Jos Cerelius
Manager
Toronto,Ontario
Summary
I’ve spent much of my life moving between countries, roles, and ways of working, learning how systems are built and how people actually live within them. Working with both large organizations and small startups has taught me the same lesson again and again: systems matter far less than the people inside them.
Creativity sits at the center of how I work. I move between strategy, operations, and execution with a focus on building things that grow sustainably and make sense for the people involved. I’m known for creating clarity in complex situations, adapting quickly to change, and helping teams align around a shared direction that leads to real outcomes.
Outside of my professional work, I write and photograph everyday life, documenting human moments and quiet stories. I think of myself as a modern-day storyteller, still exploring what that really means.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
3
3
Certifications
5
5
Languages
Work History
Co-Founder, Strategy & Operations
Utter Vision
Toronto, Canada
01.2025 - Current
- Led the operational and strategic restructuring of the business from B2C to B2B, redefining the operating model, pricing strategy, go-to-market approach, and customer segmentation
- Owned cross-functional planning and execution for FY26, translating strategic direction into commercial roadmaps, operating assumptions, and internal alignment materials
- Built the 2026 financial plan, aligning revenue projections, cost structure, and growth priorities to support fundraising and execution
- Established the operational foundation for international expansion planned for 2026, including market sequencing and scalability considerations
- Launched and operationalized the company’s charity initiative, including development of the charity website and partnerships with external organizations to expand reach and impact
- Streamlined operational processes for improved efficiency and cost reduction.
- Provided strategic direction for product development, resulting in high-quality offerings that resonated with customers'' needs and preferences.
Freelance Consultant
Self Employed
Toronto, Canada
01.2025 - 01.2025
- Supported 5 organizations through periods of growth and change by redesigning operating structures, workflows, and planning processes, improving delivery speed and internal clarity across teams.
- Helping 2 companies go from business idea to launch, identifying key customer segments, areas of revenue and planning their go to market.
- Partnered with multiple startups and small businesses to strengthen operations and improve delivery performance.
- Advised innovation programs on best practices for founder support and sustainable business growth, leading to a 10% increase in retention rate.
- Developed 3 innovative strategies for clients, resulting in combined increase of 15% revenue and business growth.
Strategy Manager
Wierdadvisory
Toronto, Ontario
01.2025 - 01.2025
- Partnered with IT and business leaders across multiple programs to identify root causes, leading to investments of up 10 Mil. CAD
- Facilitated 10+ stakeholder alignment sessions, translating complex inputs into clear priorities and executive-ready decisions.
- Designed and implemented performance and KPI frameworks used to track outcomes across programs, improving transparency and enabling leadership to course-correct earlier.
- Managed the development of strategic documentation, dashboards, and briefing materials for executive audiences, supporting decision-making at senior and board levels.
- Conducted market and sector analyses to inform program direction, ensuring initiatives were evidence-based and aligned with provincial and organizational goals.
- Mentored 3 junior consultants and analysts, improving onboarding efficiency and raising delivery quality through hands-on guidance and structured feedback.
Innovation Lead
Signifly
Toronto, Canada
01.2024 - 01.2025
- Directed digital innovation projects for startups and enterprises across North America and Europe, using design thinking and agile methodologies.
- Built and managed multidisciplinary teams, aligning business goals with creative and technical execution.
- Designed and led ideation workshops and innovation sprints to identify user pain points and value opportunities.
- Delivered 15+ tech initiatives and projects from MVP to large-scale platforms, ensuring business alignment and measurable ROI.
- Acted as a trusted advisor to 10+ international clients, contributing to account growth, retention, and brand transformation.
- Spearheaded the launch of Signifly’s Toronto office, establishing local operations, recruiting talent, and expanding regional presence through partnerships and events.
Volunteer & Freelance
Various Organizations
Various Places, Global
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Managed 14-person humanitarian team in Ukraine, overseeing logistics, safety and cross-border coordination.
- Directed €5M cultural restoration project with Shaolin Temple Europe, leading a team of 10 international volunteers.
- Entrepreneur & Consultant: Built a successful freelance business, collaborating with 4 clients to enhance storytelling, marketing, and digital strategy—leading to a combined revenue growth of 50%.
- Delivered brand storytelling, copywriting, and digital strategy for tourism and cultural clients including VisitScotland and Visit Athens.
- Started a blog on Medium, garnering more than +500 weekly readers
- Photography work exhibited in museums and galleries internationally; recipient of 13 photography competition awards.
