Ana Marques

Background

About Ana Marques

Life is 10% of what happens to me. and 90% of how I react to it." John Maxwell I am a dynamic and results-driven professional with over 20 years of experience in management, business development, and operational. Passionate about innovation, strategy, and creating environments that foster success, I thrive in fast-paced settings where new ideas are encouraged and meaningful impact is made. With a diverse career journey, I have evolved from managing commercial roles at Repele to pioneering entrepreneurial ventures such as co-founding Gogofun in 2007. My career further expanded into event production and cultural integration projects, which have shaped my expertise in building partnerships, managing teams, and delivering exceptional experiences. My career took a pivotal turn in 2017 when I entered the Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) sector, completely transforming my professional path. Leading the opening of Collegiate Marquês de Pombal, Portugal’s first PSBA property, ignited my passion for student housing. This success fueled my commitment to shaping the future of PBSA and student living. In 2022, I had the opportunity to lead the pre-opening and opening of Nido’s first PSBA property in Portugal. In this role, I focused on driving operational excellence, optimizing occupancy, and creating spaces that promote both academic and personal development for students. I have gained extensive experience in project management, operational efficiency, and cross-functional leadership, particularly in challenging, high-stakes environments. I have also been fortunate to lead multiple building openings and navigate through several operator transitions, which have been invaluable experiences contributing to my growth. These transitions allowed me to adapt quickly to new management models, further honing my ability to motivate teams during periods of change. Managing such shifts in the market has sharpened my ability to thrive in a constantly evolving environment and continue to lead successful operations. I am dedicated to building high-performing teams and establishing strategic partnerships with universities and key stakeholders. As a collaborator and problem solver, I am constantly seeking ways to innovate, improve, and deliver results that have a lasting impact. The operations sector has become my true passion, and I am excited to continue shaping its future through leadership, innovation, and creating exceptional student living experiences.