Master of Science & Master of Business Administration dual degree in Entrepreneurial Management and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA and ABA in Management & Marketing) by The Wharton School & The Centre for Organizational Dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. Law degree, majoring in Economics from the University of Coimbra and a Management degree from ISG in Lisbon, Portugal.

Mr. Folhadela has over 25 years of business experience, including management consulting, with prominence in investment and wholesale banking and payment technology. His extensive experience in leading cross-cultural teams across multiple worldwide locations with diverse financial and non-financial companies in the USA and Canada, brought a comprehensive knowledge spanning an array of business ventures, payment & incentive marketing, sales, and e-commerce.

Former positions include Executive Vice President and Director of the Executive Board at Clarity Payment Solutions, INC., New York, USA (1999-2003), Managing Director of CIS Europe (1999-2003); Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Financial Officer (Executive VP), and Director of the Executive Boards (2003-2006) at bcpbank USA and Canada, Head of Acquiring and ATMs at the Payment Means & Acquiring Division BCP and Managing Director of American Express Portugal (2009 – 2022) at Millennium BCP (2006 – 2022).