Matteo Ressa
Verified Expert in Product Management
Product Manager
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Toptal member since June 14, 2022
Matteo is a corporate product leader with a startup mindset. With 20 years of experience in IT and digital product management, he is a serial digital entrepreneur who launched four startups. Matteo spent five years at Amazon as a technical product manager, leading global initiatives, three years in Vodafone as a digital product manager, and seven years in IT consulting. He holds two master of science degrees with full honors in information technology management and computer science.
Project Highlights
Expertise
- Agile
- Entrepreneurship
- IT Product Management
- Leadership
- Management
- Program Management
- Startups
- Team Management
Work Experience
Director of Product Management
Freelance
- Built and executed a 2-year roadmap for a travel-tech business. Conceived and developed the entire tech stack, scaling to support 150,000 customers and enabling a €10 million annual turnover. Hired and led a team of four software engineers and a UX designer.
- Conducted the entire market, SWOT, and competitor analysis for a leading digital PR agency based in the UK.
- Led business process analysis to implement workflows in a newly developed workflow management tool for a scaling startup based in Germany.
- Built an online presence (website, web orders, and web product configurator) for a logistics and warehouse firm based in Italy.
Founder and CEO
ChefPassport
- Led all phases of ChefPassport, a scaling startup connecting people and remote teams worldwide via online food experiences, from idea conception and validation to market research, and built and launched the B2B and B2C product lines.
- Hired and trained a global remote team of five while securing seed funding and growing the company to 150,000 revenue in the first year.
- Acquired more than 200 corporate clients, with returning customers from Google, Procter & Gamble, Amazon, and Boston Consulting, leading to an outreach of over 3,000 attendees across 300 events and a 4.91/5 average customer satisfaction rating/77 NPS.
- Developed a comprehensive go-to-market plan focusing on SEO, content, digital PR, social, organic/paid, and partner marketing, thereby scaling lead generation in a cost-effective manner and acquiring new customers.
- Built an integrated ecosystem of digital tools to support marketing, sales, customer support, client relationship management, internal collaboration, and financial and business operations, thereby increasing internal process quality and reducing costs.
- Created company vision, mission, values, and brand with guidelines and editorial, voice, and tone tool kits to ensure brand consistency both internally and externally while cultivating a distinct corporate culture.
- Nominated as Luxembourg's startup of the year in 2021 and listed as one of the 50 fastest-growing EMEA startups by the Silicon Valley-based business accelerator, the Founder Institute.
Product Manager
Wethrift
- Developed and implemented a Notion-based product roadmap framework within two weeks.
- Transformed the founder's vision into a structured, actionable plan.
- Scoped the company’s key digital transformation initiatives for the year, delivering clarity on priorities and aligning the product design and development teams for seamless execution.
Head of Product Management
Thrifty Traveler
- Recruited and developed a high-performing team of three engineers and one designer, shaping an efficient and collaborative team structure within two years to drive product development initiatives.
- Crafted and executed a strategic product roadmap that aligned with the company’s evolving needs while maintaining focus on long-term goals. Adapted priorities effectively, even managing increased complexity to meet business objectives.
- Championed the first implementation of AI technology, transforming ambitious concepts into actionable outcomes. This innovation streamlined technical challenges, increased operational efficiency, and created additional revenue streams for the company.
- Addressed cultural integration challenges by coaching a fully remote team across five countries, ensuring successful team alignment and fostering a collaborative environment.
- Managed relationships across business, product, design, and tech stakeholders, ensuring alignment and successful project execution through effective communication and relationship-building.
Product Manager
Aiphoria
- Expanded market focus by conducting market research to align Aiphoria.ai with high-growth industries, optimizing conversational AI use cases for healthcare, retail, and banking.
- Prioritized LATAM and MENA regions, identifying top-performing markets and tailoring solutions to regional needs.
- Refined product fit by defining top use cases in HR, customer service, and legal compliance to target high-SOM segments and drive adoption.
- Delivered competitor analysis, refining Aiphoria.ai’s pricing, channel, and operational strategies for differentiation.
- Used TAM, SAM, and SOM insights to recommend scalable growth opportunities.
Director and Mentor
The Founder Institute
- Helped hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs set up their digital companies as Director of the Founder Institute Luxembourg, the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator.
- Guided early-stage companies to create the foundational building blocks of their businesses, from creating compelling value propositions, refining business plans, and defining pricing strategy models to building VCs-ready pitch decks.
- Created a network of 200+ mentors made up of local entrepreneurs, investors, VCs, senior leaders, C-suite stakeholders, domain experts (marketing, eCommerce, compliance, etc.), and lawyers.
