I help executives, founders, and senior leaders gain clarity, strengthen executive presence, and lead with confidence under pressure. My coaching helps you make better decisions, build resilience, improve communication, align your team, and turn leadership challenges into disciplined action. As a credentialed executive leadership coach, doctoral candidate in Executive Coaching, and author of an Executive Coaching workbook, I bring a structured process that helps you leave each session with clearer thinking, stronger accountability, and measurable progress. I work with leaders who carry significant responsibility and want a trusted coaching partner who understands leadership, strategy, performance, and execution. My coaching style is structured, direct, and outcome-focused. Together, we clarify your goals, examine the leadership patterns affecting your results, and create practical steps you can apply immediately. I bring the coaching discipline of an ICF credentialed coach, the operational judgment of a senior military leader, and the strategic execution experience of someone who has helped founders and organizations turn ideas into funded, executable plans. Clients work with me to strengthen: + Executive decision-making + Leadership confidence + Executive presence + Resilience in demanding roles + Team communication + Strategic clarity + Founder leadership + Accountability and follow-through + Performance conversations + Leadership transitions My process begins with a focused consultation to understand your goals, leadership context, and desired outcomes. From there, we define measurable objectives, conduct structured coaching sessions, identify opportunities for growth, and convert insight into action. Each session gives you space to think clearly, examine challenges from new angles, and leave with practical next steps. In addition to executive coaching, I bring more than 20 years of leadership experience across military operations, business strategy, startup development, and organizational execution. I have developed more than 200 business plans and helped clients secure more than $3 million in funding and contracts. This experience allows me to coach leaders with the insight of a certified coach and the discipline of an executive strategist. If you are ready to lead with greater clarity, confidence, resilience, and discipline, I would be glad to help you move your leadership and organization forward. Best, Ryan Powell, DBA-C, MBA-ITM, ACC Certified Executive Leadership Coach

I help founders and small business owners tell their story compellingly and get it funded. Most consultants do one or the other. I do both — and the combination is what makes the difference between work that goes nowhere and a funded deal that moves your business forward. What I bring that most freelancers can't: I've been the banker. I was a C-suite banker and led one of the top SBA lending operations in my state, which means I know exactly how underwriters think, what kills a deal before it starts, and how to position your business for approval. I've also been the founder — three times — and led due diligence for one of the largest angel syndicates in the US. I currently led the GTM strategies for a $12B company. I know what investors and lenders want to see because I've been on both sides of the table. Today I run Parabolic, a capital and go-to-market advisory practice helping businesses access debt and equity capital and launch market dominating products through top-notch GTM strategies. What I deliver: Documentation - Lender-ready business plans built around how banks actually underwrite - Investor pitch decks that lead with what capital allocators care about - SBA loan packaging and deal structuring for 7(a) and 504 programs - Financial projections that hold up under scrutiny - Executive summaries and investor memorandums for equity raises - Go-to-Market audits and actionable playbooks Capital Advisory - SBA 7(a) and 504 deal origination and placement - Commercial loan brokering and lender matching - Equity raise strategy and investor positioning for growth-stage founders - Debt structuring and lender negotiation - I have a network of over 200+ investors and lenders GTM Advisory - Market sizing and segmentation (TAM/SAM/SOM analysis) - Ideal customer profile (ICP) definition and buyer persona development - Competitive landscape mapping and differentiation strategy - Product-market fit validation and messaging frameworks - Pricing and packaging strategy Who I work with: Small business owners who need SBA financing. Founders preparing for a debt or equity capital raise. Growth-stage businesses that need someone who has done this before, not someone figuring it out alongside them. Why clients come back: I work fast, I think at the executive level, and I don't pad engagements. You get the thinking you need, documentation that performs, and where relevant, the capital relationship that closes the deal. If you are looking to grow, need a funded business, and not just a finished document — let's talk.

