Alumni Stories: A Conversation with Guilherme Bernardo

In this edition of Alumni Stories, we reconnect with Guilherme Bernardo, who joined us as an intern back in 2019 and grew into a Full Stack Developer over his five years with the company. From his first day out of university to the major projects, friendships and moments that shaped his path, Guilherme reflects on the experiences that marked his journey. Let’s dive in.

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1. Let’s rewind to the beginning. What made you join Focus BC, and what’s the first memory that really stuck with you?

My journey at Focus BC started in 2019 with an internship. It was my very first job, and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I immediately felt welcomed. Everyone was incredibly friendly and offered help from day one.

I remember feeling like “the kid” in the group. Everyone else had more experience, and I had just stepped out of university, but that actually made the integration easier. On my first day I met the team, set up my computer, got my access, and everything felt calm and supportive.

What I remember most is how we ended that first day, outside on the patio having a beer with Sandro Batista (Managing Partner) and Mário Sobral (Technical Manager). That moment made me feel at home and showed me the family spirit that Focus BC is known for.

2. Describe your five years at Focus BC. How did your role and responsibilities evolve over time? 

I finished my last university exam on a Thursday, and the following Monday I was already starting at Focus BC. Looking back, it was a funny transition with no break at all.

I joined as a Junior, and my first project was a POC with Mário Sobral for a Swedish company in the e-scooter business. This was before the pandemic, when scooters were appearing all over Europe. The goal was to optimize collection routes to make the process more efficient. It was an exciting way to begin.

After a few months, I moved to the EMEL project. At the time, João Franco and the rest of the team were involved. That period lasted almost a year, working closely with Nuno Gil, and João Franco.

Then the pandemic hit and everything changed. For me there is a clear before and after. Before, we had daily contact, lunches and dinners together, all the social moments. Everything became remote, which was a big shift.

After EMEL, I joined the UEFA project. I wasn’t part of the initial team that worked on the SVR (Site Visit Reporting), but later on I worked on Asset Management, the Manager and then the Portal. Around that period I also completed the Google Professional Cloud Architect certification, which supported my growth.

Over those five years, I went from someone completely new to the professional world to someone others came to for help. Hearing questions like “How do I do this?” or “How does this work?” meant a lot. Making that transition was meaningful and I grew enormously, both professionally and personally.

3. What’s one moment at Focus BC that still makes you feel proud when you think about it?

One moment that made me incredibly proud, even though I wasn’t directly involved at the time, was during the UEFA Champions League final in 2020. The final was meant to be in Turkey, but because of the pandemic, everything had to be redesigned and relocated to Lisbon.

It was the early version of what would later become Virtual Venue that allowed the entire event to be restructured quickly and coordinated successfully. Seeing the company achieve something so complex under such pressure made me proud to be part of Focus BC, even though I joined that project later on. It was a defining moment for the company.

4. Was there a specific person or project that shaped your path in a way you didn’t expect?

There was definitely someone who made a big impact on me, and that was Bruno Malveiro.

When I moved to the UEFA project, we began working closely, and we connected immediately. We always worked extremely well as a team. I learned a lot from him, not only technically but especially in communication, understanding people and developing soft skills.

Bruno has an incredible ability to take a very complex problem and break it into simple, manageable parts. Watching how he worked taught me a lot about structuring tasks and guiding others. We became very close friends, and I’m certain that thanks to him I became a much better professional. He truly shaped my time at Focus BC.

Alumni Guilherme Bernardo with Bruno Malveiro, Technical Team Leader

“Guilherme was probably the first team member in whom I truly saw myself. It was fascinating to watch him go through challenges I had faced before. I understood him. In some way, I feel I helped shape his journey and that was incredibly rewarding. I still really miss working with him. We always had open and honest conversations about the company, the projects, even our own limitations. And that meant a lot even in moments when we didn’t see eye to eye.” Bruno Malveiro, Technical Team Leader

5. What’s one thing Focus BC taught you about how to work, whether in a team, on a project, or as a professional?

One of the most important lessons I learned is that everyone makes mistakes and that it is completely normal. People should feel free to ask questions, even the ones that seem obvious. I remember Mário Sobral encouraging this constantly. Many people hesitate because they worry about how others will see them, but asking questions is how you learn and how teams grow together.

I also learned that teamwork means responsibility is shared. When something goes wrong, it usually reflects a gap in communication, planning or support. It is rarely one person’s fault. It means the team needs to realign and improve the way they work together.

Keeping communication open, asking questions, accepting mistakes and finding better ways to move forward is one of the biggest lessons I took from Focus BC.

Team Focus BC at the Kick-off 2022

6. You’re now working as a freelancer. What did Focus BC teach you that you still use in your work today?

At the moment I work on my own, and I really miss having a team. These days when I have questions, I ask AI, but it’s not the same as turning to someone beside you.

Focus BC helped me grow to a point where I felt confident becoming autonomous. Freelancing is not easy. Besides the work itself, you have to manage responsibilities, invoices, clients, relationships, finances and even a bit of marketing. You end up doing a little bit of everything.

Focus BC gave me the foundation to handle that. I am currently building two applications, and

the one I’m most focused on right now is Dress It. It originally started as a product for end

customers, but I’ve been reshaping it for brands and businesses. Dress It is an AI-powered

platform that helps fashion brands generate product imagery using virtual models.

Feel free to check it out here: https://www.dress-it.com.

The journey of building these applications has been full of challenges. I thought it would be

much simpler, but I’m not regretful. If you truly want something, you can achieve it, but you need an open mindset and be ready to fail, learn, share knowledge, get certifications, watch videos and keep improving.

If I hadn’t joined Focus BC, I probably wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today. And I genuinely

enjoy the work I’m doing.

You can also follow Guilherme’s work and updates here: https://x.com/guidelamego

7. If you had the whole Focus BC team in front of you right now, what would you want to say to them?

I would say that I loved working here, and if I could do it all again, I would follow the same path. Everything contributed to my growth. I made great friends, and it always feels good to come back and see that everyone remembers me and welcomes me. I had many great moments at Focus BC, and I want the team to know that I truly appreciate them and that they should keep being as incredible as they have always been.

Bonus Question: A Memory to Remember

One of my favourite memories was the company kick-off in Montargil, in 2020. There was a mix-up with the hotel, and instead of regular rooms, they placed us in small villas. Each villa was like a mini house with its own pool and bedrooms. It actually made everything even better because we all felt much more at ease and relaxed.

We ended up gathering in the biggest villa, talking, laughing and just enjoying the evening together. It was during that night that I decided I wanted to get my Google Professional Cloud Architect certification. Moments like that really brought people together and strengthened our relationships.

Want to keep exploring the journeys of our former colleagues? Catch up on our Alumni Story with Rita Martins.