THIS IS ME
Tech Enthusiast - Global Mindset - Strategy Lover
-- Currently developing the Cloud Transformation Strategy of large enterprises --
-- Native communicator in French, English, Spanish & Catalan--
I am currently working as a Cloud Engineer @Google.
Former Solutions Specialist @IBM & Project Manager @Siemens.
Passionate about everything related to technology. In love with IT and its potential.
Certified in Google Cloud (5 professional certifications), AWS & Azure.
Proven leadership & teamwork skills. Technology is the answer, collaboration is the catalyst.
My superpower?
I know how to explain complex ideas in simple words. I am somehow a techie with sales skills.
Passionate about technology and strategy?
Drop me an e-mail (hi@gerardsl.com) and let's grab a coffee :)
MY EXPERIENCE
Background & Expertise
CLOUD ENGINEER, GOOGLE
October 2021 - Present > Based in Madrid (Spain)
# Professional Services, Google Cloud
We partner with our customers to solve their biggest challenges with the best of Google Cloud. We accelerate the customer's journey to the cloud through consulting and technical account management. We also equip partners to work directly with customers, extending our expertise. Experience in:
Cloud strategy: I am here to help you with your digital transformation and overall IT strategy. I will make sure that your platform is healthy, your architecture is stable and the modernization that you are undertaking is effective and efficient.
Operational rigor: I’ll help you to transform and modernize your IT operations and operating model to effectively add value to your organization.
SENIOR SOLUTION SPECIALIST, IBM
July 2019 - October 2021 > Based in Amsterdam (Netherlands)
# Global Technology Services
Broadly speaking, my job consists of helping companies achieve their journey to the cloud and ensuring it will be fast, secure, and compliant with the current regulations in the industry. I have sales targets on the different IBM products of my business unit. I am mainly focused on selling hybrid cloud, OpenShift, managed services, migration expertise, and IT security. Proven experience in complex software solutions at the CXO level (business and IT) and in defining the digital strategy for large enterprises for the upcoming years.
Helping companies achieve their full potential by empowering their journey to cloud
Responsible for the sales across managed cloud services
Ensuring that your journey will be fast, secure and compliant
Providing you the tools to become a cognitive company
Proud evangelist of cloud native solutions and of the cloud potential in general
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER, SIEMENS
March 2015 - June 2019 > Based in Brussels (Belgium), travel 50% of my time
Broadly speaking, my job consisted of drawing, monitoring, and ensuring the successful execution of software solutions in the Energy sector. I was the main responsible for the overall projects that I lead. I had end responsibility on their P&L, contract agreements within Siemens, and with third parties, profitability, and quality assurance. Our customers were usually large TSOs, DSOs, and industrial players and I lead several teams from Siemens India, Belgium, Austria, France & Germany.
Main responsible for the successful execution of industrial multi-million projects.
Started and successfully finished a project in Mauritania (first smart system to control their electric grid in the history of the country) and a project in Morocco to upgrade their energy system and provide a more stable electricity supply to more than 35 million people.
Cybersecurity and reliability are core to our projects (experience with NERC, NIST, IEC 27001, etc.)
I have received 4 consecutive promotions since I started at the company.
Internship (March-June 2015): interned as a business analyst. We developed a market entry strategy for emerging African countries with a focus on Ivory Coast.
EDUCATION
What I’ve Learned
VLERICK BUSINESS SCHOOL
- MASTER IN GENERAL MANAGEMENT
September 2014 - June 2015, Belgium
What did I learn?
How business works from a financial point of view
What management is all about
Recipient of merit Full Scholarship of €14k from the business school. Graduated with distinction from the jury.
#1 Business School in the region of Benelux (Financial Times ranking, 2013).
KTH ROYAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- MASTER OF SCIENCE ENGINEERING
September 2013 - June 2014, Sweden
What did I learn?
How cool science is
What is the future of the energy systems in Europe: check my publication HERE
School of Industrial Engineering and Management (ITM), Erasmus Scholarship (1y).
#1 Engineering University in the Nordic countries (QS ranking, 2014)
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA
- BACHELOR & MASTER OF SCIENCE ENGINEERING
September 2009 - June 2014, Spain
What did I learn?
How cool science is
What the word "study" means
Graduated as "Licenciado" (BS + MS, Engineering, education plan of 1994), fifth year abroad.
#2 Engineering University in Spain (QS ranking 2013)
LYCÉE FRANÇAIS DE BARCELONE
- FRENCH HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION
September 1994 - June 2009, Spain
What did I learn?
Basic knowledge
French became a native language for me
Baccalauréat & Selectividad with the Highest Distinction. Graduated mention "Très bien".
THE EXTRA MILE
Projects that add up
Experienced IT professional
PROFESSIONALLY CERTIFIED
Certified in:
- Google Cloud Professional DevOps Engineer
- Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer
- Google Cloud Professional Networking Engineer
- Google Cloud Professional Security Engineer
- Google Cloud Professional Architect
- Google Cloud Associate Engineer
- AWS Cloud Practitioner
- Azure Cloud Fundamentals
- IBM Global Sales School
Published November 2018 in Amazon
AUTHOR - TOO TECH TO FAIL
I wrote a book about the future of technology in the 21st century and how the new capabilities coming from this digital revolution will shape the world.
Purchase the book on the following link (Paperback and Kindle version) -> click HERE
September 2018 - now
TREASURER - GLOBAL SHAPERS
Member in the Brussels & Amsterdam Hub.
Born out of the World Economic Forum, this NGO is a network of young people under the age of 30 working together to address local, regional and global challenges. With more than 7,000 members, the Global Shapers Community spans 369 city-based hubs in 171 countries
June 2016 - June 2018
MANAGEMENT BOARD - ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS
Engineers Without Borders (also called IsF, Ingénieurs sans Frontières) is an international non-governmental organization focused on serving the needs of disadvantaged communities through engineering projects.
Our team is mainly devoted to lead international development projects in developing countries and promoting social awareness.
November 2014
MCKINSEY & COMPANY, PARTICIPANT BTO BUSINESS CASE, BERLIN (GERMANY)
Selected among 500 students from the Benelux region.
Topic: Fast-growing business technology
November 2014 - February 2015
FOUNDER AND MAIN ORGANIZER - TEDX VLERICK
Founder and main organizer of a TEDx event: “The science of new”, which drew 250+ attendees
I lead an incredible team for this exciting project
I served as the Chair of the board & the Toastmaster of the event.
October 2012 - October 2014
BOARD - BOARD OF EUROPEAN STUDENTS OF TECHNOLOGY
Official European Trainer, delivered in trainings about soft skills
International Corporate Relations, International Mgmt.
VP of Corporate Relations, Local Mgmt.