Hello! I'm Ahmed Ashraf, a highly accomplished MBA graduate from McGill University, with an expansive background in Strategy & Management Consulting, Project Management, Business Planning, and Business Continuity & Resiliency. As a Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) from DRII, I am well-equipped with best practices in business resiliency, emergency management, and continuity planning. Though I may be new to Upwork, I bring extensive real-world expertise that enables me to deliver impactful, customized solutions to help organizations achieve their goals and drive sustainable growth. By partnering with me, you'll benefit from: Expertise in Business Continuity & Resiliency: Drawing from my CBCP certification and extensive experience, I can provide your organization with comprehensive strategies to ensure operational continuity in the face of uncertainties, crises, or disruptions. Proficiency in Strategy & Management Consulting: My diverse industry experience allows me to address complex business challenges effectively. I provide strategic recommendations grounded in comprehensive research, thorough analysis, and a deep understanding of market trends. Stellar Project Management: Well-versed in agile and traditional methodologies, I have a proven track record of successfully leading teams to complete projects within scope, time, and budget constraints. My outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills ensure smooth collaboration throughout the project lifecycle. In-depth Business Planning: I excel at crafting tailored, research-driven business plans that align with your organization's goals. Whether you're launching a new venture or expanding your existing business, I'll develop a strategic roadmap to fuel growth and support long-term success. When you work with me, you can expect: A committed partner who takes the time to understand your unique needs and objectives. Timely delivery of top-notch work that meets or exceeds your expectations. A forward-thinking approach that leverages data and industry insights for informed decision-making. A strong focus on building lasting relationships and delivering exceptional value. I'm eager to bring my multifaceted expertise and passion for helping businesses succeed to the Upwork platform. I invite you to reach out and discuss your project requirements so we can create a winning strategy together. Best regards, Ahmed Ashraf

I help entrepreneurs, small-mid businesses, and startups turn ideas into launch-ready business strategies, clear action plans, and high-converting digital marketing systems. Under MidBizz Business Solutions, I blend two strengths clients rarely get in one partner: 1) Strategic business planning and 2) Real marketing execution that drives awareness, leads, and revenue. What I specialize in: • Business plans that are investor-ready, data-backed, and operationally realistic • Go-to-market (GTM) strategies for new services, restaurants, agencies, digital products, and startups • Brand development: positioning, messaging, competitive analysis, and visual identity • Digital marketing systems: funnels, lead generation strategy, content plans, and campaign direction • 30-60-90 day launch plans & execution roadmaps My approach is simple and effective: 1. Diagnose – Understand your business model, audience, competitive space, and opportunities 2. Strategize – Build a plan that connects your offer, brand, pricing, and growth targets 3. Execute – Develop the assets, messaging, and marketing strategy needed to launch or scale 4. Optimize – Identify what to measure and how to improve outcomes over time Clients come to me when they: • Need a business plan that isn’t just a template • Want a clear roadmap to launch a new concept or refine an existing one • Need a stronger digital presence that actually converts • Want a strategist who can also help produce the branding, marketing assets, and messaging Tools I use: Adobe Creative Cloud • Canva Pro • Google Workspace • Excel/Sheets • Notion • HubSpot • Meta Ads Manager • SEO/Keyword tools If you want a strategist who can build the vision and the system to support it, let’s talk. Send me a message or invite me to your project — I’ll review your goals and outline how I can help.

