Author
July 14, 2023
I had a truly joyful discussion with the charismatic, funny and insightful Rafael Nóbrega, our newly appointed Chief of Product Staff. His energy is infectious and I’m sure I could have talked to him for hours about his exciting work at Digibee, your plans for the future and how you deliver high performance at work without giving up your personal life.
Why Digibee?
After a long career in the technology industry, starting in IT services and moving into product, Rafael was looking for a new challenge. Although initially hesitant about the Product Marketing position at Digibee, a recruiter encouraged him to apply, believing he had the ideal skill set and experience for the role.
Already intrigued by Digibee’s integration solution, Rafael reached out to his network and found a friend who was a satisfied Digibee customer who had advocated for the product to other CIOs. Rafael then connected with CTO and co-founder Peter Kreslins Jr. to discuss the opportunity. This conversation was crucial to his decision; it piqued his professional curiosity, confirmed that his skills and experience aligned with Digibee’s goals, ensured he was a cultural fit, and convinced him that the Digibee platform was worth believing in. After two years (and three different roles) at Digibee, Rafael is confident he made the right choice in joining the team.
Life at Digibee
Rafael has just taken on the new role of Chief of Staff. His goal is to support the needs of the product team to allow the CTO to focus his efforts on the strategic agenda. He is dedicated to overseeing each part of the product organization and understanding how the areas can connect more effectively to bring maximum value to Digibee.
The challenge, Rafael says, is figuring out which strategy will have the greatest impact. Digibee is a sophisticated organization that works across multiple geographies, with a variety of skills, a diverse workforce, and complex technology. Rafael brings value through the various roles he has held throughout his career in technology. He laughs that he is not an expert in any one area: “I have changed roles so many times that it has become my skill. I can connect the pieces and be a liaison because I understand all the smaller parts and how they connect to the bigger whole.”
Digibee offers a technical and social challenge to align organizationally. Rafael came armed with technical knowledge, but he also found enlightenment through research into human behavior. Additionally, incorporating therapy into his life has provided an incredible tool for self-understanding and strengthening his relationships with others. He believes that both have helped him gain valuable interpersonal strategies that contribute to making him a more effective manager and leader for his team.
The Future Ahead
Rafael is very excited about the future of Digibee and the chance to revolutionize the way the world does integration. He thrives in the fast-paced environment, embraces changing priorities, and even loves the uncertainty of the startup world, recognizing that all of these factors fuel innovation. Rafael said, “Digibee is different from its competitors, so there is no recipe, but there is also no limit to the impact we can make on the industry.”
Digibee is different from its competitors, so there is no revenue, but there is also no limit to the impact we can make on the industry.
Rafael believes that to bring about effective change now and in the future, the key will be to align vision, strategy and execution on a global scale. Like many of the “Digibees” I interviewed, Rafael believes that Digibee’s workforce is unique and exceptional. He is eager to support and contribute to the team’s continued growth. He is also keen to measure and evaluate each area of the organisation to ensure a balanced workload, effective performance and alignment with everyone’s individual professional goals and purpose.
Balancing Work and Life at Digibee
The ability to work remotely has been a significant blessing for Rafael in achieving a balance between high performance and his personal life. As a self-proclaimed “family guy,” he loves spending time with his wife and two daughters (ages 3 and 6). He appreciates how working from home has given him more time to truly connect with his family. Family trips, especially to the beach, hold a special place in his heart. Growing up near the beach, being close to the ocean allows Rafael to reconnect with nature and recharge.
Of course, like many parents, having young children means a change in priorities, and many of your hobbies are put on hold for a while. Rafael, being a beach lover, used to surf. He hopes that when his daughters are older, they will embark on the same (pun) with his hobby and he will come back to it.
Rafael has also been practicing meditation for the past four years. At first, he joked that he felt “too anxious to meditate,” but a friend encouraged him to start slowly. Although it took a while to develop a routine, practicing mediation has changed his energy, outlook, and life for the better. Rafael said that meditation “has taught me a skill that has transformed me into a new person. I can approach challenges in a completely different way. When I have a lot going on in my mind, meditation gives me the tools to process and deal with it.” It was truly fascinating and inspiring to discuss mediation with Rafael and hear how it has impacted and improved him both personally and professionally.
At Digibee, we have a team of truly incredible people working together to bring our innovative enterprise integration solution to the US and around the world. It was a pleasure to speak with one of our exceptional “Digibees,” Rafael, about his experiences at Digibee. Read on for our employee spotlight to learn more about this incredible team of people working to make Digibee’s mission possible.
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