Independent Strategy Consulting

You have the strategy. You need someone to make it happen.

Independent strategic consultant · 20 years between Brazil and France. A clear diagnosis, an executable plan, and someone by your side until it becomes results.

Let's talk or see how I can help ↓
Diogo Pires de Oliveira, Independent Strategy Consultant
Diogo Pires de Oliveira Independent Strategy Consultant · Paris (Chatou)
20+
years of executive experience in strategy and commercial execution
3
countries: Brazil, France and Canada
20×
revenue growth at Quicko in under 6 months
45+
people led at Movida, across 3 areas: Pricing, Commercial Planning and Products
Executive track record at GPA Groupe Casino AmBev Votorantim Cimentos Boehringer Ingelheim Mercado Eletrônico Movida Quicko Stix
The Problem

Does this sound familiar?

Before we talk about me, let's talk about you. If any of these hit close to home, it's because you already know you need strategy — you just haven't decided with whom.

01

The vision is clear in your head — but not on paper, and even less in action.

You know where you want to go. What's missing is translating that into clear priorities, an executable plan, and someone to help hold the course when day-to-day chaos takes over.

02

Your sales team works hard, but the numbers don't add up.

Target hit one quarter, missed the next. What's missing is a clear commercial policy, a predictable pipeline, and a pricing structure that makes sense across the board.

03

A good diagnosis wasn't enough: the plan stayed in a PDF.

A well-made report, slides full of matrices, and in the end no one knows what to do Monday morning. A diagnosis without an action plan and follow-through is only half the job.

How I Help

Problems I solve, not services I sell

Independent strategic consulting for companies that need clear direction, predictable commercial growth, and expansion between Brazil and France.

Core of the practice

Your leadership finally rows in the same direction.

Strategic planning and alignment: long-term vision, positioning diagnosis, priority setting and turning strategy into tactical plans the team can actually execute.

Strategic Planning & Alignment is the foundation of everything I do — the other three areas grow out of it, depending on your business's specific challenge.

Commercial Growth

Sales stop depending on luck or a lone hero.

Commercial diagnosis, pricing and discount policy, go-to-market, team structuring, loyalty and strategic partnerships — a predictable commercial engine, not dependent on one person.

Brazil ↔ France Expansion

Your company crosses the Atlantic without tripping over culture or regulation.

Market validation, entry strategy, business model adaptation and local partner identification — with a foot on each side, after 20 years living in both markets.

Product Strategy & Founder Mentoring

The founder stops deciding alone at 11pm.

Positioning, OKRs, monetization model and critical product decisions, with an external strategic partner who has been through it inside real operations.

How We Work

The format fits your moment — not the other way around

Three ways to start. All of them begin with the same question: what do you need to solve right now?

Single Session

"Need a perspective right now?"

One 90-minute session to unlock a specific decision: quick diagnosis, an external senior perspective, and a written summary. No commitment to continue.

Monthly Retainer

"Want a constant strategic partner?"

Four 60-minute sessions a month, availability in between, decision follow-up, and review of plans and materials. Renewable month to month.

2–3 Month Project

"Have a project with defined scope?"

Defined scope and deliverables, weekly working sessions, structured review cycles and a documented final delivery, with the option to extend.

I work in co-production: we build with your team, not for it. Hybrid models and other forms of collaboration or partnership are welcome — start wherever makes sense and we'll adjust the rest in conversation.

Why It Works

Senior perspective, without the overhead of a large structure

It's not about being better than anyone else: each model solves a different kind of challenge. Here's when an independent senior consultant tends to make the most sense.

When other paths make more sense

  • • Large consulting firm: broad transformation programs, with several workstreams and dedicated teams running in parallel
  • • Hired executive: when the role is permanent and needs full-time dedication
  • • Specialist for a specific need: when the problem is technical and well defined

When Conexão.fr makes the most sense

  • ✓ You want direct senior perspective: always Diogo, with no layers in between
  • ✓ You need speed: I get into your context fast, with little ramp-up time
  • ✓ You want a lean setup, without overhead: the investment goes into thinking, deciding and following through
  • ✓ You want a clear action plan, with owners and deadlines, and someone following the execution
  • ✓ You need a flexible format, sized to your problem

It's not about better or worse: large firms do serious work and are the right choice for many challenges. And when a project calls for scale, I can work alongside them, as a strategic partner to your team, next to the partners you already have.