SUMMARY Overview: As a marketing leader, I have a track record of growing and defending annual revenue up to and beyond $100M using 80% less budget and 90% fewer staff than the competition. As a business consultant and client company-builder, I’ve helped startups avoid mistakes that would have cost them years to repair, I’ve assembled teams from my network, shaving months to years off timelines, I’ve grown corporate value by $20M, I’ve supported strategic decisions to achieve 10x growth, and I’ve transformed pitches into effective fundraising tools. Below are more details about my work. Marketing leader: Described by my clients as a rare find on Upwork -- a valuable combination of top talent with startup affordability. Executive with deep functional knowledge and business acumen who consistently delivers results on time and on budget even under challenging circumstances. Experience creating new markets for disruptive and regulated products. Strategic thinker with big-picture vision to propel business forward as well as leadership and organizational skills to plan market entry and growth effectively and ensure successful execution. Fast learner skilled at team building, influencing without authority, problem-solving, facilitating collaboration, and communicating. Driven to transform healthcare. Healthcare company-builder: Self-starter executive with strategic vision, leadership, comfort with ambiguity, communication skills, and process-orientation to turn scientific assets into higher-valued, operationally-disciplined, financing-ready biotech companies. Built corporate infrastructure from zero, assembled teams and contracts, transitioned data, and accelerated timelines. As Chief of staff, coordinated-goal setting across 5 business units and 16 functions for $2B division of large, matrixed organization and drove portfolio-level visibility for strategic projects. Implemented senior leadership team governance, drove decision-making clarity, and tracked execution against obligations and milestones. From pre-clinical to preparation for commercial launch, aligned over $100M+ in investment timing with value-inflection milestones. At smaller companies, established program management frameworks, including integrated dashboards for milestone, timeline, budget, and risk visibility. Oversaw IP protection, regulatory strategy and target product profile development, and stability and pK/tox study design. Structured external contracts and internal projects, shepherding both through adversity to over-deliver. Spotlight Accomplishments: * Successfully drove and defended annual revenue up to and beyond $100M using 80% less budget and 90% less staff than the closest competitor, securing the top 3 position by market share in the target segment. * Aligned key priorities for next fiscal year across 5 business units and 16 functions to better support division strategy. * Improved core value survey responses to "smart risk-taking" metric in Japan region by 46% with "Thriving Culture" program. * Successfully launched more than 15 products, including world's smallest heart pump and oncology clinical trial design software. * Won national award for sophisticated financial model. * Secured startup funding for new venture. Experienced marketing professional: * Research: Focus groups, in-depth interviews, surveys, secondary research and analysis * Strategy: Market assessment and selection, segmentation, targeting, positioning, pricing, promotion, go-to-market planning * Tactics: Thought leadership, awareness, consideration, demand generation, lead generation, sales enablement, funnel acceleration, customer retention Insightful management consultant: * Market sizing and attractiveness assessment * Team design, assembly, and leadership * Goal and KPI design * Portfolio optimization Business Development and Fundraising Support: informing strategy and operational design to optimize fundraising and partnering success then documenting this with: * Business plans * Pitch decks * Go-to-market plans * Financial models and use of funds * Organizational design * Licensing decks Designing and executing prospective partner outreach and meeting arrangement

I help founders, investors, and corporate teams make faster, better capital and strategy decisions through institutional-grade financial modeling, valuation, and strategic analysis. As a former Big 4 consultant at Deloitte and PwC, with an MBA and an Engineering degree, I bring a rare combination of finance, strategy, and technical rigor. I have supported engagements that helped clients raise over $500M in capital, delivering models and analyses used in real investment and board-level decisions. 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 Financial Modeling & Forecasting Integrated 3-statement models, budgeting, long-term planning, scenario and sensitivity analysis. Valuation & Transaction Analysis DCF, comparable companies, precedent transactions, LBO modeling, M&A support, and due diligence. Financial Planning & Performance FP&A, cash flow planning, performance tracking, and investor reporting. Fundraising & Investor Materials Pitch decks, investment memorandums, and financial narratives for capital raising. Strategy & Business Analysis Market research, business planning, competitive benchmarking, and growth strategy. Sector-Specific Modeling SaaS metrics (CAC, LTV, churn), energy and infrastructure, real estate models, and project finance. 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 Fundraising preparation, investor reporting, acquisition analysis, budgeting and long-term planning, business case development, and turnaround or restructuring situations. I design every deliverable for decision-making clarity, with clean, audit-ready models, transparent assumptions, and built-in flexibility for scenario and sensitivity analysis. My work is structured to be used directly by founders, investors, and senior management. Experience spans AI and SaaS, energy and infrastructure, real estate, fintech, manufacturing, retail, public markets, and Web3. Tools and technical stack include advanced Microsoft Excel, VBA automation, financial forecasting systems, and cap table modeling. Top Rated and Expert-Vetted on Upwork, with consistent client feedback highlighting analytical depth, speed, and reliability. 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸: 🗨️ “Exceptional as always, this is my 5th or 6th project with Gabriel and each one has been a smooth and efficient process with no delays. Have already engaged with him for another contract.” 𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 🗨️ “Gabriel is extremely professional and completed the financial model on time. In addition to producing an excellent finished product he gives great advice, implementing things that we didn't think of.” 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗔𝗷𝗮𝘆𝗶 🗨️ “I can't wait to work with him again! He's a highly skilled and multi-faceted collaborator who's determined to help you cross the finish line.” 𝗗𝗶𝘅𝗶𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻

