João Ricardo | Management and Innovation Consultant

    Specialized advice and support to businesses

    Services

    I provide specialized advice and support to businesses on an independent consultant basis.
    There are no two clients alike. Each case is different and I strive to be as flexible and client-centric as possible.
    I enjoy best working closely with management and owners and I believe that the best solutions come from co-creation relationships.
    So let me know if you need help or counseling on any of points below.

    Mapping and Improvement of Processes

    Your company is a set of processes.
    Let's map these through a brainstorm. This is an excellent way to identify improvement opportunities, uncover risks and re-assign responsibilities.
    I can perform this as a preparation for ISO 9001 implementation, or to tackle specific performance issues (even if your company is already certified).

    Marketing Strategies and Plans

    This is about identifying your target customers, your positioning, and the value proposal and the benefits to be communicated to the target customers.
    I can also help with a definition of a pricing strategy, service management, and strategies for customer retention.

    Innovation, R&D and Technological Strategies

    How does your company create value for customers? What are your competitive advantages? Are they sustainable or are they under threat?
    If you are a technology entrepreneur these are critical questions.
    I can perform this support typically by mapping the competitive ecosystem and running competitive analyses (e.g. Porter models).

    Business Plans for Entrepreneurs

    A business plan is the road map you will need to provide direction to your business and your investors.
    I can provide support by covering the  typical stages of the process (e.g. writing, inputs management), while also supporting financial projections (e.g. financing, planned investments, NPV, IRR, Payback Periods, sensitivity analyses, and cash-flow-maps).

    Support to Proposals

    As a first step I can support you in the selection of the most adequate program or grant to submit in your proposal to.
    I can also perform proposal management (e.g. writing, inputs management, and delivery) and support your presence in proposal preparation meetings (typically with partners and suppliers). 

    Business Development / Internationalization

    I can provide your business with a permanent representation in Portugal, be it commercial or institutional.
    Further, I provide customized support to dissemination events such as trade fairs, Industry Days etc. I can set up meetings with entities or companies whenever I can leverage on my contacts for that purpose.

    Foresight

    If your business is highly dependent on the macro environment and its long-term trends, I can provide you with support by identifying  and laying out  future scenarios.


    Expertise

    I have about 13 years of professional experience, many of which in the European space sector. First as a structural engineer, then as a project manager. I operate as an independent management consultant since 2019.

    I graduated from IST Lisbon in 2006 with a MSc. in Mechanical Engineering, with a concentration in Design and Manufacturing. Later in 2013 I graduated from The Lisbon MBA.

    I am passionate by Engineering, Technology and Management, and I enjoy working closely with owners and management teams who are facing specific operational  and strategic challenges. I work with startups, SMEs and non-profit organizations, and I typically employ my knowledge on subjects such as:
    • Process-Based Approach and Process Mapping;
    • Marketing Management
    • Competitive Strategy;
    • Technological and Innovation Strategies;
    • Business Plans;
    • Go-To-Market Strategies;
    • Business Development.
    Industry wise I am more comfortable providing my expertise to companies in the aerospace and technological sectors, but I am also open to work in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and sea-related industries.

    I enjoy and feel comfortable working in highly internationalized projects and environments. I have lived, studied and worked in places like France, The Netherlands and USA.

    I am based in Lisbon, Portugal and I work remotely for my clients. I will decide about on-site work on a case by case basis.

    Resume

    Experience
    Since 2019 - Independent Management and Innovation Consultant
    2016-2018 - Structures Business Manager, Active Space Technologies (Lisbon, Portugal)
    2011-2016 - Project Manager, Active Space Technologies (Coimbra, Portugal)
    2006-2011 - Mechanical Engineer, Active Space Technologies (Coimbra, Portugal)
    2005 - Internship as a Design Engineer, Volvo Compact Equipment (Belley, France)

    Education
    2013 - Master in Business Administration, The Lisbon MBA (Católica | Nova | MIT Sloan)
    2009 - Space Studies Program, International Space University (NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California)
    2006 - Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico (Lisboa, Portugal)
    2004-2005 - Erasmus Exchange Student, Institut National de Sciences Aplicquées (Lyon, France)

    For further details you can see my public CV here.

    Contact

    Feel free to contact me for any queries at: mail at joaoricardo.eu 

    I also keep an online presence on LinkedIn and on Twitter, where you can contact me through direct messaging.
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