I love that I still learn something new every day

Valuable principles

Paulo joined TMC Paris in January 2022. His degree in embedded systems equipped him with the necessary technical knowledge, and he had gained plenty of practical experience through internships. “I was working on projects on an international scale, for companies such as Thales and Renault,” says Paulo.

The decision to join TMC was influenced by his friend, who was already working as a business manager at the company. Intrigued by the transparency and profit-sharing model at TMC, Paulo decided to apply for the same position. “Having worked for more traditional, hierarchic companies before, I recognized the value of these principles in fostering strong relationships between the employer and employees. They provide a solid foundation for trust and collaboration.”

Guidance and support

Paulo’s engineering background remains valuable in his current role. “It enables me to better understand the needs of both clients and engineers. I’m aware of ongoing projects and industry trends, which allows me to provide informed guidance and support. And being an engineer myself, I can easily empathize with their experiences and challenges.”

The latter is of great importance to Paulo, as he values building strong relationships with his team members. He aims to be accessible and supportive, rather than just giving orders. “I’m not the type of leader who tells you what to do, I’m the type of leader who asks you what you want to do. Ultimately, my job is to guide employeneurs in their professional growth and help them navigate their projects successfully. How are you feeling about the project and the client? If you’re not feeling it, how can we find a solution? How can you improve your skills? These are the type of questions that I ask continuously.”

Unique challenges

Managing people presents unique challenges. Paulo: “As an engineer I worked with software. You can modify software and make it do what you want it to do. Working with people is different. You deal with human emotions and individual circumstances.”

The entrepreneurial mindset of TMC's employeneurs adds an additional layer of complexity. “Their determination and individuality facilitate the management process in many ways – employeneurs are creative and self-reliant. But it can also complicate it. It’s obviously harder to manage someone who has a sort of natural stubbornness”, says Paulo, smiling. “That means different perspectives will clash sometimes. Adaptability and finding common ground are key in these situations.”

Another thing that sets TMC apart from Paulo’s previous experiences, is that he has a 360-degree view of the company. He delves into every facet of the business. “From administration to finance, from business operations to management, I’m immersed in all aspects of the organization.” He attributes this to the startup-like environment of TMC Paris. “It feels weird to describe it that way, because TMC is a large company, of course. But TMC Paris is a team of about 100 people, which is relatively small. So you need this holistic view. I like it, though. I get to learn something new almost every day.”

Unwind

Despite his busy professional life, Paulo also has a passion for sports. In his free time, he enjoys watching Formula 1 and football matches. “I’m a big fan of Porto”, he says. “It’s probably because my parents are from Portugal and both support Porto. I still visit my family there every year. In fact, these family visits also sparked another interest – music. My grandfather played the accordion and I remember being so fascinated by it as a child. I played the violin from the age of 8 until 16. I don’t have much time for it anymore nowadays, but I still like to play other instruments to unwind sometimes.”

While holding a deep attachment to Portugal due to his familial roots and yearly visits, Paulo isn’t planning on leaving Paris anytime soon. In fact, he has ambitious goals for TMC Paris. “I want to help the team grow, develop, and expand, first. Take on larger projects, make a significant impact here. Who knows, maybe I’ll even be director one day.”