Juan Ignacio Rion

Experience

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  Salman Architects and French in Normandy

  Jul 2010 - Dec 2010

  Architecture and Language School Intern

  • Assigned to shadow the head architect, accompany him to all the residential construction sites, discuss organizational and structural problems and interact with the construction workers.• Interned at a French Language School where I was in charge of placing the incoming students with local french families and helping with their orientation.

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  AXISIMA

  Jun 2013 - Aug 2013

  Coastal Engineering Intern

  • Conducted a survey of the littoral conditions of 16 km of beach in Yucatan, Mexico and proposed solutions for the beach recuperation program. • Assigned to a breakwater project in Hawaii aimed at solving the problematic in the Kahului Harbor, Maui concerning wave energy propagating inside the harbor, and drafting the research paper. • Researched, budgeted and recommended a breakwater project.• Performed topographic and bathymetric surveys using Leica GPS systems.

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  SWCA Environmental Consultants

  Jun 2014 - Aug 2014

  Environmental Consulting Intern

  • Participated in a 2 week SMPS (Society of Marketing Professional Services) + USC Bridge Training Program.• Assisted in gathering regulatory and legal information on the 2013 Energy Reform in Mexico for foreign private investment.• Assisted project coordinators with administrative tasks.• Researched and reported on the Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE’s) and Organization in Southern California and the Bay Area. • Helped organize the company’s Administrative Database.

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  Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company

  Jun 2015 - Aug 2015

  Construction Managment Intern

  • Provided technical support under the direction of Project Managers on the 407,00 square feet Playa Vista Parcel 1&2 office space project• Participated in project administration, estimating and scheduling tasks • Reviewed plans and specifications using Bluebeam Revu• Tracked and created RFI’s, drawing logs and submittals• Performed quantity take-offs and reviewed subcontractor shop drawings

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  KPFF Consulting Engineers

  Jan 2016 - Dec 2016

  Civil Engineer

  My role included:- Managing projects for private and public clients requiring coordination with renowned architects and landscape designers. - Developing sustainable solutions for intricate architectural designs to bring conceptual drawings into construction.- Drafting LID (Low Impact Development) reports with solutions on how to treat, store, and manage stormwater runoff. - Coordinating with design teams on several creative office-space projects around Los Angeles with unique design parameters. Show less

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  Consulting by Kantar

  Jan 2017 - Jul 2021

  Directed the launch of Kantar’s Sustainable Transformation Practice in North America to help clients develop sustainable innovations and strategies that anticipate market and consumer trends, redefine their purpose, and adapt performance metrics to measure sustainability efforts.As a Foresight and Innovation Senior Consultant, I identified future growth strategies and early-stage product development opportunities through the use of proprietary innovation and foresight techniques, managing and coordinating consumer research, and identifying trends and category disruptors for a variety of industries and Fortune 500 clients including P&G, Spotify, Nespresso, Clorox, MasterCard, Mayo Clinic, Domino's, Gap Inc., and more. Show less

  • Head of North America Sustainable Transformation Practice | Senior Consultant (Futures & Innovation)

    Oct 2020 - Jul 2021

  • Consultant - Futures & Innovation Practice

    Apr 2019 - Oct 2020

  • Analyst - Futures & Innovation Practice

    Apr 2017 - Apr 2019

  • Intern - Futures Practice

    Jan 2017 - Apr 2017
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  Freelance (Self employed)

  Sept 2021 - Jan 2024

  Independent Researcher, Designer, and Impact Consultant

  Work on a contract basis with clients generating insights and research reports on different categories, topics, and attitudes in a variety of markets including the US, UK and Mexico. I provide data and foundational intelligence around cultural nuances and emerging leading-edge innovations, with a particular focus on sustainability. For example, I have experience drafting the first annual Impact Report for a London-based Impact VC firm, analysing the state of ESG regulation in the EU, and conducting research on the impact and innovation potential of different industries including home electrification, algae biotechnology, personal care, food and beverages, and construction, among others.Furthermore, I also work as a graphic designer and brand consultant for a variety of startups. Have a look at my portfolio for samples of my work. Show less

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  Carbon Cell

  Jan 2023 - now

  Co-Founder

  As co-founder, my role encompasses directing the overall product strategy, roadmap development, and planning through market research, R&D, customer interviews, competitor analysis, and market and customer segmentations. I manage customer and supplier partnerships to refine business model & application development. I also lead branding and marketing efforts, including logo, website design, and media campaigns.Carbon Cell is a carbon-negative, non-toxic, fully biodegradable replacement for polystyrene and other polymer-based foams. Using biochar, a carbon-negative material sourced from biomass that would otherwise be burned or decomposed, we have created a high-performance expandable foam. Show less

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  MicroTERRA

  Nov 2023 - now

  Head of Operations

  - Established the company’s impact department and oversaw the field science team to optimize growth systems and find novel ways to monetize microTERRA’s water-cleaning activities- Led microTERRA’s marketing & communication efforts including product positioning, website re-design, sales material development, B2B lead generation, and new media campaigns- Defined the company’s IP strategy, which led to 2 provisional patents and a trade secret- Oversaw People & HR departments to develop a high-performance team, foster a collaborative culture, establish talent acquisition practices, and ensure alignment with microTERRA’s mission- Coordinated in-depth market analysis to identify consumer requirements, define the value proposition, and align sales, business development, R&D, and scientific teams around product visionMicroTERRA is a biotechnology company developing functional and sustainable ingredients while cleaning water by cultivating duckweed, the world’s fastest-growing plant. Show less