The gala for the 8th edition of the SME Heroes Awards made it onto television. CNN Portugal’s “Pitch Brand&Content” program aired a special report featuring the highlights of the evening of June 26 in Leiria. I watched those moments on screen—and I felt the same thing I felt at the Sant’Ana Market: Portuguese SMEs don’t need more noise; they need space to tell their story.
The Yunit Consulting initiative recognizes companies for their ability to overcome challenges, their resilience, growth, and innovation. Jelly is an official agency and sponsor. I was there as Founder & CEO—at the roundtable and on stage.
What the report shows
The CNN piece organizes the evening around three themes that, to me, get right to the heart of the issue:
- The backbone of the economy. In an interview with Pedro Santos Guerreiro and Gonçalo Regalado (Banco Português de Fomento), it became clear that the obvious—which is still often overlooked—is that SMEs account for about 99% of the national business sector. They are the driving force behind employment, innovation, and growth.
- The courage to go public to fuel business growth.
- Resilience and innovation. The boldness of those who take risks, the search for unique offerings, and the ability to rebuild in the face of adversity—not just as a slogan, but as a practice.
- The awards ceremony. The highlight: partners on stage, five categories, winners by name and face.
The table — and the Micro-Business Award
I participated in the roundtable discussion alongside Gonçalo Regalado (Banco Português de Fomento) and Mário Rodrigues (EST), with Pedro Santos Guerreiro serving as moderator. Afterward, I took the stage to present the award in the Microenterprise category to Quintinha d’Aldeia.
Seeing these moments on national television reinforces what I advocate in *The Change Framework*: the stories of Portuguese SMEs deserve to be told with the same ambition they embody. Not as mere window dressing, but as a cause worth fighting for.
Thank you to Yunit Consulting, CNN Portugal, and all the heroes featured in this issue.
Featured article on Jelly: 8th edition of the SME Heroes Awards on CNN Portugal.