Top Rated Strategy Consultant Pricing, GTM, AI & Product Ops Drive SaaS Growth Ex-McKinsey, Deloitte, AWS, Gartner I help tech companies from scrappy startups to global giants — solve messy strategic problems and unlock growth. My sweet spot? Pricing strategy, GTM planning, Pitch Decks and AI consulting that actually moves the needle. Additionally, I am passionate about teaching management consulting toolkit & AI training/workshops to executives, aspiring consultants, students. Over the past decade, I’ve led 100+ projects across the US, Canada, Germany, and APAC, working with SaaS, AI, and emerging tech teams on: - Pricing strategy & monetization models (tiering, packaging, value-based pricing, usage-based pricing) - GTM strategy & launch planning - Pitch Decks for enabling successful fundraising - AI Consulting & AI Product landscape - Product operations & scaling frameworks - Market research & competitive analysis I bring a mix of consulting rigor and builder mindset, shaped by roles at: - McKinsey (Senior Analyst, APAC) - Deloitte Consulting (Engagement Manager, San Jose) - AWS India (Sr. Manager, Product Ops) - Director of Product Ops at an AI startup 🧠 What Clients Say: - “You helped us rethink pricing from first principles — and doubled our conversion rate.” - “Your GTM teardown gave us clarity we’d been chasing for months.” - “You don’t just advise you build.”

Unclear requirements, changing priorities, disorganized backlogs, and weak delivery ownership can slow down even the strongest software teams. I bring structure, clarity, and accountability to complex software projects. I am a PMP-certified Technical Project Manager, Agile Project Manager, AI Product Manager, Product Owner, and Business Analyst with 8+ years of experience across 100+ SaaS, AI, FinTech, CRM, LMS, IAM, cybersecurity, healthcare, eCommerce, and enterprise software projects. I help founders, startups, agencies, and product teams transform business goals into development-ready requirements, prioritized product roadmaps, structured Jira backlogs, realistic delivery plans, and successfully launched software products. 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗠𝗘 • I turn vague ideas into clear requirements and execution plans • I organize product roadmaps, backlogs, sprints, and releases • I create BRDs, PRDs, FRDs, SRS documents, user stories, and acceptance criteria • I connect business, product, design, development, and QA teams • I identify risks and requirement gaps before they cause rework • I improve delivery visibility, accountability, and stakeholder communication • I work independently and take ownership from discovery through launch 𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 • Project planning, scope, timelines, milestones, and delivery schedules • Agile delivery using Scrum, Kanban, and hybrid methodologies • Sprint planning, backlog refinement, stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives • Risk, issue, dependency, resource, and change management • Development, QA, UAT, deployment, and release coordination • Cross-functional team leadership and stakeholder alignment • Status reporting, KPIs, dashboards, and delivery forecasting • Jira, Confluence, Azure DevOps, ClickUp, Monday com, Asana, and Trello setup 𝗔𝗜 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 • AI product discovery and use-case validation • AI SaaS product planning and delivery • Generative AI and LLM feature requirements • AI workflow and business-process automation • MVP planning, product roadmaps, and feature prioritization • AI product backlogs, user stories, and acceptance criteria • ChatGPT, Claude, OpenAI, transcription, and integration planning • AI chatbot, assistant, and agent workflows • Data, privacy, governance, human-review, and security requirements • AI product testing, UAT, launch, and continuous improvement 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧 𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗬𝗦𝗜𝗦 • Product discovery, MVP definition, and roadmap planning • Product backlog creation, prioritization, and refinement • Epics, features, user stories, use cases, and acceptance criteria • Functional and non-functional requirements • BRD, PRD, FRD, SRS, scope, and specification documents • Business rules, workflows, process maps, and gap analysis • Requirements traceability, developer handoff, and UAT planning • BPMN, UML, ERD, DFD, wireframes, and system flows • SOPs, user manuals, test cases, and knowledge-base documentation 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 • AI-powered sales analysis and conversation-intelligence platforms • AI-assisted online examination and proctoring products • SaaS testing, QA, evidence-capture, and reporting platforms • 3,400+ hours as a Senior Technical Business Analyst on enterprise IAM projects • 3,800+ hours managing products as a Project Manager and Product Owner • Complex Jira environments containing hundreds of epics, stories, and dependencies 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 SaaS | AI Platforms | FinTech | Healthcare | CRM | LMS | IAM | Cybersecurity | Enterprise Software | eCommerce | Digital Transformation | Workflow Automation 𝗧𝗢𝗢𝗟𝗦 Jira | Confluence | Azure DevOps | ClickUp | Monday com | Asana | Trello | Notion | Microsoft Project | Figma | Miro | Lucidchart | Visio | Power BI | Tableau | Salesforce | HubSpot | Slack | Microsoft Teams | ChatGPT | Claude 𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 PMP | PRINCE2 Practitioner | Certified Scrum Master | Certified Product Owner | Google Project Management | Accredited Business Requirements Analyst | ITIL Foundation | Lambda Certified Software Tester 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗜 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 I understand the business objective, define scope and priorities, translate ideas into clear requirements, organize the backlog and delivery plan, align stakeholders with technical teams, and manage risks through launch. The result is clearer requirements, stronger ownership, better team alignment, and more reliable software delivery. Whether you need a Technical Project Manager, Agile Project Manager, AI Product Manager, or Product Owner, I can help move your product forward with structure and accountability. Send me a message or invite me to your project to discuss your goals

