Live at Atlassian Team ’26 | May 5-7, 2026

What It Actually Takes to Start Your Own Consulting Firm | Hernan Montes, Movonte

In this episode of Back Up to Level Up, recorded live at Atlassian Team ’26 in Anaheim, California, Janet Khoshaba sits down with Hernan Montes, CEO of Movonte, an Atlassian partner and solutions firm.

Hernan shares how 15 years at a major consulting firm led him to realize he had hit his ceiling, and why the pandemic became the catalyst to finally start his own business. He talks about the reality of wearing every hat as a first-time CEO, the role mentorship played in his growth, and why process and accountability are the two things most founders underestimate when scaling. Key takeaways:

  • Why hitting a ceiling at a big firm can be the push you need to go out on your own
  • How networking and real human connection drove early traction
  • What changes when you hire people who genuinely share your objectives
  • Why accountability and defined process are non-negotiable at any team size
  • How Movonte is helping companies adopt AI and ship apps faster without the backend risk

If you’re thinking about making the leap from employee to founder, or scaling a services business, Hernan’s story is a grounded and honest look at what that journey involves.

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We’re booking guests for upcoming events. If you’ve been through a business journey and came out with a lesson, we want to hear it.

5–10 minute episodes, filmed live at industry events, professionally produced, and published on YouTube and social. You walk away with polished content you can keep and share.