Technical Product Manager
Amazon.com
- Worked with stakeholders to define business strategy goals and product strategy roadmaps for various projects and programs.
- Created a business case and led a certification program for the first European third-party network of marketplace integrators, impacting 40,000 Amazon sellers and representing €11 billion in revenue.
- Used various agile methods (scrum, XP, Kanban, and lean) to fit the best product development process with unique business needs.
- Envisioned a new workplace management product for 3,000+ Amazon account managers, developed a roadmap and product backlog, and managed a 20+ tech team, ultimately improving operational efficiency by 3x and enabling a €150 million yearly turnover.
- Enhanced cross-cultural leadership skills by hiring, training, and leading a team of 12 engineers based in India and three product managers based in Spain, as well as onboarding an offshore Slovakian team of 15 for various projects and programs.
- Cultivated strong communication and interpersonal skills, regularly working with senior leadership, tech, UX/UI designers, marketing/sales, operation, finance, and legal teams, while directly supporting B2B clients' (Amazon seller) needs.
- Organized Internal Product Management Workshops across functions to create a culture of experimentation and innovation.
- Coached and led remote and in-person Agile tech teams helping to enhance product management, cross-cultural, and interpersonal skills.
- Envisioned and launched a new work management product for 3,000+ Amazon account managers (developed roadmap, product backlog, and all aspects of product delivery), improving operational efficiency threefold and enabling a €150 million yearly turnover.
- Implemented a partner certification program (wrote policies, technical docs, comms, and execution plan, etc.) for the first European third-party network of marketplace integrators, impacting 40,000 Amazon sellers, representing €11 billion in revenue.
Digital Project Manager
Vodafone Italia S.p.A
- Built the first digital invoice service with a budget of €1.5 million and managed 20 contractors using Oracle WebLogic Server and other project management tools.
- Enhanced a post-sales digital service and interactive catalog with a budget of €3.5 million while managing 40 contractors and gaining 32 million users across Italy.
- Launched a self-service customer cost control dashboard with a budget of €750,000 while managing ten contractors.
Senior IT Consultant
Reply
- Conducted quality planning, assurance, and control activities on Siebel, PeopleSoft, and Salesforce technologies at H3G and BMW.
- Managed a software user acceptance test for H3G and BMW.
- Built the first digital sales channels for Eni's gas and power self-care portal, a corporate mobile app.
- Conducted web demand management and led the project management office (PMO) working on Eni's digital initiatives.
- Supported a senior project management team in planning, implementing, monitoring, and controlling software project plans at Eni.
- Created a document management approval workflow for Eni.
Freelancer in Web Design and Development
Self-employed
- Worked as a freelancer during university and created websites for individuals and small companies.
- Fixed and repaired computers and hardware for individuals.
- Supervised security systems that automated factory gates.
Project History
ChefPassport
http://www.chefpassport.comGenerated revenue of €150 thousand in one year, grew the FTE team to five members, secured seed funding, and acquired 200 corporate customers.
ChefPassport organizes virtual food events and digital cooking workshops as team-building activities to keep remote employees engaged, motivated, and happy. We are revolutionizing online corporate entertainment through an international platform of dedicated professional chef instructors, providing an interactive culinary and cultural learning experience in real time. I envisaged, founded, and launched the company.
Freelance Work Across Industries
Diversified exposure to various product development and research activities across industries and markets.
• Created a wearable prototype for sentiment analysis in the music industry.
• Conducted the entire market, SWOT, and competitor analysis for a leading digital PR agency based in the UK.
• Led business process analysis to implement workflows in a newly developed workflow management tool for a scaling startup based in Germany.
• Built an online presence (website, web orders, web product configurator) for a logistics and warehouse firm based in Italy.
• Product-managed an app to create loyalty cards in the food industry across Europe.
• Launched a website allowing renting second-hand high fashion clothing in Italy.
• Developed a community of 3,000 users within a local social networking website.
• Realized a website for a leading firm in the cleaning services market.
• Implemented an app to pair users into chats and share travel experiences.
Winston | Operational Tool for Amazon Vendor Services
Launched a global tool for Amazon's internal use to support 3,000 account and vendor managers to better help vendors sell on the Amazon website.
Over three years, I collaborated with global stakeholders across the US, Europe, and Asia. I led the development of Winston, an operational tool used by Amazon vendor managers to track, analyze, and report their work to support the vendors in growing their business with Amazon.
Vodafone Online Accelerator Program
Launched a new private area of the Vodafone Italy website to provide interactive digital services to 32 million customers.
