Global Week on Entrepreneurship

The current challenge of becoming innovative and entrepreneurial has reached Brazilian organizations. From my observations and work during the past 3 months, since I got back, there is a high demand for innovation, driven by societal changes, by competition and by the global markets... and a big question: how?

Last week was celebrated the global week on entrepreneurship. In Brazil, Endeavor promoted the event with a series of workshops, lectures and presentations around the country, under the theme "bota pra fazer" (something like "let's do it").

Through the events I participated at, it was clear the message: we need to change a culture! Brazilians (and the business/political/cultural environment around) have to:

• Dare to fail - and face society's prejudice against failure
  
• Innovation from bottom-up, full support from top-down
• Persistence, courage and belief
  
• Existence of an "eco-system" for innovation
• Transformative education rather than technical knowledge transfer
  

Another key message, in between the lines, was about social entrepreneurship. The idea that business and entrepreneurs can solve issues such as poverty or AIDS or environmental destruction was said and repeated many times - without using the words "social entrepreneur" or "social business". Those of us operating in such a paradigm should feel like being at the wave crest (na crista da onda). It's exciting and it's the future!

SONHAR PEQUENO OU SONHAR GRANDE DÁ O MESMO TRABALHO!
(to dream small or to dream big: it's the same effort for both)

Ilha das Flores (best documentary/short film ever)

For years and years I've been searching for the subtitles!! Subtitles that would enable me to share with the world this piece of art. Ilha das Flores ("Isle of Flowers") is a Brazilian short film/documentary by Jorge Furtado, shot in 1989 in my hometown Porto Alegre.

The film got many awards over the years. According to IMdB votes, it's the best Brazilian short movie and best Brazilian documentary ever made, and it's the global #15 and #11 (respectively). According to wikipedia, "chosen by European critics as one of the 100 most important short films of the century".

So, today I finally found them - the subtitles :D

Enough said, just enjoy 13min of your time and watch it. And maybe you want to watch it again. And again. Reflect about it. I also would really invite you to post your comments and thoughts here...

Ilha das Flores-sub Eng
Uploaded by Simud

As the closing lines of the movie say (quoting Cecilia Meirelles):

"Free" is the state of those who enjoy freedom.
"Fredom" is a word that feeds the dream of humanity;
that no one can explain, bu everyone understands.

PS: a lot has changed in the Isle of Flowers over the last 30 years. Still, this is the reality of most of our population in the planet today.

Invitation: Education, Creativity and The Kaospilots

I've been studying for two years in Denmark, and many people have been asking me, either by curiosity or interest, about this school with this strange name "Chaos Pilots?". What is it? How does it work? How can I study there? Is there anything like that in Brazil?

As this is my last week in São Paulo, before returning to Denmark and finish my studies, I would like to invite you for an informal conversation about Education, Creativity, Innovation, and much more...

September 9th, 2008 (Tuesday)
Location: The Hub - Bela Cintra 409 - São Paulo
Reception at 7pm, chat goes from 7.30 until 9.30pm
Cost: suggested R$ 5,00 (for drinks and snacks)

This invitation extends for all interested people, and curious about the subjects!
Let me know in advance if you're coming by e-mail henrique@kaospilot.dk.

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
(...)
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Warriors Without Weapons 2009

I met quite a few folks who supported the last editions of this program, and a few others who have participated. It's impressive, life-changing experience! The deadline has passed for the 2009 edition, but they still accept participants from outside Brazil.

Check the website www.warriorswithoutweapons.net and warn your friends and family, you won't be the same afterwords...





Hello! Do you want to change the world?

We are taking applications for the 2009 Warriors Without Weapons program. The program will gather youth from different countries that are willing to roll up their sleeves and really make a better world.

After 30 days working collectively with a local community, they will come back home with knowledge and experience to start to promote change in their local realities.

In 2009 the program will take place in Santos, Brazil from January 5 to February 5. The applications must be sent until August 15!

Do you want to know more about the program? Visit our blog at www.warriorswithoutweapons.net to learn how to participate.

Please, do you know someone who wants to change the world?

If you think this is a good way and have people in mind to participate. Would you send this invitation to them?

Thank you so much for your atention!

People from Elos: André, Cláudio, Edgard, Mariana, Mila, Natasha, Rodrigo Rubido, Rodrigo Alvarez, Thaís e Val.

Chaordic Principles and Learning Networks

I arrived in São Paulo two weeks ago. It's funny and nice to be back here 3 years later (I lived here before in 2003-2005). I got invited by an old friend Zoe, who works for Banco Real, to join a project on Corporate Education. As they defined it, they want to pioneer the future of corporate education in Brazil, in a very innovative and interesting way, through co-creation of multi-stakeholder networks, where educational experiences take place, creating value for all participants, society and for the bank (and other institutions). Banco Real recently received the award of "Most Sustainable Bank in the World", given by the Financial Times. It's amazing to see how much the language and 'walking-the-talk' is developed here. Not perfect, but far ahead of most of the private sector.

There are three key concepts involved in this project called "Vanguard in Education":

• Experience Co-Creation: developed by C.K. Prahalad and Venkat Ramaswamy in their book "The Future of Competition", a new paradigm for ceating products and services engaging stakeholders. The "consumer" becomes a key player in the creative process, The individual experience is central in the conception of "value".
  
• Chaordic Governance: combines chaos and order in a harmonious way, competition and cooperation. It was inspired by Dee Hock's work when developing the concept of VISA International through the 60s-80s and beautifully told in his book "The Birth of Chaordic Age".
  
• Networks: people find meaning and get engaged when colaborating with other people, instead of working alone. People get even more engaged when colaborating with other people from other organizations, based on knowledge networks and interests.

Instead of hiring a specialized consulting firm with a developed model to be implemented, the bank decided to look for young, entrepreneurial innovators to co-create and implement the new platforms. Kaospilots would naturally be a place to find people like me! :P

These first 2 weeks were designed for a better understanding of the project today, its needs and also get a better feeling about the bank and the context. Banco Real is starting a merging process with Banco Santander (from Spain), which will create one of the largest private banks in Brazil, with over 50,000 employees. It does affect many people, their careers, etc...

The team behind this project is also very promissing. International, diverse and passionate. Chaordic and self-organized :) Half of the team have been involved in AIESEC before (like me). For the next two days I'll be taking part in a national seminar "Networks and Development", hosted by LEAD Brazil and SENAC. Researching!