All mentors

Zhanar Baishakova

Startup growth mentor

Lausanne, Switzerland English, Russian
Usually responds in 18 hours
Free
Price per hour
30 min
Time Blocks Available
5.00
5 reviews / 7 sessions
Tue
17
Next availability
in your time zone (Athens)

Bio

I work with start-up accelerators like MassChallenge and University of Lausanne and venture programs like Brainforest and have been nominated as a Mentor of the Year 2023 by Mass Challenge. I help startups to sharpen their product-market fit and coach how to map ICPs (ideal customers profiles) and USP (unique selling proposition) and build strategies how to win in their respective markets. Once mapping is crystalized, I help startups to build their roadmaps on go-to-market strategy, funding and strategy execution coupled with organizational strategy. As an MIT-certified sustainability professional, I also advise brands on sustainable product design, material and technology choices, and translates sustainability business objectives into product and packaging roadmaps.

Expertise

  • Go to market strategy

    I have been working as a product manager at multinational, where I led cross-functional team to build product roadmaps, validate technology and product at scale and its commercialization

  • Product market fit

    I have been working as a product manager where I have built business cases for innovation pipeline. The main responsibility included market competitive research, potential consumers/ customers interviews to validate ICPs and USPs, then assess potential volume and revenue + build early cost assessment and profitability models.

Experience

  • SICTIC

    Angel Investor

    Angel Investor in climate deep tech and circular economy solutions

  • Investor Ready Lab

    Venture Advisor

    Hands-On Venture Capital Platform Support – Fundraising strategy & pitch readiness – Leading fundraising preparation, from pitch to due diligence – Build targeted investor pipelines and warm introductions – End-to-end support: deck, memo, blurb, valuation & financial planning – Practical guidance during investor calls and follow-up

  • Brainforest

    Venture Program Mentor

    Biodiversity startup mentoring

  • Sustainnovation

    Design for Sustainability Consulting

    Sustainable innovation roadmapping: Turn business brief and sustainability targets into 12–36-month product/packaging roadmaps with decision gates, PoC, pilots, and scale paths. Content & enablement: Produce clear product/pack briefs, guide cross-functional teams to develop innovative packaging concepts, successfully validate new materials and technologies and scale-up from pilot to commercial launch. Material scouting & design advisory: Benchmark sustainable materials to fit product / packaging functional requirements and performance specs. Innovation scouting: GreenTec startup mentorship: Coach on USP, GTM, product positioning, and investor/customer materials for sustainable materials and alt-protein ventures; key customers and investors scouting

  • MassChallenge Switzerland

    Start-up mentor and judge

    Expert mentor and judge at a start-up accelerator platform, guiding and assessing greentech companies to strengthen their product-market fit and go-to-market strategies

  • Verdeya SA

    Packaging Consultant

    Consulting company management on innovative packaging development

  • Aspeya

    Packaging Consultant

    Supporting company management team to build packaging innovation pipeline and roadmap through engagement of value chain stakeholders

  • University of Lausanne

    UCreate Entrepreneurial Program Coach

    Startup coach for UCreate startup accelerator program at University of Lausanne

  • SWM International

    Packaging Innovation Consultant

    Supporting company management team to build customer relevant packaging innovation pipeline

  • Philip Morris International

    Head of Nicotine Products Packaging Portfolio Strategy

    Led end-to-end packaging development for new Reduced Risk Product (RRP) platforms by integrating consumer insights and early-stage prototyping to drive industrial scale-up of innovative solutions and accelerated product launches.

  • Philip Morris International

    Head of New Packaging Materials and Technology Research and Development

    Pioneered the development of a company-wide sustainable packaging roadmap by creating an innovation pipeline from scouting, concept proofing to piloting of new packaging materials and technologies for Reduced Risk Products (RRP). Effectively engaged senior company stakeholders to align with 2025 targets and incorporated packaging program in the company Integrated Report.

  • Philip Morris International

    Sr. Head of Procurement category

    Led Strategic Category with $500 mio spend delivering 20% productivity over 5 years Established Supplier Led Innovation Framework

  • Philip Morris International

    Manager Operations Planning EEMA region

    Strategic Projects management Strategy and Budget preparation Consulting to Senior Operations management

  • Philip Morris International

    Manager Supply Chain Northern Africa

    End-to-end Supply Chain Management for Northern Africa regional hub based in Lausanne

  • Philip Morris International

    Manager PMI Capacity and Footprint planning

    Strategic Supply Chain planning, Product Sourcing and long-range capacity management

  • Philip Morris International

    Supervisor Production Planning and DIM Procurement

    Production Planning , Direct Materials Procurement and Customer Service

  • Philip Morris International

    Operations Planning Analyst

    KPIs analysis and reporting

  • Philip Morris International

    Various Operations Finance analytical positions

    Budgeting, cost and capex, project controlling

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