Who We Are

Two Experts. One Mission.

We built You Excel because we've lived the challenges technology professionals face — and we know what it takes to move through them with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Our Mission

Empowering Technology Leaders

Technology is one of the most demanding and rewarding fields to build a career in. The pace is relentless, the expectations are high, and the path from individual contributor to leader is rarely straightforward. Too many talented professionals plateau not because of a lack of skill, but because of a lack of the right support at the right moment.

You Excel exists to change that. We combine deep technical leadership experience with evidence-based professional coaching to give technology professionals the clarity, tools, and confidence they need to take their next bold step — whether that's stepping into management, navigating a complex organisational challenge, or defining what their best career looks like.

The Team

Meet the Experts

Rui Carvalho

Software Engineering Manager & Author

Rui Carvalho is a seasoned Software Engineering Manager with over two decades of experience building, scaling, and leading high-performing engineering teams across Europe. He has navigated every stage of the engineering leadership journey — from individual contributor to senior engineering manager — and brings that hard-won experience directly to his coaching and consulting work.

Rui is the author of the acclaimed Leadership & Management in IT series, a 4-volume collection that distils his real-world experience into practical frameworks for modern engineering leaders. The series covers the full arc of engineering management: from the fundamentals of day-to-day team leadership to the strategic thinking required at the executive level.

20+ years in software engineering and engineering management
Author of the 4-volume Leadership & Management in IT series
Specialist in engineering team building and scaling
Expert in IC-to-EM transitions and engineering leadership development
Founder of the EM Clinic — focused sessions for engineering managers

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Ana Lopes is a certified professional coach specialising in career management, personal growth, and leadership development. With a background that spans technology organisations and coaching practice, Ana brings a rare combination of industry insight and coaching expertise to her work with technology professionals.

Ana is the author of 'What Is Your Best Version?' — a practical, deeply personal guide to career management and self-development that has helped professionals across industries define what they truly want from their careers and build a deliberate path to get there. Her coaching approach is grounded in empathy, evidence, and a genuine belief in each client's potential.

Certified professional coach (ICF-aligned methodology)
Author of 'What Is Your Best Version?'
Specialist in career transitions and career management
Expert in confidence building and executive presence
Experienced in coaching technology professionals at all career stages

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Ana Lopes

Professional Coach & Author

What We Stand For

The Principles Behind Our Practice

Honesty over comfort

We tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Real growth starts with an honest assessment of where you are.

Experience over theory

Everything we teach and coach is grounded in real-world practice. We've been in the rooms, made the decisions, and learned from the outcomes.

Progress over perfection

We help you take the next step, not wait for the perfect moment. Momentum matters more than a flawless plan.

Partnership over prescription

We work with you, not at you. Your goals, your context, your career — we're here to support your journey, not impose our own.

Ready to Work Together?

Whether you're looking for one-to-one coaching, engineering management support, or a discovery conversation to explore what's possible — we'd love to hear from you.

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