Portugal Dreamin’ 2025
A beautiful city. A powerful community. And a chance to reimagine what’s possible in Salesforce, together.

Meet the crew
Say hello to the Mates bringing the GridMate magic to Porto!
Meet the crew
Say hello to the Mates bringing the GridMate magic to Porto!

Rey Perera

Hicham El Mansouri

Dasun Ratnasekera

Eshan Abeywickrema

Otmane Takhif
From his humble beginnings in Sri Lanka to building a life in the U.S. and co-founding one of the most beloved tools on the Salesforce AppExchange, Rey is living proof that the American Dream isn’t a distant ideal or a slogan - it’s a reality you build, brick by brick, belief by belief. His story is less about luck or shortcuts, and more about relentless drive: see the gap, solve the problem, uplift the people around you while you’re at it.
As CEO, Rey steers the ship with bold vision, hands-on leadership, and a deep instinct for human connection. Strategic to the core and electric in person, he’s best known in the ecosystem for his unmatched charisma, his signature combination of honest grit and contagious optimism, and of course, his iconic selfie pose.
GridMate’s approach to both sales and support shares the same blueprint - one authored by Rey, and built on human-first values and a steadfast commitment to serve. That ethos was shaped during Rey’s early years in the hospitality industry, where he first embraced the principle of service above all else - a mindset he carried with him into tech, and one that’s now embedded in GridMate’s DNA. From the first demo to every post-sale interaction, his philosophy of responsive, proactive service shapes the way GridMate shows up - and it’s the reason our customer reviews so often mention not just what we build, but how we treat the people who use it.
Driven by a fierce tenacity, Rey is all about turning setbacks into stepping stones, and fueling that same spirit across the team. His mantra? “You never lose; you either win or you learn.” He’s the first to high-five a wild new idea, the last to let anyone feel left behind, and the reason GridMate doesn’t just work well - it feels great to be a part of.
Outside of his double-booked calendar, whirlwind event circuits, and spontaneous cross-continental check-ins, Rey’s all about the simple joys: smashing rallies on the pickleball court, recharging with the occasional Netflix gem, or soaking up quality time with his wife and son - the real MVPs behind his every move.
Hicham is a grounded force in a noisy world - a builder, a thinker, and a technologist whose brilliance is matched only by his humility. From modest origins to helming one of the most masterfully architected suites of Lightning components on the Salesforce AppExchange, Hicham’s journey is rooted in devotion to his craft and guided by a deep sense of purpose and integrity.
With over two decades of experience - from engineering solutions for global enterprise software companies, to blazing a trail as a Salesforce Technical Architect, to ultimately co-founding GridMate - Hicham has earned a reputation as one of the most respected minds in the ecosystem. But it’s not just his technical genius that sets him apart. It’s the way he shows up: with an unwavering commitment to doing right by people - employees, customers, partners, and anyone fortunate enough to cross his path.
As CTO, Hicham is less interested in the spotlight and more invested in nurturing the foundation that holds everything together. He solves problems before they surface. He builds with intention and delivers with care. And somehow, even with a plate perpetually full, he remains remarkably accessible - always making time to listen, to guide, to lend a helping hand, or simply be present.
Those who work with him will tell you: Hicham doesn’t just write great software. He builds great people. His leadership style is anchored in openness, fairness, and the firm belief that the best kind of tech culture is a human one - where everyone has what they need to thrive, and no one is too busy to care. And every now and then, his refreshingly dry humor slips through, reminding us all that greatness and warmth don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Beyond the day-to-day of steering GridMate’s product roadmap to ever-greater heights or juggling the demands of a lean, fast-moving team, Hicham finds joy in slow, soulful things - experimenting in the kitchen, perfecting a hearty meal, playing a relaxed round of golf with his kids, or spending unrushed, meaningful time with his family.
The title says Head of Growth, but Dasun is GridMate’s all-in-one powerhouse, and a one-man task force who can map a marketing strategy, build a website, book a conference booth halfway across the world, and still have time to rescue a team member from a last-minute tech hiccup. Part strategist, part creator, part logistics wizard, and an exemplary leader through and through, Dasun brings structure and spark to everything he touches.
In the fast currents of startup life, Dasun doesn’t just keep pace, he sets it. A former software engineer with a mind made for both analytics and artistry, he bridges data and design with ease, growing GridMate’s footprint while orchestrating the behind-the-scenes magic that makes the team tick. Whether it’s recruiting top talent, planning global events, or refining a campaign, Dasun shows up with grounded confidence, relentless follow-through, and a grin that says, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” And yes, he rocks the bald look like it’s a branding decision. It kind of is.
When he’s not charting out the next chapter of GridMate's growth or saving the day mid-crisis, Dasun is our resident swim champ - and a lifelong sweet tooth on a mission to prove that hours in the pool can, in fact, cancel out donuts.
Our mate from down under, Eshan leads the charge across the APAC region with all the finesse of a seasoned closer and the charm of someone who could probably sell sand in a desert. With a natural gift for people and a mind wired for momentum, Eshan doesn’t just lead - he lifts.
Hands-on, lighting-fast, and smoother than his dance moves (which, by the way, are legendary), Eshan is the kind of leader who’ll jet across continents to close a deal at a moment’s notice, own the room in seconds, and still show up five minutes early to the next meeting. He’s ahead of the game by default - and just as quick to step in, offer backup, or clear a path when a teammate needs it most.
When he’s not orchestrating deals and racking up wins, Eshan’s either globe-trotting, dropping his latest dance moves, or being the life of the party - always in his bright yellow Vegemite cap, and always a few minutes early.
When new features are ready for takeoff here at GridMate, Otmane is the one clearing the runway. He’s our end-to-end testing and documentation maestro - meticulously catching bugs, ironing out kinks, and translating the technical into crystal-clear help centre guides that users swear by.
Armed with a Bachelor’s in Computer Programming, a Master’s in Software and Applications, and over seven years in the field, he brings an exceptional balance of precision, patience, and polish. His testing mindset is forensic, and his documentation is nothing short of user manual magic.
Off-screen, Otmane recharges in motion - hiking trails, chasing fresh air, and diving into documentaries on everything from food anthropology to cutting-edge tech. If curiosity were a superpower (and we think it is), he’d be in cape and boots.