Miguel Araujo has built a reputation in Portugal as a go-to expert for Lean Six Sigma training and consulting. After decades in the industrial world, he co-founded Lean Six Sigma Consultors, a company that blends certified training with hands-on consulting, all while he and his business partner juggle full-time roles elsewhere.
In our conversation, Miguel shared lessons from the trenches of building a consultancy while scaling training programs, managing external certifications, and trying to automate (without losing the human touch). We talked about selling without time to sell, the challenges of misaligned visions, and the fascinating tension between what can be automated and what must remain personal. Miguel’s story is a powerful example of how passion, expertise, and structured thinking can create real business leverage, even in a crowded market.
This article is part of the Business Insights Series, where I sit down with professionals like Miguel to uncover the strategies, insights, and forward-thinking ideas shaping their business journey.
Building a Business While Working Full-Time
Many founders start their business as a side hustle. Miguel is no exception: running a growing consulting and training firm while still working full-time as an industrial director. It’s an intricate balancing act, one that demands shifting between meetings, course prep, client follow-ups, and factory floor challenges, all while laying the groundwork for a business that’s meant to outgrow its side-project phase.
This trend isn’t unique to Miguel. Over 36% of Americans now have a side hustle, with that number jumping to 50% among millennials. But here’s the catch: most side hustlers spend less than 5 hours per week on their side ventures. Miguel? He’s on a whole different level. His dedication goes far beyond the typical pattern, turning what for many is a casual gig into a serious second business.
“Since I started working as a professional, I got interested in continuous improvement, process efficiency… I got my black belt certification from the American Society of Quality.”
Miguel brings over 25 years of industry experience into every training session and consulting engagement. His business, Lean Six Sigma Consultors, founded in late 2023, offers Yellow, Green, and Black Belt training with UK-accredited certification, delivered in Portuguese, for Portuguese companies. Their clients range from individual professionals to multinational organisations.
“I’m the commercial guy. I’m an engineer by background, and I don’t have a lot of formal sales training. But with my experience, technical knowledge, and, I don’t know, my honesty and straightforwardness, I manage to sell.”
That honesty and transparency are what make Miguel effective. Even without formal sales training, he connects by being direct and dependable. The sales don’t happen because of flashy pitches, but they happen because people trust him. Still, this level of engagement isn’t meant to last forever. Miguel sees this phase as an intentional stepping stone: one that allows him to test, refine, and build the foundations for something larger. This chapter of Miguel’s journey is all about forward motion. He’s using this period to gain traction, develop structure, and quietly set the stage for a full transition into entrepreneurship, on his own terms, and at his own pace.
Their momentum is undeniable; within the first year, Lean Six Sigma Consultors secured contracts with multinational clients, proving there’s strong market demand for their unique blend of accredited training and practical consulting. While still early in their journey, their efforts are laying the groundwork for a more structured, scalable business that’s built on trust, relevance, and results.
Why Certification Matters (And How It Becomes a USP)
Unlike many training providers, Miguel’s company doesn’t just hand out certificates. They offer externally accredited certifications translated into Portuguese, thanks to a UK partnership. Rather than being a bonus, this certification component amplifies the credibility and impact of everything else they offer.
“We provide a certification exam that meets all the standards required by an accredited UK entity. It’s not just something we create internally; it comes from a recognised authority, and we’ve adapted it to fit the local market by translating it into Portuguese.”
That external recognition gives their training a global standard while maintaining local accessibility. Many competing programs in Portugal offer uncertified or internally validated courses, but Miguel’s team is raising the bar. By translating accredited exams into Portuguese, they’ve opened a high-quality path for professionals and companies who want the real deal, without the barrier of language or international travel.
This move is especially critical in a field like Lean Six Sigma, where credibility can make or break a consulting proposal. The certification process they offer is rigorous, standardised, and consistent with global best practices. And it’s exactly this rigour that attracts companies who need proven talent, not just a checkbox on a resume.
Combined with the team’s hands-on industrial experience and tailored training approach, their certification offering becomes more than just a certificate; it becomes a trust signal. It’s a promise of competence, consistency, and impact. That trust is one of their strongest differentiators in an increasingly crowded training market.
This approach is incredibly timely.. The Lean Six Sigma market is experiencing remarkable growth across industries, driven by an increasing demand for quality improvement and operational efficiency. More and more businesses are recognising the value of structured methodologies, and what’s fueling this trend further is the explosion of online training and certification platforms. This makes it easier than ever for professionals and companies alike to adopt these frameworks, implement them quickly, and see measurable results.
And that leads to the next challenge: scale.
Automation vs. Human Touch: Where Is the Leverage?
