NONLINEARImpact

Innovation
and impact,made human.

Hi, I'm Mara Puacz. Welcome to my boutique, fractional leadership practice for forward-thinking brands and institutions choosing to move thoughtfully in the age of AI.

Impact/Brand/Responsible AI
Get in touchOr — see ways to work together

ABOUT ME

Mara Puacz portrait
MARA DELIA PUACZ  FOUNDER OF NONLINEAR IMPACT BOARD MEMBER - EDUCATOR - INVESTOR

Throughout my career I have taken on ambitious innovation projects, whether launching a startup inside a large corporation (IKEA), or building a movement in the tech sector to drive AI-powered impact across 120 countries (Tech To The Rescue), and most recently developing sector-wide tools for Responsible AI adoption and deployment (Benev.AI). 

In every mission that I led, I saw time and time again that the most meaningful work always happens where cultures and disciplines meet. This holds true also in my private life: I've lived in five countries, speak six languages, and am raising three trilingual boys in a country that wasn't on my original plan. 

Today I take on fractional leadership roles and work with organisations and teams still shaping their stance on AI and its impact, or with those who have a  strategy and are looking for a nonlinear thinker to build with. 
 
Most importantly, I'm selective in working with teams who take AI seriously, and where leadership is rooted in collaboration and experimentation.  If that's the work you're in, let's talk.  

MY MOTTO

" Nothing important has ever moved in a straight line. And in the age of AI, everything moves faster than anyone planned for. Every decision now has the potential to benefit or harm more people, faster than ever before." 

Ways to work together.

/ FRACTIONAL, PROJECT-BASED, FOR FORWARD-THINKING BRANDS

I work closely with teams, to understand the culture from the inside, and lead through change by bringing my complementary skills and expertise to the table. While advisors go deep into one area, as a fractional leader I bring my unique mix of strengths, to tackle big, outside-the-box ventures.

01

Responsible AI & Ecosystems Building

Bringing various perspectives together to align on what Responsible AI really looks like inside teams, organisations and large-scale coalitions.

I work with leadership teams, foundations and ecosystem actors to help them navigate AI transformation through process redesign and cultural shifts, and to minimise risk by designing standards that work.  

BOARD MEMBER, BENEVAI — ETHICAL AI CERTIFICATION.  CO-LAUNCHED "AI FOR CHANGEMAKERS" ACCELERATOR WITH GOOGLE.ORG, AWS, LENOVO, IDEO AND UN/ AI FOR GOOD AND MORE  LED IMPACT MEASUREMENT ACROSS 100+ AI JOURNEYS IN THE SOCIAL SECTOR.
02

Brand & Impact Strategy

Standing out, and sounding human, when narratives are written by and for machines, and doing good while doing well. 

I challenge the status quo, to create brand presences that algorithms cannot generate, and shape narratives that stick. Let's define how your brand delivers positive impact, and make it resonate and inspire millions. 

BUILT A GLOBAL BRAND STRATEGY FOR TECH TO THE RESCUE.  LED THE LAUNCH OF IKEA'S LIVING SPACE ACADEMY & INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES WITH 80M EUR ANNUAL ARR.  RAN BRAND & CONTENT DIRECTION FOR GLOBAL BRANDS AIRBUS AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AT CLIPATIZE.
03

Teaching & Executive Programs

Programmes for the ones who will inherit this decade, to inspire a human-centered, responsible approach to leadership, innovation and impact. 

Created and leading two practitioner-led courses: "Innovation & Design Thinking", and "Leadership, Responsibility & Impact in the age of AI" (co-taught with Jenny Romano of TheNewsroom.ai).

CURRENTLY IN TALKS WITH LEADING EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES FOR THE 2026/27 ACADEMIC YEAR.  CUSTOM WORKSHOPS ON REQUEST.
04

Keynotes & Panels

I bring a voice that has seen up close more than 100 AI implementation  journeys, and has understood what works, and knows which don't and why. 

I speak about what changes when an industry meets AI, what gets built well, what gets built loud, and share my insights on what we are getting wrong about "making an impact" with AI. 

RECENT STAGES: NY CLIMATE WEEK, IMPACT EUROPE (MALMO), SKOLL/ MARMALADE (OXFORD), AI FOR DEVELOPMENT & IMPACT (BARCELONA).
✦

Special projects

When the map doesn't exist yet, I'll help you draw it. Designing roadmaps, building sustainable strategies and forging partnerships for high-stakes ventures that demand courage, vision and execution.

On stages, in labs, around tables.

Human-Centered AI for Entrepreneurs

Human-Centered AI for Entrepreneurs

The Bridge Summit, Warsaw — June 2026

Responsible AI Practices & Needs for the Development Sector

Responsible AI Practices & Needs for the Development Sector

SKOLL / The Marmalade, Oxford — April 2026

Human-Centred AI Hackathon

Human-Centred AI Hackathon

IDEO, London — April 2026

SELECTED PARTNERS & COLLABORATIONS ALONG THE WAY

Tech To The Rescue/IKEA/Google.org/AWS/Lenovo/IDEO/UN/ AI for Good/Benev.ai/Clipatize/Citibank/European Commission/Impact Europe/Airbus/American India Foundation / Global Covenant of Mayors

The NONLINEAR Podcast

Human stories of
reinvention in the
age of AI.

As tech accelerates, what interests me most is how people find the strength to not just adapt, but reinvent. New paths, old passions, bold turns. I find nonlinear stories and dive into the messy middle. Listen in!

Listen on SpotifyWatch on YouTube
NONLINEAR Podcast with Mara Puacz — Human stories of reinvention in the age of AI

INTERESTED TO WORK TOGETHER?

If you're building something that matters, I'd like to hear about it. 

I take on a small, carefully selected number of fractional engagements each year.

Contact me via LinkedIn ↗