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Bate-papo com CEO - Raphaella Gomes
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Bate-papo com CEO - Raphaella Gomes

Introduction to the Podcast

Purpose of the Podcast

  • Aline Dalmagro, CEO of Proa, introduces the podcast aimed at impacting 300,000 young people by helping them secure their first job.
  • The podcast features professionals who have reached high positions in corporations to inspire listeners with their stories.

Guest Introduction

  • Aline invites Rafaela Gomes, founder of New Gu Strategies, to join the conversation.
  • Rafaela expresses gratitude for the invitation and her excitement to contribute.

Rafaela Gomes: Background and Personal Insights

Professional Overview

  • Rafaela is introduced as a prominent figure in energy and decarbonization with extensive experience including being the first female CEO of Votorantim Group.
  • Recognized by Forbes as one of the 100 most powerful women in agriculture, she has a passion for reading and traveling.

Personal Identity Beyond Credentials

  • Rafaela discusses her belief that individuals are not divisible; who they are at work reflects who they are at home.
  • She describes herself as curious, courageous (sometimes excessively), resilient yet stubborn.

Family Background and Cultural Influence

  • Rafaela shares about her supportive husband André and her two brothers.
  • Her multicultural background includes a Portuguese father and Brazilian mother, which shaped her identity through diverse cultural experiences.

Challenges Faced Throughout Life

Early Life Transitions

  • Rafaela recounts moving from Brazil to Portugal at a young age and later returning to Brazil, highlighting how these transitions prepared her for future challenges.

Perspective on Challenges

Transitioning to a New Country: Challenges and Growth

Personal Experience of Relocation

  • The speaker reflects on the emotional challenges faced when moving to a new country at 12 years old, leaving friends and familiar surroundings behind. This period was marked by suffering but ultimately led to personal growth.
  • The speaker connects with Rafaela, who also entered college at 16, prompting curiosity about their similar early academic paths.

Early Academic Journey

  • Rafaela shares her experience of skipping grades due to advanced learning, which allowed her to enter college at 16. She discusses the educational system's changes since her time.
  • Despite being offered an opportunity to skip another grade, Rafaela chose not to because it would have made her the youngest in her class, impacting her college experience.

Work Experience and Family Support

  • Rafaela explains that she started working out of necessity as her family faced financial difficulties. She felt compelled to support them during tough times.
  • At 16, she became emancipated and opened a business with the intention of helping her family financially by involving them in the venture.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

  • Rafaela began selling cotton candy in Rio de Janeiro as part of her entrepreneurial journey. This venture was influenced by her father's background in textiles.
  • She describes starting a small factory for production but faced challenges getting stores to accept new suppliers due to established brands dominating the market.

Lessons from Sales Experience

  • Drawing inspiration from her grandfather's sales advice, Rafaela emphasizes key principles: punctuality, fulfilling promises, and persistence in sales efforts.
  • Her determination led potential clients to eventually engage with her offerings despite initial rejections; this persistence helped build a customer base.

Skills Development Through Entrepreneurship

  • Although inexperienced in production management initially, Rafaela learned valuable organizational skills through hands-on experience while running her business.
  • The discussion highlights how early experiences can shape future competencies relevant in corporate environments—skills like marketing planning and distribution are crucial across various fields.

Reflections on Success and Failure

Career Journey and Lessons Learned

Early Career Decisions

  • The speaker reflects on the challenges of balancing college, running a business, and completing an internship. They ultimately chose to pursue an internship at Shell over their business.
  • This decision led to their first significant failure in entrepreneurship, which they initially viewed negatively but later recognized as a valuable learning experience.

Reshaping Perspectives on Failure

  • The speaker discusses how they struggled with shame regarding their early entrepreneurial failure but eventually reframed it as a stepping stone that contributed to their resilience.
  • They emphasize the importance of perspective in interpreting experiences; what may seem like a failure can be transformed into a positive lesson.

The Path to Shell Internship

  • A friend encouraged the speaker to apply for the Shell internship despite their initial reluctance due to existing commitments.
  • After persistent encouragement from this friend, the speaker decided to apply, believing they had little chance among 6,000 candidates.

Interview Experience

  • During the interview process, the speaker questioned why they should leave their business for Shell, showcasing confidence and critical thinking about career choices.
  • Despite feeling they might have jeopardized their chances during the interview by questioning its value, feedback indicated that their dedication was recognized positively by interviewers.

Transitioning into Corporate Life

  • The speaker quickly transitioned from intern to full-time employee at Shell and had to accelerate graduation plans due to corporate requirements.

