Maryann Finiw

About Maryann Finiw

Brand & innovation strategist • 20+ years of experience managing innovation, market research and brand strategy • Passionate about leading inter-disciplinary teams, identifying unmet user needs, and envisioning ideas for new products and services that consumers love, build brand loyalty and generate profits • Bi-lingual in design and business, research and development, creativity and strategy. Translate complex technical features and finance terms into plain English benefits and visual metaphors that motivate consideration and purchase. Cross-functional integration: • Sweet spot is working at the interfaces of business strategy, design innovation, consumer insight and team leadership to identify breakthrough innovations that meet strategic business objectives • Expertise in design-thinking methodologies • Experience as external consultant, as well as in-house transformation Specialties: R&D management, design strategy, innovation strategy, marketing strategy, brand strategy, brand planner, brand architecture, brand identity guidelines, brand governance, brand voice and tone, brand personality, technology strategy, new product development pipeline planning, brand extension, program management, design team management, inter-disciplinary collaboration, leading cross-functional teams, user centered design, desired consumer experience, ethnographic research, ethnography, consumer insights, market research, brainstorm facilitation, focus group facilitation

Experience

1. Senior Director, Enterprise Brand Strategy

   TIAA

   Dec 2014 — Present · Boston, MA, US

Education

• University of Virginia

  Engineering

  1978 — 1979

• Harvard Business School

  MBA, Innovation Management

  1991 — 1993

• Yale School of Management

  Executive Program - Certificate, Behavioral Economics

  2016 — 2016

• Pratt Institute

  BID, Industrial Design

  1979 — 1983