Ricardo Viana Vargas

Name

Ricardo Viana Vargas

Legal name

Ricardo Viana Vargas

Website

https://ricardo-vargas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ricardo Viana Vargas operates a global project management education and consulting business through his personal brand, delivering self-paced courses, LinkedIn Learning content, workshops, books, and enterprise consulting. The business serves project management professionals, agile practitioners, and executives across 11 industry verticals worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Project Management Training and Consulting

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Foundational PM & Delivery Methods (Waterfall/Agile/Hybrid) (EDABAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Delivery & Execution (Planning, Estimation, Tracking) (EDABAHAE), Project, Program & Product Management (EDAGANAE)

Keywords

• Project management training
• Agile transformation consulting
• Portfolio governance services
• AI project management
• Corporate workshop delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Belo Horizonte

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Online Course Sales: Self-paced online courses sold through Ricardo Vargas Online School (learn.ricardo-vargas.com). Courses include PMBOK 7th Edition ($249), PMRank Online ($179), and others. One-year access after enrollment.
2. LinkedIn Learning Courses: Courses distributed through LinkedIn Learning platform. Ricardo receives royalties from course enrollments. Ten courses available in Portuguese.
3. Corporate Onsite Training: Enterprise field sales of customized onsite training for organizations. Pricing negotiated case by case, typically 16-24 hours over 2-3 consecutive days, classes of 20-250 participants.
4. Live Virtual Classes: Scheduled live virtual training sessions with fixed duration and pricing. 2-4 hours daily commitment over 1-2 weeks plus homework.
5. Book Sales: 17 books on project management, risk management, crisis management, and transformation published in seven languages. Over 500,000 copies sold.
6. Keynote Speaking: Fees for speaking engagements at conferences and corporate events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Ricardo Viana Vargas delivers project management training, consulting, and thought leadership content for individual professionals and enterprise clients. Offerings include self-paced online courses, live virtual classes, onsite workshops (PMRank, PMDome, PMFits, Sustainability Pulse, Uncertainty Cycle), a masterclass on AI in project management, advisory consulting across project management, agile, crisis, risk, change management and portfolio governance, and 17 published books translated into seven languages.

Product overview

Ricardo Vargas operates a multi-format educational business centered on project management expertise and AI integration. The core offering is the Ricardo Vargas Online School (built on Hotmart) providing self-paced courses on PMBOK Guide editions, portfolio management (PMRank), Agile delivery, and career development. This platform complements LinkedIn Learning courses and premium masterclasses. The portfolio includes workshops (PMDome, PMRank onsite, PMFits, Sustainability Pulse, Uncertainty Cycle), consulting services (project management, agile, crisis planning, risk, change management), and free content (podcasts, newsletter, infographics). Key differentiators include AI-driven project management focus, multi-language delivery (English, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic), scholarship programs, and integration with PMI standards and frameworks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 5 Minutes Podcast: A long-running podcast series hosted by Ricardo Vargas on project management topics, with episodes typically around 5 minutes in duration, running since 2007
• PMRank®
• PMDome®
• PMFits®
• Sustainability Pulse®
• Uncertainty Cycle®
• Quick Wins®
• Beyond Hype

