About Us
Elevate Academy started because we got tired of watching smart people fail at managing other people. You know the type — brilliant at their job, then promoted, and suddenly they're drowning. We figured out pretty early that most leadership training feels like sitting through a tax seminar. So we built something different. Real problems. Real solutions. No PowerPoint that puts you to sleep. We work with people who actually want to get better, not just check a box for HR.
Over time, we’ve built a reputation for reliability, quality, and clear communication. We treat each project as a partnership and aim for outcomes that last.
Our Story
Started in 2016 when our founder watched yet another capable person get promoted into chaos. She'd worked in three countries, managed teams that ranged from 3 to 300 people, and noticed the same pattern everywhere: nobody prepared these folks. No onboarding for leadership. Just "congratulations, now manage this." So she started small. One workshop. Seven people. Now we're working with organizations across Portugal and beyond. Still scrappy. Still focused on real change, not just attendance numbers.
Company founded with a team of 3 passionate professionals
Expanded services and reached 500+ satisfied customers
Opened new headquarters and doubled our team size
Celebrated serving over 2,000 clients with 98% satisfaction rate
Our Mission
We transform individual contributors into leaders who make their teams better. Not through theory. Through uncomfortable conversations, honest feedback, and skills you can use Monday morning. Our goal's simple: fewer stressed-out managers, more people who actually enjoy coming to work.
Our Vision
A working world where leadership isn't something people dread. Where managers get support before they crash and burn. Where decent humans who never trained for management roles get the tools to lead with confidence instead of anxiety.
Meet Our Team
The people behind Elevate Academy
We’re a team that values ownership, clarity, and growth. We celebrate wins, learn fast, and keep client outcomes at the center.
Carolina Mendes
Founder & Lead Instructor
Spent 13 years managing teams across tech and nonprofits. Got fired once. Learned everything from that failure. Now helps others avoid her mistakes (or at least learn faster from them).
João Silva
Facilitator & Coach
Former manufacturing plant manager who somehow led 47 people without anyone quitting. Obsessed with systems thinking and why delegation terrifies people. Drinks espresso like oxygen.
Marta Cabral
Senior Facilitator
Worked in organizational development for 8 years. Specializes in helping high-performing teams navigate conflict without destroying relationships. Writes angry emails first, sends them second.
Our Core Values
The principles that guide everything we do
Brutal honesty
We don't soften feedback or pretend problems don't exist. Your team probably already knows what's broken anyway.
Practical over pretty
Forget frameworks that look good on slides. We teach what actually works when the meeting gets tense and someone starts crying.
Everyone belongs here
You don't need an MBA to lead well. You need courage, curiosity, and willingness to screw up publicly sometimes.
Learning never stops
Management changes constantly. We stay obsessed with new research, emerging challenges, and what's actually happening in real organizations.
Our Approach
Our approach combines proven methods with modern tools. We start with discovery, align on goals, plan clearly, and execute with quality checks at every step.