The Automotive AI Hack & Learn captured the attention and participation of individuals across our Automotive Business Unit. The event proved to be an exciting opportunity for all who sought to explore the potential of artificial intelligence.
Since its inception, Ricardo has been a pioneering force in the Swiss secondhand market. They capture the hearts of consumers and transform the marketplace experience.
For the second consecutive time, Swiss Marketplace Group AG, together with its brand AutoScout24, along with Zurich Insurance, the University of St. Gallen, and the University of Lucerne, conducted the Swiss Mobility Monitor.
Discover the powerful initiative that has been transforming cybersecurity: Bug Bounty Programs. These programs reward security researchers – or “hackers” – for finding and reporting weaknesses.
In October 2020, Google Analytics made a major announcement: the move from a session-based tracking model to an event-based model would be completed by July 2023. This change brought about the introduction of Google Analytics 4.
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Employees are those who help drive a company forward, so at SMG we aim to facilitate employee-driven initiatives that will ultimately better the company’s products and services. This is why the SMG Group Acceleration Team has launched the “SMG Digital Spark”.
In this third and final part of our rebranding trilogy, we want to talk about the campaigns set up for this rebranding.
There are many ways to incorporate sustainable habits into your various on- and offline routines. However, these habits can only be formed if they are accessible.
Trust is a broad term, especially when we apply it to the online world. For online marketplaces, trust plays a crucial role in their success. It is one of the most important factors that contribute to the willingness to buy and sell on a platform.
Head of Design for Automotive
Introduce yourself and your role at SMG
I’m Marta Andreoni, Head of Design at SMG Automotive. I lead the design and UX writing team shaping AutoScout24 user experience.
In my role, I wear many hats. My main focus is ensuring we stay true to our vision “simplifying people’s lives and connecting humans through innovative digital platforms” and our brand promise, “make it happen”. I challenge my team to think user-first, push for innovation, ease of use for our customers and make forward-thinking decisions, even within business and technological constraints.
A big part of my role is supporting each designer’s growth, motivation, and career development. Through one-on-one coaching, mentoring, group work, and projects, I help my colleagues set and achieve their goals while fostering new learning opportunities.
What helps you feel empowered and confident in your role?
If I had to mention one thing I would say “being proactive” has been key to feeling more empowered. I enjoy solving problems, so when issues or opportunities arise, be it in the product, market or the team, I get curious and I proactively investigate the reasons and try to bring inputs to be discussed with others, this makes me feel I can be part of the process or solution and my point of view is going to be taken seriously. My optimism also plays a role, giving me confidence that even the most complex challenges can be solved.
Besides, having trust from other managers and colleagues makes me feel in a safe environment where I can take ownership on topics I’m passionate about.
What’s one thing SMG does well in fostering an inclusive workplace? What more can be done to amplify and support different perspectives in the workplace?
In my experience, we strive for balancing top-down and bottom-up inputs, ensuring employees can influence product directions, processes, and culture. People are approachable, and our strong feedback culture helps voices be heard. Across SMG, initiatives like regular People & Culture Surveys, topic guilds, and events in our locations across the world foster open exchange and mutual learning.
That said, I’ve noticed that quieter voices sometimes get less space, or interacting with top management can feel intimidating, especially when giving critical feedback. To make participation more inclusive, we could apply more facilitation and group work techniques like structured turn-taking, written input, and smaller group discussions – ensuring everyone, regardless of confidence level, seniority or personality, feels comfortable contributing.
Design is often about seeing the world differently. How do unique perspectives contribute to more innovative, inclusive, or impactful design?
Design is about understanding diverse user personas and perspectives to create solutions that truly meet their needs or create new opportunities. I believe in the power of collaboration to shape user experiences – bringing together different disciplines, backgrounds, and lived experiences helps challenge assumptions, uncover blind spots, and drive more inclusive, innovative, and impactful solutions.
Looking back on your career, what’s one lesson or piece of advice you wish you had known earlier as a leader in design?
There are three things no one really prepares you for as a design leader: dealing with constant change, facing failure and handling emotions at work. These topics aren’t talked about much until you face them. I was lucky to learn from others’ experiences, but much of it came through my own.
One thing I wish I had understood earlier is the power of emotional intelligence, my job is no longer about the content and the design, it is about people. Self-awareness, not just of your own emotions, but also how others feel and react, can be the difference between conflict and harmony, frustration and clarity. The more I grow as a leader and designer, the more I realise that design isn’t just about doing the design job, delivering solutions on the market: it’s about navigating people, their emotions, and making change more acceptable and transforming issues into opportunities, both within the organisation and through great products.
