Hi there!
I'm Marta—a Product and Innovation Manager dedicated to advancing innovation through systems thinking and digital transformation, shaping user-centered solutions that bridge physical products and digital experiences.
Over the past decade, I've worked with companies like Beiersdorf, Tonies, SAP Fioneer, and Bosch, developing global innovation and sustainability strategies and launching services such as the NIVEA shower gel refill station—recognized as a National German Sustainability Award finalist and celebrated by Fast Company and Designboom. At Beiersdorf, I led initiatives integrating circular design and decarbonization efforts in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and UNEP.
My journey into product innovation started early. While studying Industrial Design in Berlin, I developed and sold my first patent at 22, igniting my passion for creating scalable, user-driven solutions. After six years working as a design engineer and industrial ecologist, I transitioned from focusing on the *how* to defining the *what*. At the Royal College of Art, I immersed myself in experience design, value proposition development, business model innovation, and change management. During this time, I created Unify, a university project in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlement Program. Designed as an “Upwork for civil servants,” Unify connects governments with subject matter experts to accelerate smart city development. The platform was showcased at COP28 in Dubai, earning recognition from Prototypes for Humanity, a nomination for the UX Design Awards.
Building on this foundation, I pursued further studies at Imperial College London, where I had the privilege of learning from one of my greatest influences, Professor Steve Blank, in the course “Wicked Problems, Systems Dynamics, and Entrepreneurial Innovation.” This experience deepened my expertise in systemic thinking and lean customer development principles. Later, I was honored to mentor in the second London batch of the course, learning from thought leaders like Alexander Osterwalder. More recently, my selection for the Y Combinator Startup School UK 2024 has expanded my product development expertise, offering the opportunity to learn live from visionary leaders such as Paul Graham for a day.
Beyond my corporate and academic work, I served as a Sustainability Jury Member for the Pentawards, the world’s leading packaging design award, joining jurors from companies such as Google, Meta, and Netflix to recognize groundbreaking work in circularity and sustainable packaging. I was also invited to speak at the Pentawards Festival at the Science Museum in London, where I shared my Circular Economy approaches alongside members of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
Today, as a Senior Product Manager at Tonies, I drive product innovation that goes beyond features and functionality—creating seamless, user-centric experiences that deliver real value. I merge technology, design, and business strategy to advocate for the user and business needs while ensuring scalable, high-impact solutions and financially sound, research- and data-driven GTM strategies.
I believe that a little bit of fun, agile collaboration, and an endlessly curious STEAM-led mindset can lead to breakthrough innovations. 😊
Resume
Royal College of Art - MA Service Design
University of Applied Sciences Berlin - BA Industrial Design
Imperial College London - MBA Electives
Y Combinator - Start Up School Europe 2024 (one day but still fun!)
D.MBA - Business Design and Strategy
Ellen MacArthur Foundation - From Linear to Circular London
Google - UX Design
University of Michigan - UX Research
Central Saint Martins / UAL - Digital Illustration
Future Training - MCAD Solidworks
Work Experience
Tonies - Senior Product Manager
Bosch - Product Manager
SAP Fioneer - Service Designer
Beiersdorf
Sustainability Manager - Product Innovation
Global Technology Specialist
Packaging Engineering Specialist - Prototyping & Innovation
Post-Graduate Packaging Innovation Intern
Colorfy - Junior Product Design Manager
www.marta-suslow.com - Freelance Designer
Awards
UX Design Awards - Nominee - Unify / Prototypes for Humanity - Nominee - Education, Cities and Communities - "Unify" / Imperial College London - Entrepreneurial Journey 22/23 - Grand Challenge Prize - Winner for "TerraWise" / Imperial College London - Wicked Acceleration Labs - Deep Tech Acceleration Week - Second Place for "OverHerd" / Fast Company - 2021 Innovation by Design Award - Honoree - Retail Innovation / Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis 2022 (The National German Sustainability Award) - Finalist - Design / ADF Innovation Awards 2021 - Winner - Industrial and Technical Innovations / Designboom - TOP 10 Social Impact Stories 2020 / MUSE Design Award 2020 - Gold Winner - Packaging Design / Packaging Europe - The Sustainability Awards 2020 - Winner - Reader's Award / Packaging Innovations London - 30 under 30 / Packaging of the World - Top 50 Packaging Design Innovations 2015 / ArtDesign Feldkirch/POTENTIALe - LAVA Design Award - Nominee - Newcomer
Mentorship and Expert Roles
Stanford University CS 177 Human-Centered Product Management - Academic Mentor / Imperial College London Wicked Problems, Systems Dynamics and Entrepreneurial Innovation - Academic Mentor / PENTAWARDS - Sustainable Design - Jury Member
Exhibitions & Speaker
Prototypes for Humanity / COP 28, Dubai, 2023 / Science Museum London, London, 2022, on “Circular Economy” / Bundespreis EcoDesign Berlin, 2021 / ArtDesign Feldkirch/Potentiale Austria, 2015 / Werkschau at the University of Applied Sciences Berlin, 2015 / DMY Berlin, 2015 / Werkschau at the University of Applied Sciences Berlin, 2014 / Packplay Montreal, Canada, 2014 / Nürnberg Messe Germany, 2014 / Werkschau at the University of Applied Sciences Berlin, 2013 / Freedom Exhibition at NHow Gallery Berlin 2013, for mandalah and Bayer
Patents
Filling device and method for filling containers - WO/2021/083662 · filed / H2O Tea by Induction - DE 402015204441-0001 · 29. Jan. 2016 / Butter Plus - OO Design 402013200188-0001 · 9. Jan. 2014