Over three years, I led initiatives to deliver a brand new fleet of digital services to help customers better manage their Vodafone subscription self-service by activating promotions, controlling costs, viewing traffic, and managing invoices.
Education
Master of Science Degree in ICT Management
University of Milan - Milan, Italy
Master of Science Degree in Computer Science
University of Milan - Milan, Italy
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science
University of Milan - Milan, Italy
Certifications
Graduate Founder
The Founder Institute
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Cefriel
Skills
Tools
HubSpot, Office 365, Jira, Canva, Google Docs, Google Analytics, Strategyzer, Mailchimp, Asana, InVision, Redmine, n8n, QuickBooks Online, Confluence, HP Quality Center (QC), Figma, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Trello, Git, Google Workspace
Paradigms
Agile, Scrum, Agile Workflow, Agile Product Management, Agile Project Management, User Testing, Requirements Analysis, Design Thinking, Data Product Management, Iterative Development, Marketplace Platforms, B2C, Agile Software Development, Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), Digital Marketing Best Practices, Iterative Design, Kanban, Low Code, Business to Business to Consumer (B2B2C), Key Performance Metrics, Model View Presenter (MVP), Gamification, Database Design, HIPAA Compliance
Platforms
Monday.com, Mixpanel, Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Industry Expertise
Automotive, Education Technology (Edtech), Marketplaces, Consumer Products, Music, Logistics, Banking & Finance, Product Ideation, Healthcare, Real Estate, Film & Television
Other
Entrepreneurship, Lean Startups, IT Product Management, Startups, Event Management, Stakeholder Management, Product Roadmaps, Product Vision, Technical Design, Solution Design, Technology, Software QA, Software Project Management, Business Analysis, IT Consulting, Web Programming, Web Project Management, Web Design, Web Development, Project Management, Team Building, Product Management, Excel Expert, CRM Systems, Mentorship, Wix, Product Owner, Scrum Master, Digital Marketing, Business Requirements Documentation (BRD), Digital Asset Management, Marketing Technology (MarTech), User Stories, Digital Campaigns, Metadata, Taxonomy, Data Collection, Feature Backlog Prioritization, Feature Prioritization, Mobile, Product Design, Roadmaps, Apps, SaaS, Quality Assurance (QA), Agile Sprints, Product Consultant, Product Strategy Consultant, Web & Mobile Applications, Video Streaming, Digital Production, Go-to-market Plans, Distributed Team Management, Product Frameworks, Scope Management, Digital Product Management, Product Ownership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Websites, eCommerce, Business Strategy, Digital Transformation, Business Transformation, Business Planning, Pitch Decks, Business Models, Process Improvement Project Management, Technology Consulting, IT Project Management, Business Process Analysis, User Research, Research, Feature Analysis, Market Research & Analysis, Data Analysis, API Integration, Product Analytics, User Surveys, Product Launch, Mobile Apps, User Interviews, Consulting, Beta Testing, User Requirements, Data Research, Research & Investigation, User Interface (UI), UX Design, Web App UX, User-generated Content (UGC), Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Digital Product Development, Digital Services, Feasibility Studies, Product Marketing, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Value Proposition, Business Cases, Product Strategy, Product Discovery, Customer Journey, Journey Mapping, Customer Experience, eCommerce UX, Feature Roadmaps, eCommerce UI, Software Requirements Specifications (SRS), Web App Development, Systems Analysis, System Requirements, IT Business Analysis, Solution Architecture, APIs, Invoicing, Business to Business (B2B), Feature Planning, SaaS Product Management, Marketing, Product Development, New Product Development, Workshops, Go-to-market (GTM) Strategy, Product Coach, SEO Tools, Web, Website Traffic, Google SEO, Analytics, Web Analytics, Website Audits, UI Design, Web Marketing, Data-driven Dashboards, B2B, Foodtech, Data Analytics, Dashboard Development, Grocery Delivery, Data Visualization, Vendor Selection, Price Negotiations, Community Growth, Digital Marketing Strategy, Social Media Marketing (SMM), Social Communication, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Timelines, Social Media Apps, Software Consulting, Project Timelines, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Use Cases, User Journeys, Customer Research, Customer Insights, Stakeholder Engagement, Continuous Improvement, Experimental Research, Project Delivery, Partnerships, Web Applications, Appointment Setting, Requirements, Payment Gateways, Checkout, Jobs to be Done (JTBD), User Feedback, Requirements & Specifications, Quantitative User Research, Software as a Service (SaaS), Validated User Research, UX Wireframes, Annotated Wireframes, Inventory Management Systems, Inventory Management, Project Scoping, Lead Generation, Marketing