Career Journey in Corporate Law and M&A

Early Career and Transition to M&A

  • The speaker reflects on their 19-year career, starting as a trainee lawyer in corporate law, which encompasses various legal areas including compliance and intellectual property.
  • They began their journey in traditional corporate law, focusing on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), debt issuance, financial markets, compliance, governance, and intellectual property.
  • A passion for M&A developed over time; the speaker describes it as addictive but emphasizes the importance of knowing when to step back from intense work.
  • The thrill of making impactful decisions during significant transactions made them feel powerful and integral to changing the business landscape.
  • Working closely with daily operations allowed them to witness all aspects of transactions, providing valuable insights into decision-making processes.

Opportunities Through M&A

  • Their experience led to a position at Raízen after being recruited by a former boss who recognized their potential for handling M&A projects.
  • The speaker highlights that working in M&A opens numerous opportunities compared to staying within a single area of expertise due to its broad exposure across different sectors.
  • They note that M&A roles provide comprehensive visibility into company operations, fostering connections across departments that can ignite new passions for other areas.
  • During crises, professionals involved in M&A play crucial roles in resolving issues; this high-pressure environment can lead to an adrenaline-driven work culture.
  • The speaker recommends pursuing corporate law early in one's career for a holistic understanding of how businesses operate before specializing further down the line.

Insights on Raízen's Operations

  • After joining Raízen, they took on increasing responsibilities across various legal domains such as capital markets and environmental compliance alongside their core focus on corporate law and M&A.
  • Raízen is described as one of Brazil's largest companies with significant operations in sugar and ethanol production from sugarcane.
  • The company is noted for being among the top producers globally—specifically leading in sugar production—and managing vast agricultural land holdings.
  • With over 1.2 million hectares planted with sugarcane, Raízen produces substantial quantities of both sugar for human consumption and ethanol fuel derived from renewable resources.

Renewable Energy Innovations and Career Transitions

Renewable Energy Production from Sugarcane Waste

  • The use of sugarcane bagasse for energy production is highlighted, with all Raízen plants being 100% self-sustainable in terms of electricity by burning their own waste.
  • Raízen's capacity to produce 1.3 GB of energy is sufficient to supply a city the size of Rio de Janeiro, showcasing the scale of renewable energy generation.
  • The introduction of advanced technology allows for the extraction of sugars from cellulose, enabling up to 50% more ethanol production from the same planted area, exemplifying circular economy principles.

Waste Management and Biogas Production

  • Vinasse, a byproduct rich in water and organic matter from sugar and ethanol production, can be processed in biodigesters to create biogas (biomethane).
  • This process not only generates renewable natural gas but also produces fertilizer as a final product, reinforcing sustainable practices within the industry.

Business Operations and Strategic Shifts

  • Discussion on Raízen’s fuel distribution under the Shell brand highlights contractual relationships between independent service station owners and Raízen.
  • A personal narrative begins about transitioning roles after nearly two decades in legal operations at Raízen, indicating a desire for new challenges.

Personal Growth and Leadership Development

  • The speaker reflects on feeling stagnant in their role despite its complexity and interest level; emphasizes learning as a core value.
  • Enrolling in an executive leadership program (PMD at IE Business School), which focuses on deep personal reflection alongside business skills development.

Career Transition Decisions

  • After introspection during the PMD program, the speaker decides they no longer want to practice law but faces uncertainty about future steps.
  • Consulting with mentor Beto Abreu leads to encouragement rather than discouragement regarding career change; this moment becomes pivotal for future decisions.

Embracing New Opportunities

  • Supportive environment at Raízen facilitates discussions about career changes; positive reinforcement from colleagues aids confidence in pursuing new paths.

Discussion on Gender and Leadership in Brazil

The Shift in Perception of Environmentalism

  • The understanding of environmentalism has evolved significantly over the past nine years, moving from a perception of it being an extreme or niche interest to a more mainstream concern.
  • There remains a significant amount of misinformation surrounding energy transition, which is part of a broader issue affecting various sectors beyond just energy.

Challenges Faced by Women in Leadership

  • Rafa discusses her experience as the first female CEO at Votorantim, highlighting the challenges she faced in a predominantly male environment.
  • She reflects on her earlier role at Raízen, where she was one of the first women in leadership positions, emphasizing the difficulties encountered due to gender dynamics.

Navigating Male-Dominated Spaces

  • Rafa notes that both men and women face challenges when adapting to mixed-gender environments; men must adjust to having women in roles traditionally held by men.
  • Women often feel pressured to conform to masculine norms for self-protection while striving to maintain their authenticity.