Business Transformation Manager
Netlight A/S
Copenhagen, Denmark
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Led end-to-end product strategy and agile delivery across fintech, e-commerce, and logistics clients, aligning roadmaps with commercial and operational goals
- Built and scaled 4 cross-functional innovation teams, reducing concept-to-prototype cycles and increasing internal experimentation capacity
- Designed and implemented an in-house AI training solution to upskill consultants, improving delivery readiness and client engagement quality
- Managed and grew key client accounts, contributing to 20%+ account growth through aligned digital and product strategies
- Delivered digital transformation initiatives across multiple industries, bridging business objectives with technology execution and governance
- Developed enterprise product and operating frameworks to improve decision-making, prioritization, and delivery consistency
Business Consultant
CGI A/S
Aalborg, Denmark
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Developed go-to-market strategies and SaaS product launches in public and education sectors, that grew market share by 20%
- Conducted workshops and user research that improved product retention by 10%.
- Led integration of AI into marketing workflows, reducing time-to-market by 12%.
- Boosted cross-team collaboration using PowerBI and Tableau, improving upsell success by 15%.
Business Graduate
KMD A/S
Aalborg, Denmark
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Supported digital transformation projects for the Danish public sector, including projects worth 1 Billion DKK.
- Contributed to product strategy and market development for FinTech and energy sectors, in the end launching 3 products, pointed at Fintech, Utility and government.
- Helped shape sustainability strategies, including a 15% emission reduction plan for Copenhagen Airport.
- Created public/private partnerships between local innovation hubs, research institutions & potential partners.
- Built the University advocacy programme, which goal was to enable university innovators to work with real, established companies
- Mentor at AAU (Aalborg University) startup programme
Co-Founder
Outdoor Companion
Hillerød, Denmark
01.2018 - 01.2020
- Established a direct-to-consumer outdoor apparel and equipment brand, building the full digital strategy and e-commerce platform from scratch.
- Designed brand identity and managed social media presence, executing digital campaigns that drove early customer acquisition and brand awareness.
- Implemented digital marketing initiatives that supported initial revenue generation and repeat customer engagement, led to our first 25k in sales.
- Oversaw supply chain and partnerships with European outdoor equipment vendors, coordinating sourcing, logistics, and vendor relationships across borders.
- Managed end-to-end operations including product positioning, partnerships, and go-to-market execution in an early-stage startup environment, resulting in us within 6 months having reliable recurring customers.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration And Management
Aalborg University
Aalborg, Denmark 05.2001 -
Skills
Problem-solving
Business development
Partnership cultivation
Strategic partnerships
Customer relations
Team building
Strategic visioning
Innovation skills
Staff management
Fundraising
Sales strategy
Certification
Design thinking- the ultimate guide- Interaction design foundation, 2025
Interests
Music, playing drums & keyboard, Climbing & Bouldering, Camping & Hiking, Organizing social events, Board games, Personal Improvement, Learning new hobbies and skills, Pursuing personal “knowledge wheel”, diving into new topics every month
Accomplishments
Freelance – Humanitarian Operations, Ukraine
Managed a 14-person humanitarian team in Ukraine, overseeing logistics, safety, and cross-border coordination in a volatile environment, ensuring operational continuity and team wellbeing under extreme constraints.
Co-Founder, Strategy & Operations – Utter Vision
Restructured Utter Vision’s operating model, pricing, go-to-market strategy, and customer segmentation to support institutional clients, laying the foundation for scalable growth and fundraising readiness.
Directed multidisciplinary teams across North America and Europe, taking products from MVP to large-scale platforms using design thinking and agile methods, while acting as a trusted advisor to 10+ international clients and contributing to account growth and retention.
OTHER
- Winner of SAP Innovation challenge 2021
- Winner of Aarhus University Case competition 2022
- Contributing member to the establishment of Aalborg University's startup accelerator
Timeline
Co-Founder, Strategy & Operations
Utter Vision
01.2025 - Current
Freelance Consultant
Self Employed
01.2025 - 01.2025
Strategy Manager
Wierdadvisory
01.2025 - 01.2025
Innovation Lead
Signifly
01.2024 - 01.2025
Volunteer & Freelance
Various Organizations
01.2023 - 01.2024
Business Transformation Manager
Netlight A/S
01.2022 - 01.2023
Business Consultant
CGI A/S
01.2021 - 01.2022
Business Graduate
KMD A/S
01.2018 - 01.2021
Co-Founder
Outdoor Companion
01.2018 - 01.2020
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration And Management
Aalborg University
05.2001 -