Automation, Marketing Analytics, SEO Marketing, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Business Model Canvas, Coaching, Innovation, Training, Value Proposition Design, Mentorship & Coaching, Training & Training Content Development, Innovation Workshops, Flow Diagrams, Technical Requirements, Technical Documentation, Stakeholder Interviews, Technical Writing, Documentation, Legacy Software, User Flows, Flowcharts, Stakeholder Analysis, Enterprise SaaS, Contract, Outsourcing, Lean Product Development, Design, Google Apps, Artificial Intelligence Product Manager, Marketing Mix, Agile CRM, Email Campaigns, Customer Interviews, Voice of the Customer (VoC), User Acceptance Testing (UAT), QA Leadership, Test Management, Mobile Applications, Project Planning, Market Research, Focus Groups, Community Management, Social Networks, Technical Product Management, Sprint Planning, Sprint Retrospectives, Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Enterprise Software, Engineering, Team Leadership, Content, Chatbots, Messaging, Product Delivery, Consumer Applications, User Engagement, Direct to Consumer (D2C), Funnel Analysis, Cross-functional Collaboration, Custom Solutions, Client Delivery Management, Google Tag Manager, Consumer Privacy, Mobile Marketing, Data Integration, REST APIs, Digital Solutions, Marketing Attribution, Social Media, Data-driven Marketing, Event Tracking, Conceptualization, Wireframing, Backlog Management, Competitor Analysis & Profiling, Project Management & Work Tracking Tools, Discovery Workshops, Project Reporting, Developer Relations, Monetization Models, User, Edtech Design, Digital Marketing Product Manager, Ad Campaigns, Content Creation, Subscriptions, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Agile Leadership, Dashboard Design, Product Operations, Reporting, Dashboards, Planning, B2B Lead Generation, Customer Acquisition, Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), UX Prototyping, Prototyping, Social Marketplaces, Early-stage Startups, Lean Product Manager, Market Fit, eCommerce Payments, B2B Partnerships, User Personas, SWOT Analysis, Online Payments, Digital Payments, Strategic Planning, New Business Development, Applications, A/B Testing, Business Plan Consulting, WordPress, Business Consulting, Content Marketing, Copywriting, Content Strategy, Manuals & Documentation, Helpdesk, Writing & Editing, ROI, Technical Project Management, Workflow Automation & System Integration, AI Product Management, Estimation & Planning, Financial Software, Product Research, Education, Market Entry, Pricing Strategy, Competitive Analysis, Notion, Web Content, Business Requirements, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Cost Estimation, Chief Product Officer (CPO), Profit Optimization, iOS, Mobile App Development, Platforms, Streaming, Estimations, Mobile Development, Videos, Fractional CTO, Financial Management, Category Management, Travel, Travel Product Manager, Product Requirements Documentation (PRD), AI Agents, Complex Problem Solving, Creative Problem Solving, Market Strategy and Research Product Manager, Root-cause Analysis (RCA), No-code Development, Payment APIs, Payment Networks, Impact Analysis, Project Estimation, User Workflows, Agentic Frameworks, MVP Design, Two-sided Marketplaces, Web Platforms, User Onboarding, Project Budget Management, AI Integration, Automation, Head of Product, Product Positioning, Launch Strategy, Product Demonstrations, Product Pages, Agentic AI, Workflow Automation, AI Product Strategy, ERP Systems, User Experience Design, Computer Science, Salesforce Sales Cloud, Fundraising, Team Management, Negotiation, Program Management, Partner Management, Startup Funding, Leadership, Vendor Management, Communication, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Dating Apps, Marketing Strategy, User Experience (UX), Salesforce, Educational Platform Design, Wearables, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Process Improvement, Channel Strategy, Fintech, Continuous Discovery, Python, Staffing, Brainstorming, Fintech Consultant, Finance, Brand Strategy, Rebranding, Branding, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Product Manager, Growth, Growth Marketing Product Manager, Product Growth, Growth Marketing, SQL, Call Centers, Revenue Strategy, Monetization, Cost Analysis, Capital Raising, Accounting Modernization, Financial Modeling, Business Development, Europe, Sales, Emerging Markets, Experimental Design, Over-the-top Content (OTT), Publishing, Media, News Media, Advertising Technology (Adtech), Information Security, Economics, Business, Android, Online Course Design, Smartsheet, Geolocation, Data Science, LangChain, Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-augmented Generation (RAG), Life Science, Field Service Management, Strategy, Web Technologies, Demand Management, Management, Algorithms, Programming, Java, Auditing, Trading, Virtual Reality (VR), ClickUp, Outlook, Employee Training, Redshift, UX Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Competition Research, Competitive Strategy
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