Our faculty
Daniela Marzavan
Leadership Fellow
Daniela Marzavan is a pracademic with over 15 years of experience applying Design Thinking across public, private, and academic sectors. Initially trained in Political Science, Psychology, and Gender Studies, she began her career as an entrepreneur building Europe’s first coworking spaces, later shifting to design-led innovation as a method for systemic change.
During her PhD study at Bauhaus University Weimar, she researched Design as a Management Practice, linking design to social sciences and organisational transformation. Daniela co-founded CHANGE DARER, a global innovation community, and has led projects for clients like Volkswagen, GIZ, USAID, and consulted with major universities to revolutionize academia
At Forward College, she teaches Change by Design and Innovation by Design, empowering students and future leaders to tackle complex challenges through design research and innovation methods.
Daniela has taught in top MBA programmes at ESCP Berlin, Elisava Barcelona, NOVA SBE Lisbon, and has worked in over a dozen countries including Germany, Portugal, Romania, Brazil, Egypt, and Rwanda. She is passionate about generational change, social innovation, and learning from her kids and Gen Z.