Case Studies

Strategy turned into action — in four different contexts

For the Kokua and Skin Essentials cases, figures are illustrative, to protect client confidentiality. For the Mel Rolan Travel Designer case, figures are real, with financial values withheld.

Sport & Wellness · Scale-up · Brazil Ongoing engagement — Advisory Board since 2022

How to scale a commercial operation that depended on the founder

Kokua Sport Care & Wellness was growing over 30% a year, but with a commercial operation concentrated in the founder and no structure to scale.

The core findings of the diagnosis

>80%
What we found>80% of B2B deals depended exclusively on the founder — a critical structural risk for scaling.
RecommendationHire a senior B2B sales executive and create a two-level approval policy.
Expected impactThe founder is freed up for strategic decisions.
5–8×
What we found5–8× the average ticket in B2B vs. B2C — yet the B2B channel got less than half of the commercial focus.
RecommendationRebalance the channel mix to 70% B2B over the 2026–2028 projection period.
Expected impactRevenue growth without a proportional increase in cost.
>35%
What we found>35% of annual revenue concentrated in a single quarter — a fragile seasonal base for any expansion.
RecommendationPhased expansion roadmap: specialized chains → gyms → mass retail.
Expected impactLower volatility and a recurring revenue base.

What was discussed and delivered

Commercial Policy 3.0
  • Discount rules based on objective criteria
  • Markup and payment and freight terms
  • Two-level approval hierarchy
  • End of case-by-case negotiation
2026–2028 Projection
  • Excel financial model, 10 tabs
  • Monthly and annual projection by channel
  • Analysis of 12 SKUs and product mix
  • Ranking of the top 30 B2B customers
  • Integrated KPIs and diagnosis
Margin-Based Commission
  • Rewards smart negotiation, not just volume
  • Automatic simulator per order
  • Aligned with the discount policy
  • Documented gradual rollout
E-commerce Audit
  • Technical performance and speed
  • UX/UI and purchase funnel
  • Site architecture and SEO
  • Prioritized recommendations

Multi-year target (illustrative): 2–3× growth over the period, focused on B2B expansion and reducing seasonality.

* Illustrative figures, kept confidential.

Beauty Tech · Early Stage · Brazil 2–3 month project

How to launch a luxury cosmetic with no positioning, no channel and no brand narrative

From diagnosis to the launch of Night Skin, by Skin Essentials: strategy, brand, product structure and go-to-market plan.

The process — from diagnosis to launch

01Strategic Diagnosis
  • Full SWOT
  • Market analysis
  • B2B benchmarking
  • Persona definition workshop
02Positioning & Value Proposition
  • Positioning framework
  • Value proposition by segment
  • Channel segmentation
  • Brand narrative
03Product Structure
  • Night Skin Business Plan
  • Client line template
  • Identity and assets
  • Pricing model
04Launch Plan
  • E-commerce implementation plan
  • Go-to-market readiness checklist
  • Internationalization plan
  • Financial scenarios

What was discussed and delivered

Complete Business Plan
  • Mission, vision, values and positioning
  • SWOT and B2B benchmarking
  • Financial model in 3 scenarios (conservative, moderate, optimistic)
  • Scale roadmap and operating plan
Positioning Framework
  • Value proposition and differentiators against B2B competitors
  • Applied to product, brand and content
  • Brand narrative and key messages
  • Visual identity and brand guidelines
Persona Definition Workshop
  • Facilitated workshop with the team
  • 3 personas with pains and expectations
  • Priority channels and approach per persona
Launch Plan
  • E-commerce implementation plan
  • Go-to-market readiness checklist
  • Internationalization plan
  • Loyalty and expansion model

Result: a clear strategy and an executable plan for Night Skin's first commercial phase.

* Illustrative figures, kept confidential — structure based on a real project.

Travel & Experiences · Small business · France–Brazil Ongoing engagement since May 2024

How to turn a reference brand into a business that no longer depends on one person, one channel or one product

Mel Rolan Travel Designer serves Brazilian families in Paris, with 650+ families served and an NPS of 9.97. The reputation was strong, but operations were hand-built and concentrated in the founder. The engagement was cross-functional: strategy, finance, operations, brand, product, channels, AI and web.