For more than 30 years I've been instrumental in the success of F500 companies, SMBs, and more than 150 startups. I'm highly recommended on Upwork, and have a high percentage of long-term and repeat clients. Expertise: - Business plans, financial models and pitch decks - Business coaching - Pricing models - Term sheets for partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, funding - Launch plans For startups and early-stage companies, I’ve written business plans and developed financial models, pitch decks, and funding strategies. I also co-founded a startup that my partner and I sold to a F500 company. I have developed strategic plans for a wide range of organizations in the US and Europe from companies like Intel to non-profits, usually implementing the plans with Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). I’ve also coached/mentored numerous individuals and teams, that improved their skills, and increased their productivity and effectiveness. If you are starting a new venture, launching a product, or raising capital, you must have a concept that the market needs and a clear plan. If you are growing, diversifying, pivoting, or re-engineering an existing business, you must have achievable goals and an executable plan. Whether you are starting or growing, I’ll work with you to develop strategies, plans, and materials that work. Some Major Accomplishments In the corporate world: as Manager of Commercial Systems Marketing with Intel, developed strategic plans for US and European growth, and set up a marketing group in Europe; as co-founder and Executive Vice President, started an international company that my partner and I sold to a Fortune 500 company; as VP of Marketing & Sales, took a small company from losing $1M/yr. to profitability and a buyout in less than 12 months. As a Private Consultant to more than 175 companies (to date): wrote a journal article that resulted in more than $10M in RFQs; led a solar energy company through their launch, the release of their first product, and their initial funding raise; worked with a software company management team to reengineer the company to be marketing driven; worked with the founder to launch a disruptive SaaS platform in the automotive industry; helped a private equity firm assess potential acquisitions and mergers; worked with a founder to transform a small B2C company into the world's largest B2B licensor of digital art. Let’s work together on your project!

With nearly 20 years of experience and more than 300 successful business plans, I guide individuals just like you—from new start-ups to established businesses—in securing critical funding and advancing their strategic vision. I understand the exacting standards of SBA-approved lenders, private investors, and USCIS for business plans, ensuring your business plan is precisely tailored to their requirements, including those for immigration purposes (USCIS). Whether you need a plan for securing funding, obtaining licensing, fulfilling immigration requirements (E-1, E-2, L-1, L-2, EB-5 and NIW), or strategic planning, I deliver custom, results-driven business plans. For startups, I ensure a stress-free planning process. For established businesses, I provide the strategic roadmap to help you reach the next level of success. I've successfully developed plans for diverse ventures, including: + Food and Beverage (Restaurants and Bars) + Technology (Including Mobile Applications) + Real Estate + Construction + Personal Care (Spas and Salons) + Health and Fitness + Medical + Cannabis + Energy (Gas, Oil, Mining) + Importing and Exporting + Pet + Non-Profit Organizations Beyond these, I also have extensive experience with new product development, franchising, and business acquisition plans. Let's Discuss Your Project! I offer flexible engagement options (hourly or fixed-fee) and always provide work samples with my proposals, allowing you to evaluate quality firsthand. Let's discuss your project during a complimentary initial consultation. Contact me today to see how my expertise can benefit you. Best regards, Jeffrey