Caroline Akemy Watanabe
Food Engineer | Business Manager | Operating Permits Specialist
São Paulo
Summary
Food Engineer and Business Manager with strong business acumen and experience in consulting for the Food Service and food and beverage industries. Skilled in obtaining municipal permits, managing legal compliance processes, and leading cross-functional regulatory projects for retail chains and large corporations. Adept at helping businesses navigate legal and municipal challenges, ensuring efficient operations and mitigating risks. Currently managing Watanabe Regularizações, offering advisory and strategic consulting services to facilitate business regularization, permit acquisition, and growth across various sectors.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Languages
Work History
Founder of the Company
Watanabe Regularizações
SÃO PAULO - SP
5 2021 - Current
- Responsibilities:
- Advisory and consultancy services for obtaining municipal licenses for the conduct of all types of business activities.
- Issue operating permits from agencies such as the fire department, public health surveillance, and city hall.
- Manage the collection of municipal fees and specialize in sanitary control services (team training, manuals and procedures, control spreadsheets, and compliance with health regulations).
- Created organization's mission and vision statements for use by employees.
- Implemented efficient operational processes to optimize productivity and resource allocation.
- Established a successful business by identifying market needs and developing innovative solutions.
- Developed strong partnerships with other businesses to allow for collaboration and more significant opportunities for growth.
Regulatory Affairs Analyst
Hinode Group
SÃO PAULO - SP
02.2022 - 05.2022
- Responsibilities:
- To technically analyze, from the perspective of sanitary and metrological legislation, the formula and labeling of products, both at the national level and in Latin America, as well as marketing media materials;
- To monitor Due Diligence processes for the company's food products.
- Improved regulatory compliance by conducting thorough audits and assessments of internal processes.
- Established clear channels for interdepartmental communication regarding regulatory updates, leading to more efficient dissemination of information throughout the organization.
Regulatory Affairs Analyst
Kivalita Consulting
SÃO PAULO - SP
04.2021 - 02.2022
- Responsibilities:
- Support the team in the discussion on strategy/regulatory path for products of interest to health.
Make contact with municipal agencies representing ANVISA, and obtain information on decrees that lead to local inspection. - Provide information on obtaining licenses for the operation of health care product manufacturers, as well as on the import/export process.
Provide information from ANVISA and MAPA publications about the customer's focus product. - Established clear channels for interdepartmental communication regarding regulatory updates, leading to more efficient dissemination of information throughout the organization.
Regulatory Affairs Analyst
Cacau Show
São Paulo
10.2019 - 05.2021
- Responsibilities:
- Regularization of Cacau Show's own stores (390 units across all regions of Brazil), including the control, issuance, and renewal of operating licenses (City Hall, Health Surveillance, Fire Department, Posture Secretariat, and Environment Secretariat) for physical stores;
- Management of operational inspection and sanitary inspection fees for the owned units;
Technical and legal responsibility for the owned units with Health Surveillance;
Management of local suppliers for sanitary maintenance;
Training of teams in Good Manufacturing Practices. - Negotiated favorable terms during inspections by effectively communicating the organization''s compliance efforts to regulators.
- Evaluated promotional materials for compliance with applicable regulations before their public release, mitigating potential risks associated with non-compliant content.
Internal Auditor
Cacau Show
PORTO ALEGRE - RS
02.2019 - 10.2019
- Responsibilities:
- Conduct continuous visits to the AllRock group stores in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre, metropolitan region, and interior).
- Perform inventory control and implement measures to prevent losses of products and supplies.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Produced audit reports.
- Documented recommendations to improve internal controls.
- Identified and reported audit issues.
- Performed internal audits of financial and departmental operations, developing risk assessments and conducting process walkthroughs for compliance with documented processes.
Intern
FoodCompany Consultoria ETreinamento
CURITIBA
01.2018 - 04.2018
- Responsibilities:
- Hygiene and handling training for clients food handlers.
- Adequacy of products to the current legislation.
- Development of new process layout and flowchart.
- Technical survey of equipment, food raw material food packing.
- Check of suppliers of necessary items for the implantation of new industries.
- Supported staff members in their daily tasks, reducing workload burden and allowing for increased focus on higher-priority assignments.
Education
MBA - Advanced Topics in Business Strategy
University of La Verne
La Verne - California 05.2024 - 09.2024
MBA - Business Administration and Management, General
MBA USP/Esalq
05.2022 - 11.2023
Bachelor of Science - Food Engineering
Universidade Tecnológica Federal Do Paraná
Medianeira, Parana, Brazil 05.2013 - 12.2018
Skills
Business Management
Food Service
Strategic Planning
Regulatory Affairs
Operating Permits
Healthcare regulations
Timeline
MBA - Advanced Topics in Business Strategy
University of La Verne
05.2024 - 09.2024
MBA - Business Administration and Management, General
MBA USP/Esalq
05.2022 - 11.2023
Regulatory Affairs Analyst
Hinode Group
02.2022 - 05.2022
Regulatory Affairs Analyst
Kivalita Consulting
04.2021 - 02.2022
Regulatory Affairs Analyst
Cacau Show
10.2019 - 05.2021
Internal Auditor
Cacau Show
02.2019 - 10.2019
Intern
FoodCompany Consultoria ETreinamento
01.2018 - 04.2018
Bachelor of Science - Food Engineering
Universidade Tecnológica Federal Do Paraná
05.2013 - 12.2018
Founder of the Company
Watanabe Regularizações
5 2021 - Current
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