Building Support Networks Among Women

  • A group called "Energéticas" was formed among women leaders at Raízen to support each other and promote women's leadership initiatives.
  • This network provided crucial encouragement during challenging times, reinforcing the idea that perseverance is essential for paving the way for future generations.

Breaking Glass Ceilings and Altruism

  • Rafa emphasizes the importance of breaking through barriers not only for personal success but also for those who will follow.
  • She highlights a growing sense of solidarity among women and supportive engagement from men, advocating for collective human progress rather than divisive gender politics.

Personal Inspiration from Family Legacy

  • Rafa expresses pride in becoming Votorantim's first female CEO, attributing this achievement partly to prior efforts made by others within the organization.
  • She shares stories about her grandmother's pioneering spirit as one of her inspirations; her grandmother became a factory president in the 1970s despite societal challenges.

Lessons Learned from Her Grandmother

  • Rafa recounts how her grandmother aspired to be president of a factory while working as an assistant teacher, showcasing determination against odds.
  • She acknowledges feeling behind compared to her grandmother’s achievements but recognizes that these family legacies motivate her current endeavors.

The Importance of Learning and Mentorship

Personal Background and Resilience

  • The speaker reflects on the significance of learning over material possessions, sharing a personal story about their grandmother who lost everything during the 1975 socialist revolution in Portugal.
  • Despite losing her home, the grandmother's resilience led her to start anew in Brazil, emphasizing that knowledge is an invaluable asset that cannot be taken away.
  • The speaker highlights that hard work and courage are essential for success, suggesting that learning is foundational to achieving one's goals.

The Role of Mentorship

  • A discussion on mentorship begins, with the speaker asking a colleague (Rafa) about their experiences mentoring others and its importance for early-career individuals.
  • Rafa shares insights on having mentors throughout their career, noting how these relationships have been crucial for personal development.
  • Emphasizing organic connections, Rafa recounts how they approached potential mentors casually rather than through formal programs.

Building Mentor Relationships

  • Rafa describes a memorable encounter where they asked someone to be their mentor in an elevator, illustrating how informal settings can lead to meaningful mentorship opportunities.
  • They encourage others not to feel embarrassed when seeking mentorship; most people appreciate being asked and may feel honored by such requests.
  • The conversation stresses that while some may decline due to time constraints, many are willing to engage if approached respectfully.

Natural Development of Mentorship

  • Rafa notes that genuine interest drives successful mentor relationships; proactive individuals often find mentors who are eager to help them grow.
  • Many mentoring relationships begin informally over coffee or casual conversations rather than through structured programs.
  • The speaker concludes this section by asserting that engaging with those you admire can yield valuable insights regardless of whether it’s a formal mentorship arrangement.

Personal Life Insights

  • Transitioning into personal life discussions, Rafa shares details about their long-term relationship with André, whom they met at work in 2000.

The Benefits and Challenges of Working with Familiar Colleagues

Positive Aspects of Familiarity in the Workplace

  • Having colleagues who understand your experiences creates a strong connection, akin to therapy, as they are aware of your journey from start to finish.
  • Close relationships at work provide support and assurance, allowing for genuine sharing of challenges and responsibilities.

Balancing Work and Personal Life

  • It is crucial to maintain boundaries between work and personal life; failing to do so can lead to an overwhelming blend where life becomes solely about work.
  • Learning often comes from mistakes or problems rather than smooth sailing; these challenges are essential for growth.

Transitioning from Corporate Life to Entrepreneurship

Focus on Climate Change

  • The speaker emphasizes the importance of addressing climate change as a global priority that requires urgent action.
  • A brief overview of climate change is requested, highlighting its significance in today's world.

Personal Journey into Entrepreneurship

  • The speaker shares a personal anecdote about their brother seeking professional advice, marking a pivotal moment in their career transition.
  • Encouragement from family members can play a significant role in deciding to pursue entrepreneurship despite previous corporate experience.

The Importance of Impact in Professional Choices

Motivations Behind Career Decisions

  • The speaker reflects on how the potential impact of their work has always influenced their career choices, particularly when working with large organizations.
  • Transitioning to entrepreneurship allows for greater multiplicative impact across various companies rather than being limited to one organization.

Addressing Climate Change Challenges

  • Since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, there has been widespread acknowledgment of rising global temperatures and its severe implications for ecosystems.

Understanding Climate Change Impacts

Current State of Global Warming

  • Scientists warn that if average global temperatures rise by 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, it could lead to irreversible damage across ecosystems.

Increasing Frequency of Extreme Weather Events

  • There is a noticeable increase in extreme weather events such as hurricanes and wildfires; insurance issues arise due to heightened risks associated with climate change impacts.

