Melissa Ribaira
@melissaribaira
People & Operations Leader with 15+ years of experience.
What I'm looking for
With over 15 years of experience in startups, scaleups, and regulated industries, I am a People & Operations Leader who combines strategic vision with hands-on execution. My journey has been marked by a commitment to building inclusive people practices and optimizing daily operations. I thrive in environments where structure meets humanity, and I am dedicated to helping ambitious companies scale with integrity and purpose.
Throughout my career, I have coached teams through growth and complexity, leveraging clarity and empathy to drive evolution. I have successfully reduced employee turnover by 30% and improved hiring processes, demonstrating my ability to align people, systems, and resources with business priorities. I am passionate about creating fair and competitive compensation packages and ensuring compliance across multi-country workforces.
As I transition to Portugal, I am eager to bring my expertise in HR and operations to a new organization, where I can continue to unleash human potential and drive organizational growth for lasting impact.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Self-employed Career & Personal Coach
U-GR8
Sep 2024 - Present (10 months)
Coached clients on career, performance, and personal development using neuroscience-based tools, helping them reconnect with purpose and design fulfilling success paths. Delivered training on leadership, emotional agility, and mental resilience.
HR & Operations Manager
PressLabs Inc.
May 2025 - Present (2 months)
Partnered with senior leadership to shape and streamline daily operations, aligning people, systems, and resources to business priorities. Managed cross-functional workflows to ensure timely, compliant delivery of administrative and operational objectives across the organization.
Partner & NMA Trainer
Council for Human Development Swiss Association
Jul 2024 - Jan 2025 (6 months)
Trained in Neuroplastic Mental Acceleration (NMA), applying science-based techniques to corporate learning, resilience training, and personal development. Delivered flow state trainings to enhance focus and creativity.
Head of HR & Operations
OBINEX
Dec 2022 - Jun 2024 (1 year 6 months)
Managed a team of 3 HR specialists and reduced employee turnover by 30% through revamped onboarding, tailored development plans, and improved feedback loops. Designed and implemented fair and competitive global compensation and benefits packages, including ESOP, achieving 100% HR compliance across multi-country remote workforce.
Operations Manager
ALLTOKENFOOTBALL GmbH
May 2022 - Oct 2023 (1 year 5 months)
Designed and streamlined legal and HR workflows, managing end-to-end HR administration, including payroll. Delivered a compliant exit process for multiple terminations, ensuring clear communication and legally secure documentation.
Digital Marketing Coordinator @ HITACHI MEDICAL SYSTEMS S.A.S.
VAW SERVICES
Sep 2017 - Mar 2019 (1 year 6 months)
Managed a \u20ac350K budget for tradeshows and events, aligning marketing campaigns with sales objectives. Ideated, developed, and promoted an eLearning platform for healthcare professionals, securing partnerships with medical societies.
Head of Back-Office & HR Partner
STALICLA S.A.
Nov 2021 - Apr 2022 (5 months)
Managed a team of 2 Administrative and HR professionals, reducing legal exposure by 50% through improved documentation and conflict resolution processes. Developed and implemented a hybrid company policy across geographies.
Executive Assistant & HR Liaison
m3 SANITRADE S.A. (m3 Groupe)
Apr 2020 - Oct 2021 (1 year 6 months)
Boosted operational efficiency by 25% through optimized shift planning and built KPI dashboards for real-time workforce tracking and leadership reporting. Managed HR and CSR functions, including complex employee relations.
Executive Assistant to the CEO & Office Manager
STALICLA S.A.
Mar 2019 - Apr 2020 (1 year 1 month)
Delivered executive and personal support to the CEO, managing global schedules, travel, and stakeholder relations across legal, investor, and board levels. Oversaw office operations and HR administration, from SOPs and vendor management to full employee lifecycle handling with a focus on structure and compliance.
Personal Executive Assistant
MI6APP LTD.
Jul 2013 - Nov 2017 (4 years 4 months)
Provided comprehensive executive support, investor relations coordination, and marketing assistance to the CEO. Developed pitch decks, performed competitive analysis, and contributed to fundraising efforts.
Business Manager & Artistic Agent
BLUE LAGOON MUSIC
Jun 2014 - Sep 2017 (3 years 3 months)
Managed talent contracts, event logistics, and performance fees for artists. Delivered branding, community management, and social media strategy, enhancing artists' public presence and revenue.
Senior Personal Assistant
CITIBANK SWITZERLAND A.G.
Jan 2011 - Jul 2013 (2 years 6 months)
Provided high-level administrative and personal support to the Global Market Manager across multiple regions, managing complex calendars, travel, expenses, and event logistics. Stepped in as interim Business Manager, handling KYC reviews, compliance documentation, and weekly sales reporting to the EMEA CEO.
Western Europe Baby Care Finance & Accounting Business Assistant
PROCTER & GAMBLE INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS S.A.
Apr 2008 - Jan 2010 (1 year 9 months)
Provided comprehensive administrative support to the Finance Director and leadership team, managing complex calendars, international travel, reports, and events of up to 250 attendees. Oversaw budget tracking, procurement, and invoice validation, achieving an average of 8% cost savings through effective supply and expense management.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Not specified
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No specific education details were provided in the text. The text primarily focuses on professional experience and skills.
Tech stack
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Availability
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Job categories
Skills
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