Open to opportunities

Juliana Manara

@julianamanara

Message

I am a strategic business consultant driving market-driven growth.

Italy

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek consulting roles focused on market research, business transformation, and international go-to-market strategy, partnering with C-suite teams in data-driven, collaborative environments that value measurable impact and growth.

I am a strategic business consultant with +5 years of experience in business transformation, market analysis, and strategic insights generation. I translate complex data into actionable recommendations that drive measurable growth.

At ilegra I lead consulting engagements for global clients across fintech, mobility, and financial services, engaging directly with C-level executives. I have led consumer research and product discovery for Visa, delivered cryptocurrency market intelligence for Banco BV, and am leading a cross-border market strategy for an Irish startup entering Brazil.

Through SEBRAE I provided innovation and customer-centric training to +100 businesses and led a business transformation that achieved 300% productivity increase. As founder of Estúdio Jota, I built a strategic branding practice serving clients in Brazil and Portugal, managing end-to-end client delivery and international market adaptation.

I hold an MBA in Entrepreneurship & Management and a bachelor's degree in Design, with executive education from Cambridge and IDEO U. Multilingual and results-oriented, I combine strategic analysis, design thinking, and market research to build scalable, market-oriented strategies and partner with teams to implement them.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Business & Innovation Strategist

Current

Ilegra

Jun 2022 - Present (3 years 3 months)

Lead strategic consulting engagements for global clients in fintech, mobility, and financial services, delivering data-driven recommendations and validating business models with €3M+ revenue potential.

Market Research Strategic Planning Consumer Research Stakeholder Management Go To Market Strategy Competitive Analysis Cross Cultural Communication Innovation Management Digital Transformation

Operation and Strategy Manager

Helplit

Sep 2022 - Oct 2024 (2 years 1 month)

Co-founded and scaled an EdTech startup, demonstrating end-to-end business
building capabilities.
Led the venture from initial hypothesis (identifying a market need) to a fully operational
and scalable digital product, owning strategy, product architecture, and go-to-market
execution.

Project Management Product Development Business Development Business Operations Business Development Strategy

Innovation Facilitator

SEBRAE

Feb 2021 - Jun 2022 (1 year 4 months)

Provided strategic consulting and innovation guidance to multiple SMEs, teaching customer-centric methodologies and leading a turnaround at Trimetal that achieved measurable productivity improvements.

Customer Research Design Thinking Business Transformation Stakeholder Engagement

Strategic Brand Consultant

Estúdio Jota

Jul 2017 - Feb 2021 (3 years 7 months)

Founded and operated a strategic branding consultancy serving SMEs across Brazil and Portugal, delivering brand strategies, market positioning, and go-to-market support for diverse sectors.

Brand Strategy Positioning Business Development Market Research Service Design

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul

Master of Business Administration, Entrepreneurship & Management

Completed an MBA in Entrepreneurship & Management with a thesis on scalable, asset-light e-commerce business model development.

University of Caxias do Sul

Bachelor of Design, Design

Completed a Bachelor's degree in Design with a thesis on sustainable product-service system design, receiving top evaluation for innovation and viability.