Ramma Pande
Profession
MA Innovation Management alum
College
Central Saint Martins
Person Type
Alumni
Biography
Ramma is an innovation strategist and MA Innovation Management graduate from Central Saint Martins. She now works as a User Advocate and Researcher at Digital Catapult and co-founded Compost Collective, a community initiative focused on food waste and regenerative systems.
Interview
Please can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I am an innovation strategist with over a decade of experience helping organisations turn complex ideas into meaningful, actionable strategies. Over the years I have worked with start-ups in hospitality, tech and retail to develop and realise their market potential by identifying their USP and developing key products/services using design thinking and innovation principles. My work spans across industry and scale - right from MVP research with start-ups, marketing campaigns for corporates to way-finding strategy and execution for a University.
My work sits at the intersection of design, systems thinking, and strategic communication, blending creativity with rigour to build solutions that connect business goals with human needs through quick and effective insights development and pragmatic execution. My strength lies in developing agile and collaborative processes that give voice to both internal and external stakeholders.
What drives me is a simple belief: my work should be founded in care - for people, for systems, and for the planet. I bring curiosity, clarity, and calm leadership to every project, guiding teams and organisations towards ideas that create genuine impact.
Why did you choose to study MA Innovation Management at Central Saint Martins (CSM)?
In 2023, I decided to take a break from work and pursue MA Innovation Management at Central Saint Martins. It was the only course I applied for. As a founder of a design agency, I wanted to be rooted in the creative industry, yet I wanted the course to also be a management/business focused because of having run a business over the years. When I started my research and found UAL, something just instantly clicked. I knew in my heart that I wanted to study here, the creative energy and spirit of the University resonated with me. When I came across MA Innovation Management, I knew it was the right course for me. It felt like the right blend of design and management. I liked that professionals from different industries applied to the course and I believed that the eclectic blend of practitioners would help evolve and enrich my creative practice. I was right. My peers were by greatest teachers in this course. I have such deep respect and love for all of them. The course also pushed us out of our comfort zones and taught us to navigate uncertainty. It’s structured to take you though multiple sprints and projects over the years, yet giving you the freedom to explore your industry or interest for your personal project. It also opened so many doors for us. I participated in the LVMH Dare Games, Service Design Competition, met mentors I am still connected with. I also connected with many industry people through the course which has been invaluable for my growth.
What have you been working on since graduating?
I have been working on two projects. I am a User advocate and researcher at Digital Catapult. I work on the Digital Supply Chain Platform Hub and my day to day conducting user research, data analysis, user testing for new features and products, product road-mapping and more.
I also dedicate my free time to Compost Collective, a CIC I co-founded, which started at the UAL Creative Hackathon, that is focused on reimagining urban food waste cycles through education and community-centred design. We collaborate with schools, businesses, and communities set up composting systems that are simple, effective, and fun. We also run workshops and training programmes to help people and organisations to connect with food and understand food waste management better.
What was the most interesting project you worked on during your time on the course?
I have two. The most interesting project I worked on was our client project where we collaborated with Tate Enterprises (Tate Modern/Tate Britain) for a challenge they asked us to solve. It was a great experience as we worked on a proper client brief and got a chance to implement everything we had been learning in theory and we presented in phases so that we could consider client feedback to develop our ideas. I really enjoyed working on that project.
Another one was the Earth Systems symposium we organised for the final showcase. I really enjoyed working with our team on the project because we all had this shared interest and were excited to organise everything around it and host the panel. It’s one of my favourite memories from the course because it gave me the opportunity bring to life my research and meet, in-person, industry experts that I really admire.
What important piece of advice would you give to students thinking of studying this course?
Come with an open mind. Come with a willingness to collaborate and discover different ways of doing things, and be ready to contribute and participate. That’s the way you will make the most of what the course has to offer. Also, don’t restrict yourself to the course. CSM and UAL have so much more to offer. Use as many of the resources as possible, connect to as many people as possible and share. Be willing to share your ideas, stories, skills, the best things you can do in the course and at UAL is learning from each other. Make the most of it all while you have the chance because it will pass by quickly.
What was the highlight of your Central Saint Martins experience?
Definitely the student community. It was difficult to participate initially because I’m an introvert and a homebody but, I am so glad that I put myself out there, thanks to some of my friends who pushed me. I met so many talented people, from different courses, different creative practices. I saw their projects, their art, and learnt from it. It’s such a diverse community and there are so many shows, workshops, events happening all year round. I’ve really enjoyed experiencing it all.
What is the most important thing you learnt on the course?
I’ve developed a greater appetite for taking risks, which was reflected in my final thesis on Regenerative Business in Practice, a completely new area of study for me. I think that was a personal win for me because I didn’t know what that research would lead to but, in a way, it was also freeing to be able to explore an area of interest without the pressure of
Dealing with uncertainty, and I realised that retrospectively, after I started working again. I think that’s one of the key takeaways for me. Developing the ability to deal with change fast, both creatively and pragmatically and also confidently.
Links
Connect with Ramma on LinkedIn
View Compost Collective website