Mission

Mission is a B2B global marketplace of senior software engineers supported by best in class engineering management practice via the Mission Platform.
Our 3000+ members are based in 40+ countries (350 when I started). We work with 40+ partners located mainly in LATAM, Africa, US and Asia.
Main achievements:
- Grew the network of senior Engineers by 400% in 18 months,
- Negotiated and signed 30+ partnerships in strategic markets globally,
- Built scalable processes in sourcing, vetting and matching candidates,
- Team management and leadership, starting from scratch, of exceptional people located in different continents,
- Collected data points at all steps of our processes giving us more visibility and predictability in our operations.

Vice President, Member Operations & Partnerships

Modern Canada

- Member of the leadership team (top 50 leader at GDI Integrated Facility Services),
- Built from scratch a new and innovative franchise model targeting secondary markets in Canada including the legal agreement, definition of the service offering, the creation of an operational manual, identification and design of territories, identification and selection of systems to use (CRM, pricing, e-commerce platform etc.), franchisee profiles, go-to-market strategy, sales & marketing strategies etc.,
- Defined the offer that includes janitorial services, specialty cleaning services and a store (online and retail) for cleaning supplies and equipment distribution,
- Identified opportunities to improve revenue growth,
- Opened and lead a pilot corporate unit located in Hamilton, On,
- Implementation of the first franchisees,
- P&L creation and ownership.

Director of Franchising

Encore Travel

Member of the Executive team. Mission: lead and scale operations.
Main tasks:
- Team management of travel agents, team leaders, project managers,
- Put in place and monitored customer service satisfaction and customer experience through SLAs and KPIs,
- Implemented, scaled and improved processes using agile and 6-Sigma methodologies: online booking tools, offline solutions, back office tools, email technology etc.,
- Defined the operational strategy and structure,
- Supported Sales & Account Management teams in pre-sales: worked on pricing and overall finance for new accounts,
- Supported Sales & Account Management teams with the implementation of new clients,
- Trained new clients: built documentation and provided online and in person trainings, 
- Managed P&L.

Director, Service Delivery

Areas of expertise : business development, marketing, international expansion, partnerships.

Strengths : entrepreneurship, ability to start from scratch, international experience and network, e-commerce, negotiation, help businesses scale and grow exponentially. 

Clients : LE CHEMISEUR® (fashion), Bungalo.com (holiday rental), Oyatis (hospitality), Simplenight (travel)

Start up Advisor

Egencia, an Expedia company

Expanding Egencia's online & offline presence in Europe, the Middle-East & Africa (EMEA) via the development of strategic partnerships : 
- Identify markets where a partner is needed,
- Build the business model,
- Identify, audit and negotiate a deal with local partners,
- Responsible for the partners'​ contracts and monthly financial flow, 
- Owner of the P&L, 
- Identify opportunities to improve revenue growth,
- Lead local account management and operations,
- Support global sales for the partners' markets,
- Responsible for the local service delivered: +80 employees,
- Business owner of the expansion project across the region.

Key achievement: In a couple of years, we built a scalable business model with a network in +25 countries across EMEA only (started from zero) and we significantly increased our global footprint and international competitiveness through the win of major global accounts representing more than 30% of the EMEA business volume.

Director, Global Partners Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA)

Built scalable operations via strategic partnerships in 6 European countries (Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden). Responsible for the P&L, the client satisfaction, the customer service teams and the Egencia offer in those markets.

Operations Manager New Countries

Carlson Wagonlit Travel

Lead the implemention of global clients in several countries in Europe or globally.

- Supported Sales during the sales processes,
- Collected data and information once therom the Sales and Account Management teams once the agreement is signed,
- Built the team of people who will be involved in the implementation process including Country Leaders,
- Built the project plan with roles and responsibilities,
- Coordinated actions and timelines per market as per agreement,
- Sat weekly reviews with the Key Stakeholders: internally and on the client side.

International Project Manager

Managed the EMEA operations of global multinational clients, led a team of 40 persons. 3 direct reports: 1 project manager and 2 customer service supervisors.
Implemented the clients: conducted gap analysis in each market, identified requirements and specificities to make sure the Saas solution (online booking tool) meets the clients expectations and matches the contractual agreement.

eCenter Operations Manager Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA)

With over 15 years of extensive experience in business development, negotiation, international expansion, strategic partnerships and leadership, I have honed my skills in customer service and business operations. Leveraging data and technology, I specialize in solving complex business challenges, designing impactful and scalable processes, and delivering key outcomes that drive growth and value.

Currently serving as the Vice President of Member Acquisition and Partnerships at Mission, a global market network of senior software engineers supported by best-in-class engineering management practices, I have achieved remarkable milestones. In my tenure, I propelled the network of senior engineers by an astounding 400% in just 18 months. I successfully negotiated and closed 30+ strategic partnerships in key markets worldwide. I established scalable processes for candidate sourcing, vetting, and matching, fostering efficient operations. Moreover, I led a geographically diverse team of exceptional individuals, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.

My expertise lies in scaling businesses from inception to generating revenue in the hundreds of millions. I prioritize customer-centric approaches in all aspects of my work, adeptly defining and executing ambitious plans even with limited resources. Data-driven decision-making is my forte, as I rely on analytics while also trusting my intuition.

