Time to EVOLVE

Welcome to the Ecosystem Economy. Welcome to EVOLVE.

EVOLVE is a way of life.

From the start, I knew we had to be global, senior, and cross-functional.

Why? Because commerce is complex, it demands time, resilience, and deep expertise across multiple domains.

I built my career more as a connector—business development, PR, and community-building—within the commerce space. It wasn’t by design but necessity.

Moving to Denmark in 2013, I had to carve my own path.

In doing so, I discovered my love for technology, people, and markets.

My understanding of retail and D2C?

That comes from family.

I grew up in an entrepreneurial household.

My parents built a fashion business, from manufacturing to retail. I watched my father scale his company, only to face the brutal impact of open trade with China. The influx of low-cost imports forced our business—and many others—to rethink their entire model.

Commerce isn’t just business.

It’s survival, adaptation, and reinvention.

I saw this firsthand when I worked at the Danish Consulate, bridging trade between Brazil and Denmark.

Then, when I moved to Denmark for family reasons, I found myself enabling vendors and buyers across international markets. The common thread? Relationships.

The Pattern That Led to EVOLVE

For years, I helped commerce vendors expand globally, always using the same playbook:

1. Map the right voices in specific markets

2. Build relationships.

3. Create content that opens doors.

4. Turn insights into opportunities.

5. Ask for referrals

6. Rinse and repeat the process above

Here’s how this playbook helped VTEX break into Romania

Success didn’t come from me alone.

It happened through people.

Senior professionals who introduced me to their networks, who shaped industries, but who often had nowhere to connect on a peer level.

That’s when the idea for EVOLVE took shape.

A global community where senior leaders could build meaningful connections, share knowledge, and create real business opportunities.

In January 2024, I made it official.

No roadmap—just a commitment to make it happen.

A Community Built for the Future

Today, EVOLVE spans 42 nationalities ( and counting), bringing together top-tier commerce professionals with a collaborative mindset.

Why?
Because the world is changing
Fast.

Here is some food for thought…

Median Age by Continent (Pew Research Center):

• Europe: 42 years

• North America: 35 years

• Oceania: 33 years

• Asia / South America: 31 years

• Africa: 18 years

The workforce is aging. The world is shifting.

Powerful forces are reshaping industries, new players are emerging, and a different reality is unfolding before our eyes. Sitting where we sit, building what we’re building—it’s a privilege.

As professionals, we need to see beyond.

AI is redefining work. Y Combinator is funding startups that automate six-figure jobs. The landscape is changing fast, and navigating it alone is a losing game. The real advantage? Being part of a collective that sharpens your thinking and connects you with those driving the change.

That’s why EVOLVE isn’t just a network—it’s an ecosystem.

What We Do at EVOLVE Commerce Club

We connect senior professionals who value meaningful relationships and long-term growth.

Companies across B2B, D2C, B2C, and tech turn to us when they need expert advisors, strategic partnerships, and real business opportunities.

By curating the right talent and fostering the right connections, we don’t just build networks—we accelerate business.

Want to join the #private

What to Expect From This Newsletter

• Community Highlights – Key discussions, member wins, and insights.

• Opinion Column – Perspectives from our senior members.

• Upcoming Events – What’s happening next.

Want to Join the #1 Private & Global Community For Senior Commerce Pros?

1 Year hosting expert sessions - Learnings

When I started the sessions, I did not have an exact formula to run what we call today “expert sessions”. It took us quite some testing to get to the format where we are today.

Our first session we held with Ron Thurston sharing his insights from NRF in 2024

Refining the EVOLVE Sessions

When we first started, the format was still taking shape—and, naturally, the first sessions were a bit chaotic.

We ran them for over two hours.
We let everyone introduce themselves.
It didn’t work.

Put 50 people in a room, give them 30 seconds each, add a speaker’s presentation… you do the math.

So, we changed it. Today, our sessions are tight, structured, and to the point:

✅ 10 minutes – Focused networking for members
✅ 30 minutes – In-depth interview with the expert of the week
✅ 30 minutes – Interactive Q&A with the expert

The goal? Create value. Elevate experts. Build real relationships.

Since launching, we’ve hosted:
✅ 51 expert sessions
✅ 2 roundtables
✅ 4 meetups (EVOLVE Expeditions) worldwide
… and 2025 is already shaping up to be even bigger.

Our Content Products

Expert Sessions → These are live, interactive discussions with senior professionals sharing deep insights on specific commerce topics. These are exclusive, real-time opportunities for members to engage directly with industry leaders.

