Early years and where you came from?
I grew up in Portugal and moved to the US for university. I’ve spent 7 years living abroad (Madrid, London, Miami and New York) studying and working for a few different companies like Google or Havas Media. I then came back to Portugal to start my own tech startup, and after three amazing years of great experiences, I accepted the challenge to lead and be the Country Manager of Too Good To Go Portugal, a social impact company that fights food waste.
How were you introduced to the world of the Portuguese tech industry?
My interest in technology grew stronger over the years. It started during my college years and once I started working in tech companies and then I just knew my dream job would always be somehow related to it. I became closer to the Portuguese tech industry once I moved back to Portugal and started working in an Portuguese incubator, Startup Lisbon.
Walk me through your work and what you are doing now in the tech industry.
Right now I’m the Country Manager for Too Good To Go, a company that combines both of my passions — technology and food. Our mission is to fight food waste and we do it by helping restaurants, supermarkets and hotels sell their surplus food to potential clients at a much competitive price. Previously, I’ve worked at Havas as Media Buyer and Planner, Google as Partner Operations Manager for YouTube, and Marketing Manager for Google Apps for Work and then founded my own tech startup Misk — an app that let people know their friend's restaurant’ recommendations all around the world — with two other amazing partners.
What part of what you do, you love the most?
Managing an amazing team of 20 waste warriors that I now see as a family. I don’t believe in one-man show businesses, and the people in my team and their drive is what I am most proud of.
How do you think that your background and knowledge impact the way you approach your work in the Portuguese tech industry?
The fact that I have an entrepreneurial, tech and international experience brings lots of new things to the table and now that I’m back in my country I hope to bring and share all these learnings and best practices to the Portuguese tech industry.
What advice do you have for young women that want to get into tech and don’t know where to start?
Be bold, take initiative and don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. The best thing about change is the growth you see in yourself, it really challenges you to aim higher. Also — be genuinely curious and take the time to speak to people and ask questions, with whomever it may be. You’ll be surprised about the amount of feedback, learnings and input you’ll get.
Walk me through a day in your life as a Portuguese women in tech.
Strategy, planning, hiring, lots of meetings and 1:1s, emails and follow-ups and making sure we’re all aligned and motivated. Every day is different and there are always too many things to take care of or think about — but that is exactly what makes it challenging and fun.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
You will never know, until you try it out.
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
Slack, Google Drive, Gmail app, Trello.
Anything else you want to share?
Join us in the fight against food waste and try out Too Good To Go ;)
👉Find Madalena on LinkedIn
