On my return from a trip to Brazil in 2017, a chance encounter changed my perspective on opportunities and destinations. I met a 16-year-old young man on the plane, traveling through Europe. We exchanged ideas about opportunities, studies, and technology. He, from Southern Brazil, planned to settle in Europe due to family ties.
Seven years later, while conversing with a rideshare driver in Brasília, I reflected on the lack of opportunities in Brazil. He, the only one among four siblings not working in the public sector, supplemented his income by driving on weekends. We discussed the prevalent belief that salvation lies in public service exams, especially in an administrative city like Brasília. However, we fail to see beyond these limited opportunities.
During this conversation, I shared a poignant memory of that 16-year-old, who challenged my 40-year-old perspective on the potential of brilliant minds in Brazil. I had expressed regret that minds like Tim Berners-Lee, Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn, Ray Tomlinson, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and Marc Andreessen weren’t born in our country. He corrected me, saying, ‘If they were born in Brazil, they’d probably be public servants.’
The lesson I draw is not to belittle public service but to expand horizons. There are opportunities beyond the narrow discourse often imposed on us. The field of opportunities is shaped by minds that challenge the status quo. It is a reflection on seeking opportunities outside conventional paths and valuing those who dare to explore territories beyond expectations.
The driver shared the story of a friend who, after passing the Banco do Brasil exam, chose the uncertainty of Canada. Today, he works in IT, while his wife has been happily producing homemade cakes for five years.”
