Portas taught history of political thought from 1996-99, and founded a university opinion poll center. In 2016 he became president of the International Strategic Council — Mota-Engil Group, with a focus in Africa and Latin America. He is also a member of the international board of Pemex gas (Mexico), and was elected deputy chairman of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in 2016. Portas is a founding partner of Vinciamo Consulting and author of an international politics TV weekly program.  Portas graduated with a law degree from the Portuguese Catholic University. He is fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, and Italian.