I possess a unique ability to align, lead, and develop world-class teams, valuing team success over individual achievements. Transparency, meaningful communication, and the art of storytelling are integral to my leadership style, inspiring and motivating others. Continuous learning is my mantra, as I consistently strive to educate, improve, and motivate myself. I maintain composure in challenging situations and prioritize high-quality decision-making to drive organizational success. 

Let's connect and explore opportunities to collaborate and drive unparalleled growth together.

I find pleasure in meeting individuals and learning about their unique perspectives. If you're interested in discussing new business, scalability, or…. tennis and travels, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Stéphane Bâlon

Starion

Formerly known as RHEA Group.

➤ Company:  Software Engineering for Space, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity and Defense; 900 employees; 11 countries.

➤ Reporting to the Regional VPs and CCO I oversee the pre-sales process from qualification to contract award and operational handover.

➤ With deadlines of up to 2 weeks, I remotely manage the international team of 10 people (technical, commercial, financial, legal, HR) and subcos necessary to respond on time over 160 tenders and RFPs with technically winning and financially competitive proposals for ESA, NATO, Eumetsat, EUSPA, ENISA, ITER, National Ministries of Defence, Commercial space companies, European Commission, etc.

➤ Achievements: 
● Awarded as top performer of 2021 for achieving a remarkable 78% conversion rate of sales opportunities.
 ● Successfully expanded our Spanish market by securing a €4M contract with Fusion for Energy through business development efforts

Senior Software Proposal/Bid Manager

Formerly known as RHEA Group

➤ Company: Software Engineering and Manufacture for Space; 2000 employees, 22 countries.

● Successfully led a cross-functional team of 7 members to seamlessly integrate Solar System mission data into operational workflows.

Senior Operations Consultant for the European Space Agency at ESAC

Vanware Platform SL

➤ Industry: Low code software technologies as a service.

● Advising the CEO as technological expert leveraging technology to drive innovation and competitive advantage.

Board Member

15K ANGELS

● Co-founder (www.15kangels.com).
● Successfully secured investments from 2 investors, each contributing €15,000, and led the search and evaluation of over 20 start-ups.
● Currently acting as a start-up scout and financial analyst, identifying high-potential investment opportunities.

Venture Capital Fund Co-founder

➤ Company: Software Engineering and Manufacture for Aerospace, Defense, Nuclear, Maritime Logistic, Medical Devices, Banking; 300 employees, 4 countries.

➤ Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, I managed over international 35 service contracts and Waterfall & Agile SW/HWcprojects of up to 4 M€ with teams of up to 13 engineers for Airbus, NATO, Navantia, Indra, OHB, GMV, Saudi Navy, Eurocopter, ESA, Fusion for Energy, etc. 

➤ I defined, implemented and supported the certification of the operational processes in the Aerospace & Defense Business Unit.

➤ I managed and mentored a team of two direct reports, overseeing their performance, professional growth and development

➤  Achievements: 
● I successfully led in 6 months the design, implementation, and certification of operational and business processes at the Cadiz factory.
● I avoided the loss of the European Space Agency as a customer (generating about 45% of total revenues) by achieving in less than 1 year the CMMI lvl3 corporate accreditation.

Senior Operations Manager

Aicox Soluciones

➤ Company: Manufacture for Telecommunications, Defense and Renewable Energies; 80 staff, 1 country.

➤ Reporting SLAs, KPIs and OKRs to the Board of Executive Directors I co-headed the department, managing the Quality function and overseeing the overall compliance with policies, processes and regulations.

➤  Achievements: 
● In less than 2 months I led a warehouse and factory e-waste disposal initiative, earning an award for my company in recognition of sustainable practices.
● I increased the gross margin of projects by 25% by implementing in 6 months tax breaks that had not been identified by the company.
● Developed with VBA in 3 months a Non-Quality Costs tool to identify the operational inefficiencies and resulting in cost savings.

Deputy Quality Director

I am a Quantum Chemistry PhD-turned-technology leader, entrepreneur, and social advocate who developed deep analytical skills and a keen eye for detail and strategy. My 17-year professional journey is characterised by excellence, innovation, and purpose. I embrace new challenges and aim to leave a lasting impact in the corporate and social spheres.

Alongside my career, I pursued an executive MBA and co-founded a venture capital firm. I also became a business mentor, board member and joined an NGO. These experiences allowed me to expand my knowledge, inspire teams, contribute to strategic decisions driving organisational growth, and advocate for social change.

My journey reflects adaptability, resilience, and a commitment to excellence. I have cultivated a multidisciplinary skill set and a broad perspective. Collaboration and diverse perspectives are key to my approach, driving innovation and problem-solving.

I am proud of my ability to navigate complex landscapes and combine technical expertise with strategic acumen. I am driven by a passion for continuous learning and making a positive impact. Leveraging my skills, knowledge, and networks, I strive to create meaningful change.

I'm passionate about strategy, leadership, corporate finance, social impact, and heavy metal. Let's connect - I look forward to partnering with you!.

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The Battle

Stéphane Bâlon

Francisco Javier Casquero García, PhD

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