Toni’s Story
From Berlin to Dubai, startups to board rooms. This is the journey that shaped how I think, lead, and build.
Toni is an entrepreneur, advisor, investor, and speaker.
With a background at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and technology, he’s a trusted advisor to both Fortune 500 companies and early-stage startups. He believes in the power of creativity and helps teams move from insight to impact at pace.
He writes The Real FYI, a weekly newsletter that doesn’t take itself too seriously but always aims to sharpen your thinking with unexpected insights.
Toni co-founded MBJ, a creative studio that turns complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives across brand, product, and experience.
He’s an avid builder and backer of ventures that solve real problems with focus, speed, and a strong point of view.
Every story starts somewhere
1990
Born
Berlin
Born in East Berlin, just months after the wall came down. His mother built a career in software and his father in hardware, which sparks an early appreciation for technology.
2000
Joins elite sports school
Berlin
At age 10, Toni is scouted into Berlin’s elite sports school, where he pursues volleyball professionally for nearly a decade. He becomes a seven-time national medalist, winning gold four times. The discipline, structure, and ambition shapes how he approaches challenges to this day.
2007
Moves to the U.S.
Mobile, Alabama
Toni moves to Mobile, Alabama for a high school year with EF. Living in the American South opens his eyes to a completely different culture and way of life. It is a year of contrasts, learning, and perspective.
2010
Enrols into Hult
London
Moving to London to study at Hult International Business School marks the start of a 14-year chapter in the UK. There, he earns both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree and begins shaping his global perspective on business, design, and entrepreneurship.
2013
Co-founds creative agency, MBJ
London
Toni co-founds MBJ with a close friend to help companies simplify complexity and tell better stories online. What begins with two people in a living room grows into a global studio working across sectors to build brands, shape experiences, and launch ideas.
2014
Starts backing early ideas
London
Working with more and more startups sparks a growing interest in supporting founders directly through mentorship and early-stage investing.
2018
Joins renowned design agency, Fjord
London
Toni joins Fjord, the design and innovation arm of Accenture, to focus on strategic design. It marks a shift from startups to large-scale transformation work with global clients.
2022
Switches to strategy consulting with Kearney
London & Dubai
Bringing strategic design into a top-tier management consultancy, Toni joins as Principal & Global Design Director. Working across London and Dubai, he partners with C-suite clients to tackle complex challenges through design and innovation.
2025
Starts newsletter, Real FYI
Dubai
Toni launches Real FYI, a monthly newsletter designed to sharpen your thinking on strategy, design, and operator habits. It blends business insight with personal reflection and is always practical, occasionally provocative, and never too serious.
1990
Born
Berlin
Born in East Berlin, just months after the wall came down. His mother built a career in software and his father in hardware, which sparks an early appreciation for technology.
2000
Joins elite sports school
Berlin
At age 10, Toni is scouted into Berlin’s elite sports school, where he pursues volleyball professionally for nearly a decade. He becomes a seven-time national medalist, winning gold four times. The discipline, structure, and ambition shapes how he approaches challenges to this day.
2007
Moves to the U.S.
Mobile, Alabama
Toni moves to Mobile, Alabama for a high school year with EF. Living in the American South opens his eyes to a completely different culture and way of life. It is a year of contrasts, learning, and perspective.
2010
Enrols into Hult
London
Moving to London to study at Hult International Business School marks the start of a 14-year chapter in the UK. There, he earns both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree and begins shaping his global perspective on business, design, and entrepreneurship.
2013
Co-founds creative agency, MBJ
London
Toni co-founds MBJ with a close friend to help companies simplify complexity and tell better stories online. What begins with two people in a living room grows into a global studio working across sectors to build brands, shape experiences, and launch ideas.
2014
Starts backing early ideas
London
Working with more and more startups sparks a growing interest in supporting founders directly through mentorship and early-stage investing.
2018
Joins renowned design agency, Fjord
London
Toni joins Fjord, the design and innovation arm of Accenture, to focus on strategic design. It marks a shift from startups to large-scale transformation work with global clients.
2022
Switches to strategy consulting with Kearney
London & Dubai
Bringing strategic design into a top-tier management consultancy, Toni joins as Principal & Global Design Director. Working across London and Dubai, he partners with C-suite clients to tackle complex challenges through design and innovation.
2025
Starts newsletter, Real FYI
Dubai
Toni launches Real FYI, a monthly newsletter designed to sharpen your thinking on strategy, design, and operator habits. It blends business insight with personal reflection and is always practical, occasionally provocative, and never too serious.