10 + 1

They say 11 is a number of new beginnings and personal achievements ??. As I celebrate 11 remarkable years at VOID Software, it's a joy to reflect on the incredible individuals and teams who have shaped this journey—colleagues, clients, and partners, past and present. Each one of you has played a pivotal role in my story here, and I’m eager to share some of the standout moments that have marked this amazing path.

A special thank you to Marco Cova and Hugo Larcher for inviting me to join VOID Software. It has been an honor to be part of our journey from the earliest days, growing alongside the company as we evolved from a handful of people to a robust team of more than 80 ??. This experience has been both humbling and inspiring.

I would also want to extend my gratitude to my colleagues in the Project Management department for the commitment through the Agile transformation over the last few years: Tiago Correia , Nuno Reis , David Oliveira , and Anna Weso?ek . A nod to André Evangelista , my first colleague to take the Scrum Certification journey with me—thank you for being a part of that pivotal moment ??.

Special mentions to other colleagues who have been instrumental in my learning and growth in software development, and part of key product development teams: Jo?o Mota , Jo?o Nascimento , Gabriel Correia Brito (from whom I learned a great deal about embedded systems), Ivo Vieira de Oliveira (always available, always with a smile and a fantastic developer), Rita Domingos for all your support and availability; Daniel Gomes for your meticulous attention to detail, Iolanda Rosa (your focus and persistence are inspiring); Marta Amado Carvalho (tough and truthful, I deeply appreciate that); Ana Reis (for everything, but above all, your friendship) ??.

Thank you to Sandra Naboulet from our client team, for adding fun and smarts to our collaboration. I am also grateful to those who impacted my growth even before VOID: Natasha Howes , who brought me close to cinematic production; Paulo Pereira , a great designer with a special taste for humor; Marisa Carapucinha , from whom I learned so much about copywriting, marketing, and product development. A shout-out to Armando Vieira , a pioneer in Machine Learning and Neural Networks, and a dear friend. And I must mention Jo?o PM Oliveira , for the friendship, teachings, and overall support while I lived in Serbia—I’ll never forget what you've done for me ??.

Those that have worked with me in recent years know I’m an Agile enthusiast. For that passion, I owe much to Michel Goldenberg —you’re the man! And also to Catarina Reis , whose inspiration has been invaluable ??.

In addition to the invaluable individuals already mentioned, I want to highlight some key collaborators connected to specific projects that have been landmarks in my career.

I'm particularly proud of my role as Scrum Product Owner for Spartan Forge, the most advanced and feature-rich hunting app in the USA. From the beginning of development to the first commercial release, which was an instant success, I had the privilege of working closely with founders Bill T. and Ted Belser . Their strong military backgrounds brought a level of discipline to the project that profoundly influenced my professional approach ??.

My involvement with the World Health Organization (WHO) through contact with Anita Sands allowed me to participate in a globally impactful project, engaging with stakeholders that included not just WHO but also governments around the world. The scale and significance of this work were truly inspiring ??.

A shoutout to Kevin D'Silva , Alexis Ernst , and Chantal Estevez from Ideatplus for their professionalism and for the opportunity to work with such a talented team on innovative projects. Each of you has helped sharpen my skills and broaden my perspectives.

And finally, the crown jewel of recent projects: Bhout – The boxing bag with a brain. As the Scrum PO from nearly the beginning, this ambitious project is set to make its world debut in a couple of weeks at Viva Technology in Paris. Recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 200 most important inventions of 2023 and hailed by the fitness media as one of the most exciting products ever in this domain, working on Bhout has been an exhilarating challenge. I am deeply grateful to Mauro Frota and Pedro Barata for their vision, commitment, and brilliant leadership. A special thanks also to Pedro Arroz Serra , the CTO, for being an incredibly nice guy and always accessible ??.

Each of these projects not only contributed to the success of the companies involved but also significantly enriched my professional journey, providing me with invaluable opportunities to develop and hone my skills.

As I reflect on these 11 incredible years, filled with challenges met, lessons learned, and boundaries pushed, I am more motivated than ever to continue evolving, learning, and contributing to groundbreaking projects. The future is bright, and I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey so far; I look forward to our continued collaborations and the new connections that the future may bring. Here’s to more innovation, growth, and shared success! ??