Ricardo Parreira founded PHC Software in his early twenties and led the company as CEO for around 36 years, turning it into one of Portugal's largest business management software companies, with a presence in more than 25 countries and thousands of clients. He holds a degree in Management and an MBA in Marketing from Universidade Católica Portuguesa.

Under his leadership, PHC stood out not only for its business growth but also for being repeatedly recognised as one of the best companies to work for in Portugal, with an internal culture strongly focused on employee wellbeing and motivation. In 2025 he sold the entire company to the French group Cegid, closing a cycle of nearly four decades at its helm.

He is now an author, trainer and speaker, sharing what he has learned over more than three decades in management, with a particular focus on leadership, organisational culture, and the role of technology and artificial intelligence in running companies.