René Portanel – Resume & Portfolio

About Me

With over a decade of experience in marketing, PR, and business development, I specialize in crafting high-impact strategies that drive growth and engagement. My expertise spans digital marketing, content creation, cross-functional team leadership, and strategic partnerships, with a proven track record of delivering measurable results for startups and creative industries.

Academically, I hold an MBA from UNAM, where I graduated with Academic Excellence (GPA 4.0), and a Postgraduate Specialization in Cultural Management, for which I was awarded the Medal of Academic Merit. These achievements, combined with my professional experience, have equipped me with a unique blend of strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and a passion for storytelling. I thrive at the intersection of data-driven decision-making and innovative marketing, helping brands connect with their audiences and achieve their goals.

Highlights:

Spearheaded a marketing campaign for Terrifier 2 in Mexico, reaching 20+ million digitally and 160+ million through publicity, achieving the highest box office outside the USA.
Led LATAM operations for Himalaya Media, achieving 1+ million app downloads and producing 50+ podcast shows with 1,000+ episodes.
Designed nationwide campaigns for organizations like UNAM, boosting brand visibility and engagement.
MBA graduate with a passion for storytelling, innovation, and empowering communities through creative strategies.

I thrive at the intersection of data-driven decision-making and creative storytelling, helping brands connect with their audiences and achieve their goals.

Download CV

What I Do

Marketing

I design, manage, and evaluate comprehensive marketing strategies, leveraging market research and audience segmentation to drive targeted campaigns. With extensive experience in event planning and execution, I’ve successfully implemented initiatives across major cities in Mexico and Central America, ensuring maximum reach and engagement.

Publicity

I specialize in building relationships with media, influencers, journalists, authors, and industry professionals to craft effective promotion strategies and publicity plans. My expertise includes crisis management, damage control, and leading high-profile publicity campaigns, including managing international tours for renowned writers and artists.

Management

I excel in recruiting, training, and leading high-performance teams, fostering collaboration and innovation. My experience includes creating business development strategies, managing cross-functional teams, and leveraging data analysis to optimize performance and identify new growth opportunities. I have a proven track record of aligning internal and external teams to achieve organizational objectives and OKRs.

Content

I lead the creation, production, and launch of compelling content, including podcasts in genres such as history, literature, personal growth, and science. By collaborating with some of Mexico’s most prominent hosts, I’ve produced engaging content that resonates with diverse audiences and drives meaningful connections.

Brands I have worked with

Resume

15 Years of Experience

Education

2021

UNAM- NATIONAL AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF MEXICO

MASTER IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Graduated with academic excellence (GPA 4)
Professional license: 12247387

2021

UAM - METROPOLITAN AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY

POSTGRADUATE SPECIALIZATION IN CULTURAL MANAGEMENT

Awarded with the medal of Academic Merit
Professional license: 12854437

2005

UNAM- NATIONAL AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF MEXICO

BACHELOR IN ACCOUNTING

SPECIALIZATION COURSE IN FINANCE

Professional license: 12247387

Experience

2022 - present

LaGrand Consultoría

MARKETING CONSULTANT Sr.

Development of marketing and growth strategies, GTM campaigns, publicity and PR campaigns.
Data analysis, market segmentation and localization of potential customers. Content and CJ audit.
Lead, develop, and execute Ad Campaigns (FB, YT, Instagram, Twitter, Google).

2021 – 2022

Himalaya Media Inc.

DIRECTOR, LATAM

Oversee Himalaya's business development and operation throughout LATAM, leading Content, Marketing, Product and Customer support departments.
Create and develop growth strategies to attract new users and paid subscribers in coordination with the offices in United States and China.
Direct the creation, production, launch and promotion of all the original audio contents in Spanish including Podcasts, Audiobooks, Audio courses, Book Insights and Ads.
Analyze data, content performance and user behavior to improve: conversion rate, app stores, customer journey, onboarding process, original content and UX.
Oversee A/B tests on funnels, push notifications, newsletter & products to improve the conversion rate, user growth, and company profit.

2020 – 2021

Himalaya Media Inc.

VP OF CONTENT AND PARTNERSHIPS, LATAM

Oversee all creative aspects related to production and promotion for Himalaya's original content in LATAM (Podcasts, Audiobooks and more).
Liaise and negotiate strategic partnerships with media groups, creators, independent studios, and institutions to create and/or promote fiction and non-fiction podcasts.
Lead marketing department. This includes publicity, social media, digital marketing and influencer marketing.

2013 - 2018

Grupo Planeta

PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY MANAGER

Development and implementation of marketing and publicity strategies, within Mexico & Central America, promoting Grupo Planeta’s brands, books, and writers.
Represented Grupo Planeta's brands and lead Publicity team to keep the relations and a constant presence on media outlets throughout the region.
Follow up GTM campaigns. Liaise with internal and international teams including sales, publishing, finance and agencies to coordinate campaigns and international tours for writers.
Research and data analysis to identify trends, potential topics and writers for new books.

2009-2012

Grupo Planeta

PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

Create, maintain and promote a positive public image of the organization in press, online media, social media. Deal with public crisis or bad publicity.
Create press releases, newsletters, manage press conferences and liaise with writers, media groups, journalists, influencers, academics, top anchors and hosts.
Talent Management, media training, coordination of junkets and media tours.
Tracking Grupo Planeta’s brands: measure, analyze and report results of marketing and publicity campaigns.

2007-2009

CONACULTA - DGP

NATIONAL READING PROMOTION PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Analysis and development of reading promotion programs in all the States of Mexico.
Supervise the operation of State funds for reading promotion.
Logistic coordination for events like the National Congress of Reading Promoters.

2006

KPMG

FINANCIAL AUDIT ASSISTANT

Analyze investment funds of ING Bank.
Audit trusts and their prospects of ING Bank and Grupo Carso.

SKILLS

Languages

English Advanced
Italian Intermediate
French Beginner

Technical skills

Office Suite

(advanced excel)

Google suite

Data Analysis software:

Amplitude, Tableau, R Studio, MySQL, SPSS, Nielsen Platform

Marketing & SM Software:

Figma, Iterable, Hootsuite, Mailchimp, WordPress, Instapage

Productivity software:

Coda, Notion, Slack, Miro, Mindmeister

Project Management Software:

Asana, Monday, Project

CRM Software:

Zendesk

Audio, design & video software:

Premiere Pro, Audacity, iMovie, Corel VideoStudio, Canva

Soft Skills

- - - Leadership

- - - Teamwork

- - - Communication skills

- - - Problem-solving

- - - Conflict management

- - - Project management

- - - Emotional intelligence

- - - Flexibility

- - - Reliability

- - - Team Player

- - - Decision-making

- - - Constant learning

- - - Analytical thinking

- - - Self-paced

- - - Event Planning

- - - Attention to Detail

- - - Public Speaking

COURSES

Copyrights and trademarks
Marketing and cultural management
Seminar in Narrative Theory
Screenplay Workshop
Film analysis
University of Montreal,Canada French language course
Scuola Torre di Babele, Italy Italian language course

Portfolio

My Works

During my career I have led the creation, production, launch and promotion of more than 50 podcasts shows (+1,000 episodes) for Spanish-speaking audiences in genres like history, literature, personal growth, and science, with many of the most relevant hosts such as: Irene Azuela, Benito Taibo, Julieta Fierro, Pedro A. Palou, Alejandro Rosas, among others.

Here I present a selection with some of the most important, you can read and listen a little more about them.