Automation can supercharge operations, but not everything should be automated. Miguel understands this firsthand. They’re exploring new digital avenues to broaden their service reach and make their training content more accessible and scalable. But he’s equally committed to maintaining the personal connection essential for high-value consulting.
“The digital side of our business helps us bring in consistent income with minimal ongoing involvement, while our consulting projects let us build deeper, more personalised relationships with clients.”
Miguel’s strategic clarity truly stands out here. Rather than opting for either high-touch or high-scale, he is constructing a business that incorporates both. However, the profound impact and genuine client transformation are achieved through personalised consulting, that’s the core value..
I told Miguel, “When I worked with an Indian company in a similar space, we scaled their certification pipeline 10x by automating only the boring parts.” That’s pure Six Sigma: cut waste, keep value. The same thinking could apply here: freeing up Miguel’s time from repetitive tasks so he can focus on what truly requires his expertise.
“Our training programs help us maintain steady momentum, but it’s the consulting projects that push us further, giving us the opportunity to dive deeper into client needs and refine our services based on real-world challenges.”
This two-pronged model, automated online training for consistent income and consulting for high-touch transformation, is their key to scaling. This strategy reflects a thoughtful balance between operational efficiency and meaningful engagement, supporting sustainable growth while keeping the client experience central.
One part keeps the engine running. The other elevates the brand and deepens the client relationship. Together, they create both sustainability and growth potential in a way that pure automation or pure consulting alone could not achieve.
The CRM Conundrum: Sales Needs Systems
If you’re a small or medium-sized business owner trying to grow, chances are you’ve run into the same issue Miguel and many others have: leads slip through the cracks. Many businesses face a recurring challenge: juggling numerous inquiries, quote requests, and warm leads, all while managing daily operations. Without a structured follow-up system, opportunities can quietly slip away.
This is where CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems can change the game. A good CRM helps businesses organise contact details, track conversations, set reminders, automate follow-ups, and visualise the sales pipeline, all in one place. These tools support clearer decision-making and help ensure that no opportunity falls through the cracks.
This keeps coming up: businesses spend all their energy generating leads, only to lose steam in the follow-up. And follow-up is where deals are won. The good news? CRM tools today are easier to set up than ever. Many are designed for non-technical users, with intuitive dashboards and integrations that link directly to your email, calendar, and website.
If you’re struggling to turn leads into clients, maybe it’s not your pitch. Maybe it’s your process. And the right system could be the simplest upgrade you make this year.
Vision vs. Execution: The Partner Dynamic
Growth takes more than tactics. It demands not just execution, but the ability to pause, assess, and adjust course when needed. For many small businesses, progress is often nonlinear. Strategic alignment between long-term vision and day-to-day activity is one of the hardest things to maintain, especially when founders wear multiple hats.
“We have some action, we have some plans. Not as structured as I would like.”
This statement reflects a challenge many entrepreneurs face: translating ambition into action while maintaining consistency. When daily responsibilities pile up, planning often gets sidelined. But planning is precisely what gives small teams leverage.
That’s why periodic reviews of internal systems, financial processes, team responsibilities, marketing efforts, and customer experience can make a big difference. Even simple frameworks, like quarterly OKRs or weekly retrospectives, can help bridge the gap between vision and execution.
Miguel is actively investing his time into these foundations, aiming to make their internal workflows smoother, their service offerings sharper, and their business model more sustainable in the long run. The structure continues to evolve, but the momentum and clarity of direction show a business growing with purpose and intention.
Conclusion: System Thinking Builds Businesses
Miguel’s journey highlights a powerful insight: even in an age of AI and automation, businesses still need the human touch. But that touch should be reserved for where it matters most.
By automating their backend, streamlining CRM, and building a scalable digital product line, Miguel and his team are laying the groundwork for real growth. Their biggest assets? Deep expertise, recognised certification, and a commitment to transformation.
If you’re in a similar spot, struggling to scale without losing your personal touch, know that you’re not alone. And know that there are systems, strategies, and steps you can take to get there.
Start with one area of your business. Look for where time is leaking, where follow-ups are missed, or where customers get lost. Fixing just one link in the chain can boost your entire operation and get you closer to the business you envision.
About the Author
Vlad writes about automation, operations, and the little tweaks that make a big difference in how businesses run. A former game designer turned founder, he now helps teams fix broken workflows and spot the revenue leaks hiding in plain sight.
About Serenichron
Helping businesses grow by simplifying strategy, streamlining systems, and making tech actually work for people. We bring clarity to chaos with practical tools, honest guidance, and just enough curiosity to question the default way of doing things.