About

Hi, I’m Janel! An operator, builder, and writer based in Barcelona.

I help companies build the operating systems behind growth: cleaner workflows, better execution, and automations that save real hours every week.

I’m not a “strategy deck” person. I build.

Over the years, I’ve worked across corporates, startups and VCs (including Mastercard, Fonterra, Upfield, On Deck, Hustle Fund) and learned the same truth in every environment: most bottlenecks are operational, not talent-related.

I started this blog to share what I’m learning while building businesses, products, and a life I like. You’ll find notes on personal growth, practical tools, decision-making, and the messy-but-fun process of making things better over time.

I’m an optimist by default. I care deeply about relationships, meaningful experiences, and playing long-term games with long-term people.

What I'm Working On

• I am the founder of  Traktion Labs , where I help companies work smarter, faster, and more profitably through process optimization and workflow automation.
• I write BrainPint, a newsletter for the curious. Every Wednesday, I share the most useful reads, tools, and learning resources with 6,000+ subscribers.

Products I've Built

• Newsletter OS, a comprehensive Notion dashboard that helps newsletter creators curate, write & grow their newsletters.
• Podcast OS with Josh Kaplan, another Notion resource that helps podcasters pitch, produce and earn from their podcasts.

Lately, I’ve also been rebuilding my own productivity stack with AI agents because I believe the best way to understand the future of work is to use it daily.

What Drives Me?

• Curiosity: A natural explorer, I often scurry down rabbit holes while following my curiosity. I seek out new experiences and alternative ways of seeing or doing things. New ideas, people, concepts and places excite me.
• Learning by doing: I learn best through doing, not reading manuals, so I take a hands-on approach to learning.
• Long-term thinking: I'm here for the long run. I see life as a positive-sum game where there can be multiple winners, and I want to intentionally walk through that journey with people I hold close.
• Craft + consistency: Better systems, better writing, better decisions over time.
• Grit: I'm calm under pressure, especially when things get messy.

Things I'm Into

• AI
• Self-development and learning
• Mental models for better thinking
• Optimizing workflows
• Growth marketing
• Reading, writing and newsletters
• Stock investing (especially in the AI infrastructure and data layer)
• Consumer psychology
• Skiing

What Else Makes Me Happy?

• Learning from different cultures - I've lived in 6 countries and travelled to 51
• Connecting with new people & helping others grow
• Enjoying all kinds of food
• Travel hacking (I have a million airline miles, but also backpack a lot)
• Latin dance, especially bachata and salsa
• Trivia & board games

Get In Touch

• Twitter -  You can tweet me @JanelSGM or send me a message via the DMs
• Email - You can reach me at janel {at} brainpint {doooot} com. I read all emails & will reply!