EVOLVE Voices → Curated interviews featuring diverse perspectives from top professionals, focusing on industry trends, leadership, and personal career journeys. Voices brings thought-provoking content to a broader audience.

Every week, we release at least one episode with incredible individuals from

- APAC
- Middle East
- North America
- Brazil ( starting in April of 2025)

Key Topics We Cover

Our discussions across EVOLVE Voices and Expert Sessions revolve around:

1. Markets → Global commerce trends, emerging economies, and industry shifts.

2. Entrepreneurship → Scaling, funding, and navigating challenges in digital commerce.

3. Career Design → Leadership, career transitions, and high-performance teams.

4. Technology & AI → Innovations shaping commerce and how businesses adapt.

5. Community & Relationships → The power of networks in driving business growth.
   

Request your application to become an EVOLVE Member today

Events Recap & Community Highlights

March Events Recap: 

In this expert session, Nikolay explores the evolution of convenience retail in the Gulf, from traditional stores to modern formats. He discusses non-fuel retail, buying power differences, and the balance between real estate and retail. The session highlights Saudi Arabia’s shift in convenience, the impact of EVs, technology’s role in customer loyalty, and the importance of product assortment and brand collaborations in driving sales.

In this expert session, Marva Khalaf, CEO of Rubicon BPE, explores the evolving commerce landscape in Egypt, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for SMEs. She shares insights on digital transformation, AI adoption, and the role of family businesses in a shifting market. The conversation sheds light on Egypt’s fast-growing digital economy, the impact of social media, and generational shifts in consumer behavior. With the Middle East emerging as a key hub for innovation, Egypt presents unique opportunities for businesses looking to expand and adapt in a rapidly changing environment.

In this expert session, Michaela Eigelsreiter unpacks Microsoft Advertising’s strategic edge and its rapid growth in MENA. She explores Bing’s role in user journeys, LinkedIn’s untapped potential, and the unique opportunities within Microsoft’s ecosystem. With the Middle East’s digital landscape evolving fast, Microsoft is positioning itself as a key player, offering brands new ways to engage and grow.

EVOLVER’s around the World: 

Our community thrives globally, with members connecting in person across different markets.

Recently, Edilsa, our EVOLVE VOICE and USA ambassador, met with several members at Shoptalk, strengthening our network and fostering new opportunities.

Our Members have also organized an event in Lisbon, Portugal, shout out to Diego, Marlene and Flavio for making it happen!

Partnership Announcement

New Partnerships & Collaborations: 

We welcomed ARC Pulse as a new EVOLVE Partner, This means benefits for our exclusive members and a strong collaboration with this very cool Dutch Brand that creates a minimalistic phone case whilst valuing design

Upcoming Events & Engagements

Upcoming EXPERT SESSIONS - April

• Guilherme Amaral- Head digital Trasnformation Agthia Group 3/04

• Celine Gergess - CMO - Cenomi Retail

• Justin Whittle - Head of Creators, Twitch

• Luke Hilton - VP Sales Engineering Marketplacer 24/04

EVOLVE Panel at DGT LX
We will be at DGT Oeiras, Portugal, moderating a panel on the 22nd of April

Carlos Monteiro will be moderating a conversation between
 
Renee Hartmann Commerce & Omnichannel Expert | Web3 & Consumer Trends Strategist
Diego Borgo Web3 & AI Strategist | Top Voice in Emerging Tech & Digital Culture

Commerce in the Age of AI & Web3: Navigating the Next Digital Evolution

This panel will explore how Web3, AI agents, and decentralized technologies are reshaping commerce, consumer engagement, and brand strategies. From tokenized loyalty programs to AI-driven personalization and decentralized retail models, the discussion will provide insights into the opportunities and challenges businesses face in this rapidly evolving landscape

If you are in the area, here is more information about this event

https://dgtinnovation.com/lx/

Time to EVOLVE

Keep the conversation going in our WhatsApp group and exclusive Mighty Networks community—that’s where real connections happen.

Make sure to follow our newsletter, where we highlight what’s shaping our club. In the coming months, we’ll be announcing new partnerships, events, meetups, and the opportunities our members are creating together.

Interested in partnering with EVOLVE? Reach out at [email protected] or [email protected].

We don’t need more content—we need better ways to connect humans.

The future is bright. Let’s build it together.

#EVOLVE

Want to Join the #1 Private & Global Community For Senior Commerce Pros?

Request your application here