Sydney

Sydney, Australia

Overcame a history of struggling with languages through self-taught Norwegian
Applied those skills to study intensive German with persistence and strategy
Built resilience in learning processes and problem-solving
Created a foundation for learning Dutch, supporting my work in the Netherlands
Graduated with distinction

REDACTED SUBJECTS

REDACTED HIGH SCHOOL

Oxford, England

Defining turning point that set me on a completely different path from my peers
Learned to trust my internal compass over external pressures
Early experience of creating my own lane instead of chasing traditional timelines and paths
Built confidence in pursuing unconventional, authentic ideas
Didn't even graduate

AI/Machine Learning introductory course

University of Oxford

Short course

Studied the foundations of machine learning and AI from quantum, mathematical, and historical perspectives
Learned the mechanical “inner workings” of machine learning systems and its integrations
Identified core limitations of AI and how to exploit the gaps
Developed a human-first framework impossible for AI to authentically replicate
Combine tech-forward thinking with deep narrative and storytelling expertise
Stay ahead of AI trends without following mainstream hype, using only what drives top results

CLASSIFIED PROJECT

Personal project

Remote

Nearly 10 years of continuous worldbuilding and iteration
Built and evolved a complex, multi-platform storyworld
Learned the value of slow, deliberate creative growth
Trained my brain to think in layered, interconnected narratives
Strengthened skills in narrative design, writing, illustration, strategy, and long-term project vision
Proof that sustained focus leads to exponential creative depth, especially in deep storytelling

Norwegian

Self-taught

Duolingo/Memrise

Self-taught to fluency in Norwegian for fun
Maintained ~3,000-day Duolingo streak
Transformed from long-established language insecurity to growing multilingual confidence
Used language learning discipline and confidence to study German at university
Applied the same skillset from both Norwegian and German to self-teaching Dutch for life in the Netherlands
Learned the power of perseverance and long-term commitment, and turning weaknesses into strengths

Athletic discipline

Competitve

Everywhere

Former competitive tennis player with multi-sport background
Currently train in the gym almost daily, intending on returning to competitive tennis playing
Deep understanding of the link between kinetic movement and cognitive performance
Sports sharpened tactical thinking and quick decision-making
Learned focus, resilience, and sustained effort under pressure
Applied athletic discipline directly to my business strategy

Solutions architect

Markd Global

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Operated at a higher level of problem-solving and systems-level design, fully unleashing my web-like thinking
Developed and implemented strategies for complex tech stack implementations, prioritising professionalism and budget
Saw the value of creating processes that are scalable, secure, and client-friendly
Applied systems thinking and tech knowledge directly to the structure of ARERA MYTHOS
Built the internal processes that make my framework smooth to deliver at any scale

Creative

Markd Global

Remote

First taste of working closely with a CEO and founder in a small, agile start-up business
Applied creative skills across design, branding, and conceptual development
Rediscovered and implemented my strength in rationales, strategic and conceptual thinking over execution alone
Learned the realities and pressures of entrepreneurship from the inside
Formed the foundation for ARERA MYTHOS as a founder-focused service

Lifeguard

The Y

Sydney, Australia

Hours without technology taught deep focus and mindfulness
Learned to stay present and attentive for long periods without external stimulation
Used the quiet to develop ideas and connect patterns in my mind, deepening the connections in my web-like mind
Built the discipline for deep, conceptual thinking, eventually leading to the first sketches of ARERA MYTHOS
Realised the importance of slowing down to design solutions with intention

Lifeguard

Walt Disney World

Orlando, Florida

Learned the depth of Disney’s storytelling methods, even found in small, everyday actions as a cast member
Experienced 'Disney University' training, where brand values are ingrained deep in every role and execution
Understood how the founder’s vision can remain alive decades after their passing
Saw how consistent, micro-level storytelling outside traditional mediums builds a powerful brand identity
Inspired to make founder-led vision a core principle in the ARERA MYTHOS framework