About

Why EVOLVE Exists

Senior commerce operators are leaving traditional roles. But there’s nowhere for them to go that honors their experience and creates real opportunity.

EVOLVE exists to solve a structural gap. Today’s commerce leaders face fragmented markets, accelerating decisions without context, and teams getting younger. The operators who built global commerce — the ones with pattern recognition, market access, and real experience — are isolated.

We built EVOLVE to create a global, trust-dense environment where senior operators can:

Contribute their expertise without the overhead of traditional roles
Access real opportunities (board seats, advisory roles, strategic partnerships)
Build meaningful relationships with peers who understand the complexity of their work
Drive real outcomes through curated conversations and strategic influence

This is not a networking group. This is not a job board. This is a community designed around depth, relevance, and real outcomes.

The Founders

Built by Operators Who Understand the Problem

Carlos Monteiro

Founder & CEO

Carlos spent over 15 years in global commerce, building ecosystems and strategic partnerships across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. He spearheaded international expansion at VTEX, where he mapped markets, built partner programs for ISVs and consultants, and created the European Commerce Summit, the largest e-commerce event in Central and Eastern Europe.

His journey started in Denmark with no network and no connections. Through positioning, relationships, and visibility, he transformed himself into a trusted bridge between Brazilian commerce and European markets. That experience taught him a fundamental truth: the best outcomes in commerce come from the right people trusting each other enough to move fast together.

EVOLVE is built on that belief.

Key Experience

15+ years in global commerce operations and partnerships
Spearheaded international expansion at VTEX (2017–2019)
Built partner programs that added €10M+ in ARR
Founded EVOLVE Commerce Club (2021)
Advisor to 700+ senior operators across 50 markets

Gustavo Valle

Co-Founder & COO

Gustavo brings 10+ years of experience building global partnerships and ecosystems in commerce and fintech. At VTEX, he built the company’s first global payment agreements with Stripe and PayPal, developed partnership playbooks that increased contract values by 25%, and managed a portfolio generating approximately $3M in annual revenue.

Gustavo understands what it takes to move fast at scale. He knows that the best outcomes do not come from transactions. They come from the right people trusting each other enough to collaborate. That is why he co-founded EVOLVE: to create an infrastructure where senior operators can build those trust-based relationships and unlock real opportunities.

Key Experience

10+ years in global partnerships and ecosystem building
Built first global payment agreements at VTEX (Stripe, PayPal)
Developed partnership playbooks increasing contract value by 25%
Joined EVOLVE Commerce Club as Co-Founder (2024)
Connecting 700+ senior operators across 50 markets

Our Advisors

Guided by the Best in Global Commerce

EVOLVE is shaped by a group of senior advisors who bring real market access, pattern recognition, and strategic vision. They guide our direction and ensure we stay true to our mission: depth over scale.

Flávio Dias

Independent Board Member & Advisor

Flávio is an independent board member and advisor with deep expertise in innovation, digital transformation, and agile governance. He is the former CEO of three major retailers, Via Varejo, CNOVA, and Walmart.com, where he led 50,000+ people and participated in a 5x stock appreciation. Today, Flávio sits on boards at BMG, ClickBus, and other leading companies. He is also an angel investor in 40+ startups, including two unicorns.

Key Experience

Former CEO: Via Varejo, CNOVA, Walmart.com
Board Member: BMG, ClickBus, Riachuelo, Afya
Angel Investor in 40+ startups (2 unicorns)
Partner at 500 Startups
Endeavor Mentor

Stuart Thornton

Global Revenue Leader & Fractional Executive

Stuart is a global revenue leader with 25+ years in tech, fintech, and martech across the UK, Europe, Australia, and APAC. He has held senior commercial roles including CEO, CRO, GM, and VP Sales, and scaled revenue engines across multiple geographies and business models. Stuart has 3 startup exits, 4 M&As, and 12 years of advisor experience.

Key Experience

25+ years in tech with growth focus across UK, EMEA, and APAC
16+ years in commercial leadership (CEO, CRO, GM, VP Sales)
3 startup exits, 4 M&As
12 years as startup/scaleup advisor
3 years as commercial fractional executive

Renée Hartmann

Top Retail Expert & Strategic Advisor

Renée brings 25+ years of experience in the consumer brand and retail sector, advising startups and scale-ups on strategic growth, branding, marketing, go-to-market, and expansion. She is a best-selling author of ‘Next Generation Retail’ and hosts the ‘Commerce Beyond Borders’ podcast. Her global mindset is combined with practical experience as an entrepreneur, consultant, and board member across Asia, North America, and Europe.

Key Experience

25+ years in consumer brands and retail sector
Best-selling author on retail innovation and technology
Top Retail Expert by Rethink Retail (2026)
Host of “Commerce Beyond Borders” podcast
MBA from Duke University (Fuqua School of Business)
CFA Charterholder

Rafael Barini

NED & Strategic Advisor

Rafael brings 25+ years of experience leading digital transformation and technology strategy across global retail, marketplaces, SaaS, and food service. He has built and scaled digital operations for major global brands, creating new revenue streams, operational efficiency, and customer impact across multiple countries.

Key Experience

25+ years in digital transformation and technology leadership
VP Digital & Technology at Restaurant Brands International (global scope)
Founder & CEO of OmniK (Enterprise SaaS Marketplace platform in LATAM)
Built Brazil’s first large-scale retail marketplace (Cnova)
Launched multiple e-commerce operations for major companies
Specialist in AI, automation, and scalable digital platforms
Scaled teams from 0 to 200+ people

Our Impact

What We’ve Built in 24 Months

Senior Commerce Operators

Across 50 countries, building the largest global network of experienced leaders in commerce.

Active Markets

From São Paulo to London to Dubai to Singapore, EVOLVE chapters create local trust density with global reach.

Expert Sessions Delivered

Real conversations with real operators. Over 115 delivered in 2025, with more planned throughout 2026.

C-Level & Founders

Half of our community are C-level executives and founders, people with real decision-making power and market access.

What EVOLVE Is Built On

Our Principles

Depth Over Scale

We’re not trying to be the biggest. We’re building the most relevant. Every member is vetted. Every conversation matters. Every introduction is contextual. Quality compounds.

Trust Density

Trust is earned, not claimed. We prioritize contribution over entitlement. Members who participate, share, and help others rise faster in the community. Real relationships take time.

Real Outcomes

This isn’t about networking events and surface-level connections. EVOLVE exists to create real outcomes: board placements, advisory roles, strategic partnerships, and meaningful relationships that move business forward.

Our Vision

Where This Is Going

EVOLVE is building the global infrastructure for senior operators to thrive beyond traditional corporate roles. We’re creating a world where:

Experience is valued over title inflation
Real conversations replace industry theater
Operators drive real outcomes through curated influence and strategic relationships
Global context informs local decisions
Trust compounds over time, creating lasting value

In 2026 and beyond, EVOLVE will be the place senior commerce leaders turn to when decisions get complex.

Ready to Join?

Whether you’re a senior operator in transition, an advisor building your practice, a founder seeking strategic guidance, or a company looking to access senior expertise — EVOLVE is designed for you.

Apply for Boardroom Partner with EVOLVE