Key diagnostic findings

~90%
Situation found~90% of leads came from Instagram, which worked as a newsletter for existing followers rather than as an acquisition channel.
RecommendationReduce reliance on social media with a website that qualifies each inquiry and routes it to the right offer, keeping Instagram as a complementary entry point.
Expected impactMore diversified lead sources, with a new lead-generation website currently in the approval stage.
~45%
Situation found~45% of annual demand concentrated in July, with no seasonality model in place.
RecommendationUse low-season months for planning, products and content, and peak months for execution.
Expected impactCapacity and cash planned across the whole year.
−42.7%
Situation found−42.7% drop in median engagement over 24 months, as promotional content grew and performed worst (audit based on Meta API data).
RecommendationBring back Reels and educational content, with a clear goal and metric for each piece.
Expected impactRecovery of reach and follower growth.

The process: from strategy to systems

01Strategic foundation (Jan–Feb)
  • Seasonality research on Brazilian tourism in Paris
  • 2026 Strategic Plan with scenarios and review triggers
  • One-way offer ladder
  • Rewritten contracts and a first financial model
02Product and channels (Mar–Jul)
  • "Paris com Crianças" guide and update of the "Essencial" guide
  • Tour catalog expanded from 2 to 8 itineraries
  • B2B partnerships with agencies and marketplaces (Viator, Airbnb Experiences, Just Travel)
  • Content management handed over to an agency
03Brand and reputation (Aug)
  • Design system and editorial rules
  • Three-act press relations plan
  • LinkedIn strategy
  • Tour vouchers
04Systems and data (Sep)
  • Monthly P&L rebuilt from primary sources
  • Notion CRM with funnel and pre-qualification form
  • New lead-generation website, in the approval stage
  • Paid media with tracking fixed before any spend

What was worked on and delivered

Strategy & Finance
  • Plan with persona diagnosis and value proposition
  • P&L model, budget by revenue line and a live monthly P&L
  • Accrual rules applied consistently
  • Pricing tested rather than assumed
Operations & CRM
  • Contracts with clear boundaries between services
  • Funnel and conversion measurable for the first time
  • Conversion dashboards
  • Playbook of rules for AI agents
Brand & Content
  • 24-month Instagram audit
  • Brief and critical review of the agency's plan
  • Core concept: "Curation isn't something you download. It's something you live."
  • Press release on AI versus human judgment in travel, picked up by the press
Product
  • 157-page guide with 60+ verified attractions
  • Map with 142 points across 7 layers
  • Rotating seasonal bonuses
  • Travel budget planning spreadsheet
New lead-generation website (in approval)
  • Strategy to reduce dependence on social media
  • 5-question diagnostic that records each lead
  • GA4 tracking plan and CNIL compliance
  • Competitor benchmark and trust factors
Applied AI
  • Fact-checking and editorial review (6 to 75 errors caught per round)
  • Instagram data analysis and a live P&L in a spreadsheet
  • CRM with agents and a site built with Claude Code
  • Tools: Claude, Perplexity, Notion, Metricool and Google Sheets

Result: Instagram grew from 14.5K to 16K+ followers, with one Reel reaching 3.6× the second-best; excluding that one-off, reach was up 41% and interactions up 42%. An operation already running on a CRM, a live P&L and a playbook, with a new lead-generation website in the approval stage.

* Financial figures withheld for confidentiality.

Confidential sector · Scoped project Complex strategic partnership

Preparing a complex strategic partnership: from briefing to the negotiating table

A company needed to make a strategic partnership possible with a highly specialized external partner. The challenge: turn a well-understood internal vision into an executive presentation the partner could evaluate, understand and want to be part of.

The process — from briefing to negotiation

01Strategic Briefing
  • Immersion in the project and context
  • Mapping the target partner
  • Goals of the conversation
  • Clarity on what needs to be said
02Narrative Structure
  • Problem → solution → gain logic
  • Value opportunities for the partner
  • Flow and hierarchy
  • Validation before the visual work
03Executive Deck
  • 10–15 slides built around the partner
  • Executive language and clean visuals
  • Delivered editable and as PDF
  • Ready for the meeting and for sending
04Iterative Refinement
  • 3 review cycles with the client
  • Anticipating the partner's questions
  • Full walk-through of the material
  • Final pre-meeting alignment

Result: meeting with the strategic partner secured; the client led the negotiation with clarity and confidence.

