Stefan Schüßler-Interims Head of Product Owner and Release Manager
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Experience
Interims Head of Product Owner and Release Manager
Star Finanz
Led a team of over 20 product owners, designers, and release managers in the App Factory during a key organizational transformation.
Drove project delivery under tight timelines and supported the team through change by preparing them for new responsibilities.
Fostered personal growth, built team resilience, and helped shape a culture ready for the company’s next chapter.
CPO and Co-Founder
Luccid
Bridged tech and business by driving product strategy and ensuring highest user experience standards.
Responsible for B2B sales, investor pitches, public grants, financial forecasting, and planning, as well as operational tasks.
Product Management Coach (Part-Time)
Product Management Coach
Help product managers acquire the right skills and reflect on their practices.
Collect patterns about challenges companies have in product management.
Connect generative AI solutions with product management experience to help clients become AI-driven product managers.
Worked with MCI Germany, Future Fashion (Italy), and Star Finanz.
Product Consultant (Contract)
MOIA
Supported fleet operations domain as a product manager in three different teams.
Ensured ongoing projects and product requirements received required input and product processes ran smoothly.
Head of Product Management
Finleap Connect
Responsible for entire product portfolio: one API platform and two consumer products.
Ensured transformation into a truly Pan-European open banking platform.
International Project Manager
Finleap Connect
Acted as project lead within a large international project in Bahrain.
Ensured delivery of open banking API and coordinated with an externally developed mobile application.
Head of Business Unit “Financial Insights”
Finleap Connect
Merged the categorization team and data services vertical into one business unit focusing on all data-related topics.
Led over 20 people with four different occupations.
Head of Product
Finleap Connect
Took over transaction categorization team to boost prediction engine F1 score from below 0.6 to above 0.8 in a few months.
Provided high prediction performance for risk indicators used in loan application risk assessments.
Principal Product Manager
Finleap Connect
Worked directly with the CPO on development team assessments and implementation of the product framework.
Established a cross-vertical product organization.
Took over the newly formed data services vertical as interim head of product at assignment end.
Head of Product
Finreach Solutions
Focused on due diligence and consolidation of existing products during an ongoing merger.
Supported the CPO in reorganizing the product organization and implementing the product framework.
Senior Product Manager
Searchmetrics
- Built a product that converts large amounts of data and complex information into actionable insights for experts and managers to make financial decisions.
Senior Product Manager
Webtrekk
- Managed product development and strategy in the analytics platform.
Freelancer
Freelancer
- Provided product and consulting services for early-stage startups.
Founder
Customind Ltd PTY
- Founded and led a company in Johannesburg focusing on custom industrial solutions.
Team Lead Continuous Integration
Alcatel-Lucent
- Led continuous integration efforts across locations in Stuttgart, Shanghai, and New Jersey.
Industry Experience
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Experienced in Information Technology, Telecommunication, Banking and Finance, Professional Services, and Manufacturing.
Business Area Experience
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Experienced in Product Development, Information Technology, Business Intelligence, Quality Assurance, Strategy, and Project Management.
Summary
I’m a people-first Product Leader with over 12 years of experience leading teams, building data-driven products, and helping organizations grow through meaningful transformation. At the heart of my work is a deep belief that great products start with understanding people — whether it's users, team members, or stakeholders.
My journey has taken me from founding and leading an AI startup as CPO to managing cross-functional Data Science and Product teams in larger organizations. I’m passionate about the potential of data and AI, but even more passionate about making sure they serve real human needs.
As a Product Coach and Consultant, I support companies in becoming truly product-driven — not just in processes, but in mindset and culture. My entrepreneurial background has taught me to think big, move fast, and always stay close to the human problems we’re trying to solve.
Languages
Education
Berlin School of Economics
Diplom (BA) Computer Engineering · Computer Engineering · Berlin, Germany
Statistics
Experience
Global Experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Profile
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