Rafael Martins🇧🇪

About Rafael Martins

UX Design Consultant at Freelance

I'm Rafael, a product and multidisciplinary designer with a career that started in 2018 when I co-founded my first company and raised pre-seed funding. Having started as a mechanical engineer, I kept reinventing myself, first as an entrepreneur and later as a product designer that I am today. I've worked across different fields as a designer and consultant, from public institutions such as the European Commission to startups and scale-ups in the domain of energy and sustainability.

During this journey, I learned to navigate through ambiguity, worked with diverse stakeholders - from the detail-oriented head of department to the high-energy CEOs -, and worked in high-pressure and uncertainty environments whilst managing professional anxiety. Now I want to give it back to someone who finds themselves in similar situations as me when I started:

Navigating early career stages Pivoting career Designing early-stage products Managing with anxiety and uncertainty Being a solo designer

My mentoring style is action-oriented: I work on clarifying goals, identifying blockers, and getting concrete action plans. I'm honest, empathetic, and genuinely invested in helping others (and the sector) grow.

Expertise

Sessions with Rafael Martins

• Mentorship Session (30 min): Mentorship session
• Craft Your Portfolio (30 min): In this session, you will learn to create a standout portfolio that impresses potential clients and employers. Through personalized guidance, I'll help you showcase your best work and highlight your unique skills and talents. Learn to tell a compelling story through your portfolio and present yourself. - In the first session, we'll be looking into how you present yourself: a CV, a summary, a website - In the second session, we'll be looking into one of your case studies
• Getting Buy-in (30 min): As a leader, you're often needing to get buy-in from stakeholders. Buy-in is the result of showing your team why your idea achieves their goals. Let's discuss your challenges and how you can navigate them better to influence.
• Navigate the Job Market (30 min): In these mentorship sessions, we'll explore effective job search techniques, networking essentials, and ways to make your applications stand out. Receive personalized guidance on tailoring your approach to different industries and roles. Uncover strategies for navigating the job market and securing your dream job.
• Give Great Feedback (30 min): In these mentorship sessions, you will learn how to communicate your feedback effectively, practice articulating feedback, and engage in exercises to deliver feedback positively. Additionally, you will gain insights into building trust and fostering successful work relationships.
• Turn Ideas into businesses (30 min): Discover entrepreneurship and innovation in our mentorship series. Learn startup fundamentals, validate ideas, and create a compelling business plan. Master marketing, financial management, and navigate challenges. Ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and turn dreams into reality. Book now to unlock your potential for business success.

What mentees say

“Rafael is an exceptional talent in the field of product design. Throughout our mentorship journey, Rafael consistently demonstrated a remarkable level of creativity, dedication, and a thirst for knowledge.”