Why this case has few details For confidentiality, I don't disclose the client, the sector or the partner involved, and I prefer not to give any clues. I share what matters to you: how I work in complex, strategic partnerships — structuring the narrative, aligning the parties and preparing the negotiating table. In a conversation, I can explain the method in more depth, within what is permitted.
  • TodayConexão.fr · Independent Strategy ConsultantParis (Chatou) · Kokua Advisory Board since 2022
  • 2022 – 2023Movida Rent a CarLed 3 areas — Pricing, Commercial Planning and Products — with 45+ people and 8 direct reports
  • 2021 – 2022QuickoRevenue up 20× in under 6 months, through the handover to the SalesOps team
  • 2012 – 2021Groupe CasinoGPA (Brazil) · Casino Group (France) · Stix Fidelidade (Brazil)
  • 2007 – 2011Votorantim Cimentos
  • 2004 – 2005Boehringer Ingelheim
  • 2002 – 2003Mercado Eletrônico
  • 1998 – 2002AmBev
About Me

Who's on the other side of the table

Diogo Pires de Oliveira, Independent Strategy Consultant, has built 20+ years of career between Brazil and France inside real operations, with direct responsibility for results.

  • At Movida Rent a Car, he led 3 areas — Pricing, Commercial Planning and Products — with 45+ people and 8 direct reports.
  • At Quicko, he grew revenue 20× in under 6 months, through the handover to the SalesOps team.
  • Advisory Board member at Kokua since 2022.
  • Trilingual in Portuguese, French and English, with experience in Brazil, France and Canada.

"Strategy with its feet on the ground: I build the framework with you and stay close until the plan becomes action."

Open to pro bono projects

I support selected socio-environmental projects pro bono, in co-production with organizations and communities. If you work in social or environmental impact, let's talk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What people usually ask before talking

What does an independent strategy consultant do?

An independent strategy consultant helps a company decide where to go, prioritize what matters and turn that into an executable plan, without being tied to a large firm. Diogo Pires de Oliveira works directly with the client and stays involved until the plan becomes action.

How is an independent consultant different from a large consulting firm?

Large consulting firms are the best choice for broad programs, with several workstreams and teams running in parallel. An independent senior consultant makes more sense when you need direct senior perspective, speed and a lean setup, without overhead. With Conexão.fr you always talk to Diogo and, when a project calls for scale, I can work alongside your team and the partners you already have.

What kind of company and moment is this work right for?

SMEs, scale-ups and founders who have a vision but can't get it off the page; whose sales depend on a few people; who need to build structure before scaling; or who want to grow between Brazil and France without improvising.

How does the first contact work?

With a 30-minute conversation, no commitment, booked directly on the site. You don't need to have everything figured out beforehand: the conversation is there to understand where you are, where you want to go and which format makes the most sense.

What working formats are available?

A single 90-minute session with a written summary; a monthly retainer with four 60-minute sessions and availability in between; or a 2 to 3 month project with defined scope and deliverables. Hybrid models and other forms of collaboration are welcome.

How much does independent strategy consulting cost?

The investment depends on the format and scope. In the 30-minute conversation I understand your challenge and recommend the most suitable format, with a clear proposal before any commitment.

Do you work with companies between Brazil and France?

Yes. Diogo Pires de Oliveira has more than 20 years of experience between the two countries and works in Portuguese, French and English. Support includes market validation, entry strategy, business model adaptation and identifying local partners.

Are the case studies real?

Yes, they reflect real projects. For the Kokua and Skin Essentials cases, figures are illustrative and some details are omitted to protect client confidentiality. For the Mel Rolan Travel Designer case, figures are real, with financial values withheld.

Do you take on pro bono or socio-environmental projects?

Yes. I'm open to supporting selected socio-environmental projects pro bono, in co-production with organizations and communities. If you work in social or environmental impact, write to me or book a conversation.

Let's Talk

30 minutes. No commitment.

The best way to know if it makes sense to work together is to talk. No institutional pitch, no rigid proposal — just a direct conversation about your challenge.

Pick a time directly in Diogo's calendar. The calendar is provided by Google Calendar and only loads when you ask for it.


or open the calendar in a new tab

Prefer another way? Email, call or reach out on LinkedIn:

contato@conexao.fr +33 (0)7 75 76 32 40 LinkedIn