The Impact of Fossil Fuels on Climate Change

Historical Context of Energy Use

  • Prior to the Industrial Revolution, energy sources were limited to wood for heating and cooking, with a smaller, dispersed population.
  • The onset of the Industrial Revolution marked a shift to coal as a primary energy source, followed by natural gas and oil.

Carbon Emissions from Fossil Fuels

  • Burning fossil fuels releases carbon that has been stored underground for millions of years, contributing significantly to CO2 emissions in the atmosphere.
  • Unlike contemporary trees that capture CO2 through photosynthesis, burning ancient forests returns previously sequestered carbon back into the atmosphere.

Greenhouse Gas Effect

  • Increased levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases trap solar energy in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to global warming.
  • This phenomenon is referred to as the greenhouse effect; it prevents heat from escaping back into space.

Consequences of Global Warming

  • Rising average temperatures disrupt ecosystems, creating cascading effects across various environmental systems.
  • Oceans are particularly affected due to their role in absorbing CO2; excess absorption leads to increased acidity harming marine life like corals.

Global Response and Commitments

  • In 2015, countries globally recognized climate change challenges and committed to reducing CO2 equivalent emissions by 2050 towards achieving net-zero emissions.
  • While total elimination of emissions isn't feasible due to certain industries relying on them, efforts aim for a balance between emissions produced and captured.

Emission Sources and Brazil's Unique Position

  • Globally, major emission sources include electricity generation (primarily from coal and natural gas), transportation, mining, and cement production.
  • Brazil benefits from a cleaner energy matrix with 80% renewable electricity generation primarily from hydropower.

Transportation Challenges in Brazil

  • Despite its clean energy profile, transportation remains Brazil's largest emission sector due to reliance on diesel-powered vehicles.
  • The widespread use of flex-fuel vehicles allows for significant reductions in CO2 emissions when using ethanol instead of gasoline.

Potential Solutions for Emission Reduction

Electric Vehicles and Career Choices

Challenges of Electric Trucks

  • The discussion highlights the challenges faced by electric trucks, particularly due to their long-distance requirements and the limitations of battery size.
  • Alternatives such as biogas or bio-methane are suggested for heavy-duty vehicles, indicating a shift towards more sustainable fuel options.
  • Fuel cell technology and ethanol are also mentioned as potential solutions in the transition to greener transportation.

Career Development Insights

  • The speaker encourages individuals, especially those starting their careers, to consider changing careers multiple times for broader learning experiences.
  • Emphasizes the importance of challenging oneself and stepping out of comfort zones to foster personal growth.
  • Advises that early career stages should be about exploration without fixed certainties; one should embrace unknown opportunities.

Importance of Experience

  • Highlights the concept of "unknown unknowns," suggesting that trying new things is essential for discovering interests and passions.
  • Uses an analogy about ice cream flavors to illustrate that one cannot form opinions without firsthand experience in various fields.

Experimentation in Early Career

  • Stresses that youth provides a unique opportunity for experimentation, which diminishes with age and responsibilities.
  • Encourages young professionals to take risks while they have fewer obligations, allowing them greater freedom in career choices.

Life Lessons from Career Journey

  • Reflecting on personal experiences, the speaker notes how initial certainties often evolve into doubts over time, emphasizing continuous learning.
  • Conveys that life is about storytelling; engaging fully in experiences leads to richer narratives later on.

Quickfire Questions Segment

  • Introduces a rapid-fire question segment where personal insights are shared regarding inspiration sources and motivations.
  • Discusses favorite books and influential advice received throughout their journey.

Sustainable Practices and Inspirational Figures

Importance of Sustainability in Daily Life

  • The speaker emphasizes the significance of adopting sustainable practices, mentioning their personal commitment to recycling and composting at home.
  • They highlight the influence of various individuals in environmental advocacy, specifically naming Al Gore as a long-time inspiration for sustainability efforts.

Influential Figures in Environmentalism

  • John Doerr is introduced as another key figure; he is an American investor who has contributed significantly to climate initiatives and authored a book on the subject.
  • The speaker notes Doerr's substantial donation to Stanford University aimed at establishing a school focused on sustainability.

Defining Success

  • When asked about success, the speaker defines it as achieving inner peace, indicating that personal fulfillment is more important than external accolades.

Encouragement for Future Generations

  • The conversation shifts towards encouraging younger generations, with the speaker expressing confidence that they will contribute positively to global change.
  • They reject negative stereotypes about Generation Z, asserting that this generation faces greater challenges but possesses unique qualities that can drive meaningful change.

Call to Action and Resources

  • The speaker urges young people to embrace diversity as a crucial element for creating impactful solutions for the future.