Products and services

• PMBOK Guide Courses (6th, 7th, 8th Editions) Comprehensive online courses on PMBOK Guide editions covering 12 principles, 8 performance domains, processes, and practical application for project professionals pursuing PMI-aligned skills.
• PMRank Online Workshop Self-paced online workshop on project prioritization and portfolio management using the Tiger Screws case study and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology; 22 lessons, 4 hours of video content.
• PMRank Onsite Workshop In-person workshop delivered by Ricardo Vargas at client organizations covering portfolio selection and implementation challenges for teams of 20-250 participants.
• PMDome Workshop Award-winning project management workshop teaching how project management practices ensure effective results for business and personal outcomes.
• PMFits Program Management Workshop Workshop on program management and decision-making models to help organizations realize strategic business objectives through program benefits.
• Sustainability Pulse Workshop Workshop integrating sustainability strategies into projects, focused on creating lasting value, positive change, and meaningful social, economic, and environmental impact.
• Uncertainty Cycle Workshop Workshop addressing uncertainty management in project environments and organizational contexts.
• Building and Enhancing Your Career in Project Management Free online course covering project management career paths, CV preparation, interview skills, social media presence, and professional ethics; 15 lessons, 2 hours of content, available permanently.
• Crash Course on Agile Delivery Course covering Agile concepts, frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, XP), practices, and servant leadership for project management in VUCA environments.
• AI-Driven Project Management Revolution Masterclass Premium masterclass on AI transformation of project management, co-hosted with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez; covers AI agents, digital twins, and strategic collaboration between humans and AI.
• LinkedIn Learning Courses Courses distributed through LinkedIn Learning covering AI agents, sustainability, PMBOK 8th edition, leadership, and sector-specific project management topics; ten courses in Portuguese and multiple English courses with over 200,000 students enrolled.
• Books on Project Management 17 published books on project management, risk management, crisis management, and transformation; translated into seven languages with over 500,000 copies sold.
• Project Management Consulting Advisory consulting including PMO setup and evaluation, machine learning integration, Quick Wins methodology, and capital project planning across multiple industries.
• Agile and Business Agility Consulting Consulting services helping organizations adapt strategies and responses through proven methodologies that go beyond traditional business agility models.
• Crisis Planning and Response Consulting Consulting for business continuity during disruptions including natural disasters, reputation threats, operational impacts, financial risks, and employee safety.
• Enterprise Risk Management Consulting Consulting services for identifying, assessing, and managing enterprise-level risks across projects and organizational functions.
• Change Management Consulting Consulting for organizational change management including stakeholder engagement and transformation execution.
• Portfolio and Program Governance Consulting Consulting for portfolio management, program governance, and strategic alignment of project investments with organizational priorities.
• Keynote Speaking Speaking engagements at conferences and corporate events on project management, AI in project management, and leadership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 million+ podcast views since 2007
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Project Management Institute (PMI) EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026PMI Europe webinar on AI in Project Management scheduled for June 29, 2026 at 6:00 PM CET. Ricardo Vargas joining Denis Lassance for discussion on AI evolution from support tool to strategic collaborator, digital twins, and practical use cases.
• Morgan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished article on AI governance and systemic risk in Morgan State Project Management Magazine (Spring 2026). Co-authored with João Henrique B. Jacinto exploring how AI scaling demands project management maturity. Strategic academic partnership for thought leadership.
• YeraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstonian startup dedicated to improving employee performance and engagement through technology and artificial intelligence. Ricardo Vargas serves on advisory board, providing strategic guidance on AI and project management integration.
• LinkedIn LearningcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCourse distribution partnership through LinkedIn Learning platform. Ten courses available in Portuguese, including AI agents, PMBOK 8th edition, sustainability, leadership, and sector-specific content. Over 200,000 students enrolled.
• Brightline InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPMI think tank (2016-2020) bringing together global organizations into coalition dedicated to helping executives bridge gap between strategy design and delivery. Ricardo Vargas directed the initiative and developed Coursera course reaching 26,000+ students.
• Antonio Nieto-RodriguezcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of AI-Driven Project Management Revolution masterclass. Leading voice in project management collaborated on AI integration and future of PM profession content.
• CourseraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoursera course on 'Bridging the Gap Between Strategy Design and Delivery' viewed by 26,000+ students. Distribution partnership for online education.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Velociteach: PMP and PMI-ACP exam prep company offering online and live courses for individual professionals and enterprises. Directly comparable PMP certification training value proposition and audience.
• GreyCampus: Professional certification training company offering PMP, CAPM, and Six Sigma courses for individuals and corporate L&D. Direct competitor in PMBOK-aligned certification training, targeting the same SMB/individual and enterprise segments.
• Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez: Leading project management author and speaker, co-host with Ricardo of the AI-Driven Project Management Revolution masterclass. Comparable thought-leadership position, PMI affiliation, AI-in-PM focus, and premium keynotes/workshops targeting the same enterprise and individual buyer segments.
• Simplilearn: Large-scale online training provider offering PMP, PMI-ACP, and Agile certification courses globally. Competes directly for the same PMP-prep and PM career-development buyer with a much broader course catalog and lower price points.
• KnowledgeHut: Global training provider of PMP, Agile, Scrum, and SAFe certifications with strong enterprise and individual offerings. Competes in the same certification prep and corporate workshop categories as Ricardo's workshop portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Massive online learning marketplace that hosts Ricardo's Coursera course (26K+ students) and competes with him for professional PM learners via university and industry partner content. Overlapping course catalog and certification positioning.
• Project Management Institute (PMI): Global industry body that publishes the PMBOK Guide and standards Ricardo's flagship courses teach against, and runs the credentialing ecosystem (PMP, PMI-ACP). Overlapping capability as both a content publisher and certification authority that competes for the same training and conference dollar.
• LinkedIn Learning: Marketplace that distributes Ricardo's own courses (200K+ students) and also hosts competing project management and AI-PM courses from other instructors. Comparable online course delivery model, audience overlap, and enterprise L&D buyer segment.
• Scaled Agile (SAFe): Provider of the SAFe framework and Agile-at-scale certification training, competing in the Agile and business agility training category that Ricardo's Crash Course on Agile Delivery and consulting services also serve.

Emerging players

• Brightline Initiative: PMI think tank that Ricardo directed from 2016-2020, focused on bridging strategy design and delivery. Continues to publish related content and coalitions addressing the same strategic-to-execution gap his consulting and training address.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/rvvargas
• YouTubeyoutube.com/rvvargas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/macrosolutions
• Instagraminstagram.com/rvvargas
• Facebookfacebook.com/ricardo.v.vargas1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ricardo Viana Vargas