Director of Product Design · AI Strategy · Munich 🇩🇪
01 — About
20+ years translating product vision into measurable outcomes — at scale, across sectors, and now at the frontier of AI.
Director of Product Design and Research at Prezi & Infogram, working at the intersection of design strategy, AI, and business growth for 160M+ users — in close partnership with product and engineering.
Before SaaS, I spent six years in consulting at Reply, building a design business unit, managing P&L, and delivering digital transformation for some of EMEA's largest financial institutions. That experience grounded me in what it means to own outcomes, not just craft.
Right now I'm deep into AI-native product development — shipping Swoop, a new Prezi product, from agentic system design to rethinking how AI changes UX, strategy, processes, and the teams behind it.
Signature Strengths — Gallup & Strengthscope
02 — In others' words
"Manuela is a natural leader with strong empathy, able to tackle challenges head-on while staying open to new ideas. In 2023, she successfully aligned the design team with new goals and navigated team formations. She addressed complex HR situations with heart and strategy."
"Manuela acts with initiative, often identifying solutions independently before discussing them. She strongly commits to personal growth and actively applies feedback."
"Her role goes beyond leadership, actively facilitating design activities, tracking feedback, and maintaining team alignment while also brainstorming and presenting innovative ideas."
03 — Selected Clients
04 — Perspectives
05 — Experience
Director of Product Design and Research · Remote
Driving design AI transformation across Prezi & Infogram to translate user experience into business growth across 160M+ customers.
Manager Customer Experience & UX Lead · Italy & Germany
Built and ran a design business unit — P&L, hiring, and client relationships. Delivered digital transformation for major players across EMEA, scaling the team from a handful of seniors to 30+ people across multiple countries. Forrester-recognised Intesa Sanpaolo app for digital excellence.
06 — Education & Certifications
Based in Munich. Open to speaking engagements, panels, and professional conversations at the intersection of AI, product strategy, and design leadership in EMEA.