The Barc People Team

Jules Lajola and Aki Peltola.

Our larger team is a collective of insightful people. We have found each other from the “travel of life”: universities, businesses and other places along the way.

The team represents various professional backgrounds and experiences. Our collective consists of well-seasoned leaders in business/politics/public sector, entrepreneurs, specialists in finance, legal professionals or, for example, academics or academic businesspeople. To put it simply: talented and seasoned in their own scope.

We share similar values: integrity, flexibility, love of life, authenticity, non-discriminatory, non-judgemental, thinking both globally and locally.

Aki Peltola

M.Sc.

Founder Partner at Barc People
Role: CEO, Advisor

Email: aki.peltola@barcpeople.com
Mobile: +34-669 436 214

I have gained the valuable skill of flexibility by living in different countries, living in a countryside village and in a modern mega city, working and operating in a startup, growth company and established F500 companies, working in and leading cross functional teams and as a sole contributor and founder. Operating in varied and complex environments and situations has also taught me the importance of seeing the big picture and the interconnections, this ability is key in effective communication and leadership.

Aki Peltola.

  1. 1980

    I was born in Orimattila, Finland – countryside of Finland and grew up in a farmer and entrepreneur family.

  2. 1997

    Year in Mumbai, India during high school.

  3. 2000

    Military service in Finland.

  4. 2001

    6 months in Brazil.

  5. 2001–2006

    University studies in International Business, Economic Geography and Accounting at Helsinki School of Economics (Aalto University). Member of the Student Union board 2003.

  6. 2006

    Graduated Master of Science (M.Sc.) and moved to Barcelona, Spain.

  7. 2006

    Smith Barney (Citibank) share and stock option services Barcelona, Spain.

  8. 2006–2008

    Vueling Airlines, Barcelona, Spain. Key topics: financial planning and controllership in a startup airline. Vueling and ClickAir M&A due diligence process.

  9. 2008–2010

    Hewlett-Packard, Barcelona, Spain. EMEA Project Management Office; M&A integration of EDS-HP, Days Sales Outstanding forecast, Operations reorganization projects.

  10. 2010–2012

    Hewlett-Packard, Barcelona, Spain. Global Credit & Collections planning team in Controllership. EMEA Accounts Receivables (5-7Bn USD) forecasting. Key topics: Industry, Sovereign and Product Concentration risk reserve within HP, M&A integration of Autonomy-HP.

  11. 2012–today

    Established BRAVO Gourmet in Helsinki, Finland focusing on quality food import and distribution company for HoReCa (hotel, restaurant, catering) and retail sectors. Key topics: strategy, finance and business development.

  12. 2012–today

    Married my wife Elisa in Barcelona, Spain. The party was legendary.

  13. 2012-2016

    Hewlett-Packard, Barcelona, Spain. EMEA Ink. Key topics: Operational forecast leader between Finance, Supply Chain, Sales and Marketing. Introduction of Big Data to EMEA Ink.

  14. 2014

    Established contemporary art gallery “ARTag Gallery” in Helsinki, Finland with partners Veikko Halmetoja and Jules Lajola. Key topics: finance and strategy.

  15. 2014

    Our daughter Mia was born in.

  16. 2016–2023

    Established Management House in Helsinki, Finland and Barcelona, Spain. Key topics: project management, interim management and M&A company. Key topics: supporting client companies’ leaders and investors in strategy, finance, M&A and business development.

  17. 2020

    Redeveloped ARTag Gallery into Gallery Halmetoja. Key topics: finance and strategy.

  18. 2020

    Corona crisis impacted all our own businesses and created an opportunity to find new solutions fast and implement the needed changes in a timely manner.

  19. 2023–today

    Established Barc People in Barcelona, Spain and with a subsidiary in USA. Barc People is continuing where Management House left off. Barc People is focused in advising key stakeholders.

Dr Jules Lajola

M.Sc., MBA, DBA.

Founding partner of Barc People
Role: Executive Coach & Advisor

Email: jules.lajola@barcpeople.com
Mobile: +34 645 676 663
Website: juleslajola.com

International business executive (CEO, COO), business developer & adviser & certified executive coach.

Experience in high technology companies, professional service firms, service companies and other business ventures. Industry experience varies from (a) product & service development and deployment, (b) high tech engineering, manufacturing and associated software development to start-ups and business expansion.

Senior executive positions for the past 25 years, including strong CEO/COO, board, chairman and advisory experience. Experience from various business life cycles: start-ups, growth businesses, IPO, mature businesses, dying businesses. Strong and proven track record of challenging business turnarounds and transformation cases. Successful business negotiator with stakeholder management experience from over 15 countries worldwide - a deal closer.

Strong in analytical thinking, strategic planning and execution. Proven track record of both individual and team skills and knowledge sharing development, with strong people management skills. Motivating speaker and communicator with emotional intelligence capacity. A team worker and a leader.

A can-do attitude with a high-level professional grip and a dynamic approach towards pressing issues.

Doctor of Business Administration and MSc. from University of Reading (UK), MBA from Henley Business School (UK) and Berkeley ECI certified executive coach. Additional studies in marketing, financial management and finance, corporate governance and corporate law. Living in Helsinki, Finnish citizen, aged 49.

Jules Lajola.

  1. 1975

    I was born in Kerava, Finland to a working-class family.

  2. 1993

    Year in California, Los Angeles and Upland during high school.

  3. 1995

    Engaged with my husband to be.

  4. 1997

    First leadership position in service organisation. Staff and PL responsibility. 200 plus people.

  5. 1999–2008

    Country Manager, Managing Director for Sodexo subsidiary in Finland and Sweden. Business development responsibility among other wide range of duties. Responsible for all aspects in closing or establishing business segments. 700 plus people.

  6. 2001–today

    Married my husband.

  7. 2007

    MBA from Henley Business School, UK. Topic: strategy.

  8. 2014

    Established contemporary art gallery “ARTag Gallery” in Helsinki, Finland with partners Veikko Halmetoja and Aki Peltola.

  9. 2016, 2023

    Founded Management House with Aki Peltola for interim management, consultancy and advisory.

    The company had a re-birth as Barc People, with focus on advisory head-quartered in Barcelona, Spain with a subsidiary in USA. Barc People is focused in Advisory.

  10. 2019

    Certified Executive Coach, UC Berkley Executive Education, USA.

  11. 2021

    Doctor of Business Administration, University of Reading, UK. Topic: Generations, Trust & Culture, Personal development by coaching intervention.

  12. 2008–today

    Work for investors began which has included travelling and conducting business globally including negotiations, creating business units and partnerships. Various business transformations including IPO.

    Current position as COO and Business Development Director in a listed company high-tech company focused on robotics, automation and process development in the aviation sector.

What brings Aki and Jules together?

They share similar values, a positive grip on life and enjoy challenges.
They both believe in people and are solution-oriented when facing obstacles.