About Me
I’m Suzanne, a Strategic Innovation Designer. I work with clients globally and across a breadth of industries to identify growth opportunities. I bring value through co-creation and by designing innovative user-centric solutions ranging from products to services, systems, business models and social systems.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
– Albert Einstein –
I have the ability to question in order to address different perspectives and create user centric solutions that are coherent and matter to all stakeholders – from the customer to the bottom-line employee.
Having lived in 8 countries, I’ve often had to learn the local language, adapt to different local contexts, or question norms that were foreign to me. As such I have learnt to empathize and question, rather than assume.
Framing the right question is key to providing high-impact solutions. My attention to detail coupled with my empathy allow me to frame the right questions by gathering relevant information through active listening.
I’ve been told that I am quirky. Although I first found it unpleasant, I now realize that my peculiar love for vintage items or my unconventional interest in linguistics – the “quirkiness” – is the magic behind my creativity, allowing me to connect dots otherwise invisible.
Experience
Applied engineering experience in the areas of automation, part design, manufacturing operations, sales engineering, engineering management, technology, and innovation.
Companies: Speedshield Technologies, Grundfos Canada, Amico Source, B2B Bank, and a number of confidential clients under NDA agreement.
Industries served: manufacturing, education, healthcare / biotechnology, banking, insurance, digital marketing.
Applied the principles of user experience design in the areas of UX strategy & research, information architecture, prototyping, visual design, and usability testing. Industries served: non-profit, consumer goods, retail, travel.
Applied the Design thinking methodology for the creation of innovative user-centric solutions for clients in various industries: healthcare, manufacturing, entertainment, non-profit, food industry.
Business analyst in the IT field, with experience in implementation, strategy development and business analysis. Industries served: financial services, marketing, healthcare, biotechnology.
Senior consultant working with executives within Deloitte and a team of developers to create business growth, by de-risking innovation investments that use emerging technologies. My job is to design systems that unite many of the different parts of a business – from crafting a strong problem statement, defining the customer base, understanding the value behind the solution that we create; I also act as a facilitator as well as a product manager + human centric design advisor.
Business units served: Cloud services, M&A / Financial advisory, tax.
Portfolio | Selected projects
Improving the Functionality of a Marketplace App
Business Strategy of a Social Enterprise to fight Presbyopia in India
Communication Strategy of an Oral Health Awareness Campaign
Improving the Usability of WWF Canada’s website
Designing the Information Architecture of a Gift-matching webApp
Re-imagining the Netflix Experience for a more Social Experience
EuroPerio 9
Open Innovation Co-Creation Platform for Modular Architecture
Ceiba: Composting as a Social Intervention Tool in the Amazon
Deloitte Consulting Kick-off
Countless Miles Panelist (Travel Start-up)
Tea tasting events as a platform to foster creativity
Biomimetic design tool to promote sustainable engineering
Facilitator: BTPN Tech talk + virtual Networking
Innovation 101 Instructor
Justice, Equality & the Engineering Profession
Testimonials
I met Suzanne when she was studying at IED Madrid where she clearly stood out as a highly talented design student with obvious leadership ability. I had the opportunity to see how she created original and inspired design-led business propositions. Her research methods, creative ability and strategic understanding will be applied to great effect as she moves from academia into new product/service opportunity development. Suzanne has excellent team building skills and was well liked and respected by her peers. I wholeheartedly recommend her.
Suzanne is one of the most challenging minds I have had the pleasure to work with. Her strategic planning skill plus her problem solving abilities create an astonishing combination for delivering reliable and innovative projects. Additionally, she works not just as a team leader but as a mentor, willing to improve the team skills and hers through sharing background knowledge.
Suzanne’s ability to question things turn ideas into solid, well-thought projects. Her listening skills and natural empathy are highly valuable when creating user-centered solutions. By pushing herself to learn new things, she inspires others to do the same. She’s a committed team player that offers attention to detail and structure without missing a contagious smile.
Suzanne has admirables skills to see the big picture, also she is always looking for the small details that are very important to take in account in a development of a project, I can say that she things of everything. Design Thinking and Agile Methodologies are other skills that Suzanne has. Also during the project in which we worked together I could spot the skills of storytelling and public speech that she has, is easy to follow her from the tone to the message.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with Suzanne for the past year, and I believe she is an extraordinary strategist who’s always asking the right questions ensuring we cover all the bases of a project. As an engineer she defines the process and steps to plan and execute a project and as a Designer she is able to guarantee and unleash the creative and ideation part of any initiative. That versatile profile will make the difference and will add value to any project she will be working on.
Suzanne is one of the most challenging minds I have had the pleasure to work with. Her strategic planning skill plus her problem solving abilities create an astonishing combination for delivering reliable and innovative projects. Additionally, she works not just as a team leader but as a mentor, willing to improve the team skills and hers through sharing background knowledge.
Contact
Toronto, Canada