Barbara Cento
@barbaracento
Product Manager blending analytics and creativity to build human-first products.
MaltaWhat I'm looking for
I’ve always lived at the intersection of structure and creativity—analytical problem-solving paired with intuitive thinking. With nineteen years seeing it through across banking, fintech, gaming, and digital coaching, I notice the nuances in people, problems, and products, and I help fix what isn’t working.
Right now, I lead product delivery at Mindbeat Ltd, anchoring decisions in user research and needs analysis while building AI-enabled coaching into daily workflows. I’ve taken products from concept to live (including OpenAI API-based coaching), integrated AI tools to reduce cycle time by ~30%, and redesigned a platform UX/UI from scratch. Earlier, I delivered Agile transformation as a Scrum Master (Lean-Agile across an Agile Release Train) and managed mid-project pivots as a Product Owner in SAFe environments—keeping requirements user-focused while navigating scope and technical detail.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Product Manager
Mindbeat Ltd
Jun 2023 - Present (3 years)
Led a full UX/UI redesign of a coaching platform from scratch using user research and needs analysis. Built and launched an AI coaching feature on the OpenAI API, validated via a two-group prospect trial, and integrated Claude AI and ChatGPT into daily workflows to reduce cycle time by an estimated 30%.
Scrum Master
Netcompany - Intrasoft
Oct 2022 - Mar 2023 (5 months)
Led a Lean-Agile transformation as Scrum Master across a 3-team Agile Release Train (approx. 30 people). Coached multiple teams through workshops and one-to-one sessions and facilitated PI Planning, Sprint Planning, and ART Sync while managing dependencies and reporting metrics.
Product Owner
Netcompany - Intrasoft
Nov 2021 - Sep 2022 (10 months)
Managed a mid-project pivot to lead a parallel white-label product workstream across multiple Agile teams. Introduced user-centric thinking into a process-heavy SAFe environment by facilitating requirement-gathering sessions and keeping requirements focused on user value.
Product Owner
Bit8 Ltd
Nov 2019 - Oct 2021 (1 year 11 months)
Owned one of three parallel product verticals, aligning backlogs weekly with peer product owners to support a high-volume release cadence. Led 10 developers and 2 QAs while prioritizing within client-driven backlogs under tight external pressure, quickly building trust in a multicultural team of 35.
Business Analyst
TXT e-solutions SPA
Jul 2007 - Oct 2018 (11 years 3 months)
Gathered requirements from C-level executives and bank directors, translating needs into functional specifications across multiple multi-year waterfall programs. Analyzed regulatory implications (including MiFID 2), supported UAT, handled production escalations, and mentored junior BAs.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
Master's Degree in Political Science, Political Science
2000 - 2006
Grade: Honours
Master’s Degree in Political Science at Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan (2000–2006), graduating with honours.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
MaltaAuthorized to work in
Job categories
Skills
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