Marion O'Brien Donovan was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, into a family with a history of innovation. Her father and uncle ran a machine-tool factory, fostering an environment where problem-solving and tinkering were encouraged. This early exposure to mechanical processes and design likely influenced her future inventive endeavors.

Donovan graduated from Rosemont College in Pennsylvania with a degree in English literature. While seemingly unrelated to her later inventions, her education honed her critical thinking and communication skills, which proved invaluable in navigating the business world and advocating for her creations.