Laís is a strategic operator and community builder with 15+ years of global experience. She excels at turning ideas into systems, leading teams through ambiguity, and scaling purpose-driven ventures across continents.

Areas of Expertise

  • Laís thrives in multi-market GTM planning, executing growth strategies at scale. With a track record of turning vision into action, she has hired and managed global teams through ambiguity, leading with clarity and care. She has repeatedly built new programs, platforms, and systems from the ground up—delivering operational results while navigating uncertainty with ease.

  • Laís excels at aligning product, ops, and go-to-market teams across silos. She has led global expansions across LATAM, APAC, and North America, forged public-private partnerships, and activated startup ecosystems worldwide. Whether managing multicultural teams or high-stakes rollouts, she thrives in ambiguity—bringing cohesion, clarity, and cultural fluency.

  • A recognized architect of communities and ecosystems, Laís brings deep expertise in engagement frameworks, lifecycle design, and peer-led systems. She turns ideas into movements through compelling stories, integrated strategies, and a clear sense of purpose. Her approach centers empathy, belonging, and real-world utility—transforming community from a buzzword into a business driver.

  • As a bilingual author and curriculum designer, Laís blends storytelling with strategic clarity. She has led brand voice development, content systems, and learning experiences that resonate deeply with both professionals and parents. Her narrative thinking transforms complex ideas into movements—fueling engagement and trust at every level.

  • With over a decade at the intersection of tech, education, and impact, Laís has led initiatives through MaGIC, Startup Genome, and On Deck. She is now focused on reimagining the future of work and care for families—researching infrastructure solutions for working parents, while contributing frameworks for more inclusive and human-centered innovation ecosystems.

Trusted by Teams, Leaders & Partners

Book a Consultation

Schedule a call with Laís de Oliveira to discover evidence-based approaches and human-centered strategies for driving sustainable growth, community-led engagement, and strategic clarity.

Let’s Work Together

Ways to Collaborate with Laís de Oliveira

Strategy Consulting & Mentoring

Sharp advice. Real progress.

  • One-on-one coaching for business and community founders, startup execs, and emerging leaders.

  • Fast and flexible guidance with immediate application.

  • Custom mentoring programs for upskilling community talent

Fractional & Executive Leadership

Your partner in getting it done.

  • Fractional Executive: Embedded partner to shape and guide community strategy

  • Executive Leadership: Full-time commitment from strategy design to hands-on execution

  • Project-Based Consulting: Strategic sprints with a clear endgame

Advisory & Speaking Engagements

Inspire your audience or team.

  • Keynotes on “Designing Communities That Drive Business Outcomes”; “Leading Through Ambiguity: Systems Thinking for Visionary Operators”; and more tailored options.

  • Panel moderation, emceeing, workshop facilitation, roundtables, and masterminds.

Highlighted Roles as Consultant, Executive Partner, Mentor & Speaker

Leadership Experiences

  • Head of Strategic Initiatives: Spearheaded the launch of Timeleft Campus, leading product development from idea to MVP.

    Head of North America: Managed the company’s largest and most successful region, managing a multi-million revenue portfolio. Expanded operations to 70+ U.S. cities, and led a team of eight people coordinating over 2,000 live venues.

    • Directed global strategies for community-led innovation and startup ecosystem development across 70+ cities.

    • Advised governments and civic partners in LATAM and APAC on using data-driven frameworks to foster entrepreneurial growth.

    • Partnered on national innovation strategies, contributing to public-private projects with lasting economic impact.

    • Designed and led the Community Builders Fellowship, a cohort-based program for global leaders from companies like Google, Reddit, and Duolingo.

    • Scaled the program from idea to global reach in under 12 months, combining peer-led curriculum, lifecycle engagement, and community operations.

    • Led regional growth across Africa, APAC, and Eastern Europe, launching 80+ chapters and onboarding over 100 community leaders.

    • Developed scalable onboarding and engagement systems that remain foundational to Startup Grind’s global community playbook.

Entrepreneurial Background

    • Founded 8Spaces, a B2B marketplace for real estate and flexible workspaces in Southeast Asia.

    • Scaled the platform through strategic partnerships and community-led marketing.

    • Successfully exited via acquisition by FlySpaces, where Laís served as Country Manager & Chief Community Officer, leading team expansion and growth operations

    • Works as a fractional executive, advisor, and consultant for education, wellness, and social impact platforms.

    • Built and implemented engagement frameworks that convert users into contributors and foster long-term retention.

    • Recent focus on care infrastructure, parenting-centered innovation, and community-led growth strategies.

Advisory & Public Speaking

  • Steered innovative initiatives to accelerate positive change toward the SDGs by mobilizing young talent in community leadership, problem-solving, and launching social and environmental solutions

  • Co-created and taught the first academic course on Community Marketing in Brazil at ESPM, the leading Brazilian university in Communication and Marketing.

    • Published two books: Hacking Communities and Reinventando Comunidades (Lisbon Press, 2024), offering actionable frameworks for designing human connection at scale.

    • Regular speaker and mentor for global programs focused on innovation, equity, and future of work.

Public Speaking Highlights:
Innovation Ecosystems Development & Community Strategy

In a Nutshell: Community Success, Tailored to Your Needs.

Seasoned Community Executive on a Flexible Basis. If community is key to your business success, I can help: from building a community team to devising a solid strategy to enhance their capacity and achieve your goals. Let’s work together.

Have a Specific Challenge?

Book a tailored session to walk away with concrete solutions and high-impact outputs.We can start anywhere. Choose one or more from the key working areas below and let’s build together.

  • Defining customer segments, value proposition and monetization with the 5Ps framework (People, Purpose, Programming, Platform and Participation)

  • Activating user participation is at the core of creating and delivering community value. Make it possible and sustainable by defining 1) how members can contribute to delivering your value proposition and 2) for how long will they do that.

  • Lay the foundations to engineer serendipity by designing consistent collisions that build trust. Use the Attract > Engage > Commit framework to create excuses to bring people together (regularly).

  • Define a data-driven organizational structure and communication systems to reward and reinforce user contribution, deepening people’s sense of ownership and commitment to your community. Learn more about Closeness Circles.

  • Identify the key players in your industry or ecosystem, who could either become a reference point for differentiation, or key partners in the process of growing your community and delivering value to its members.