Paulo Pontes, Senior Managing Director at Michael Page International, Brazil

Paulo Pontes, Senior Managing Director at Michael Page International, Brazil


 Paulo Pontes is currently  Senior Managing Director of the Brazilian Operations of Michael Page with 13 business units and 3 Companies; Page Personnel, Michael Page and Page Executive.
Listen to Tom Reaoch interview Paulo Pontes, PLAY or DOWNLOAD .
Recently Paulo Pontes made a presentation to the Business Affairs Committee at Amcham Campinas on Competitiveness in the Brazilian Human Resource and Labor Market and which he will share with the Talk 2 Brazil global audience.

Paulo was responsible for the Start Up of Michael Page Offices in Brazil and was the former Director of the Finance, Sales & Marketing Division at Michael Page and has been a Member of the Board of Michael Page Brazil since 2001.
His specialties are, Building Effective Teams, Dealing with Ambiguity, Conflict Management, Drive for Results, Motivation and principally a passion for helping others.


Salvador Raza, Director CeTRIS Technology, International Relations and Security Center

Salvador Raza, Director CeTRIS – Technology, International Relations and Security Center

The Brazil Defence Industry


Salvador Ghelfi Raza is Director General of CeTRIS – Technology, International Relations and Security Center, Coordinator of the International Relations FACAMP and Associate Professor of National Security Affairs at the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies at the United States National Defense University (CHDS / NDU) in Washington, DC.
According to the magazine “Isto É”, “Salvador Ghelfi Raza is the only Brazilian working on the team hired by the Obama administration to propose a major reform in politics and also in the methods used by the United States worldwide. There are 30 Ph.Ds, the best brains in the world in security, defense and diplomacy analysis.
Listen to Tom Reaoch interview Salvador Raza on LA Talk Radio PLAY or DOWNLOAD


Raza has a doctorate in strategic studies from UFRJ with postdoctoral in defense studies at the National Defense University in Washington, where he teaches.
Internationally-acknowledged leading World expert in Defense Analysis & Policy Planning, Force Design and Strategy Formulation.  Author of four books and more than 50 articles and chapters. Advanced experience in conflict assessment, policy development, and logistics.



Julia Michaels, American Journalist and Founder of RioRealblog.

Julia Michaels, American Journalist and Founder of RioRealblog.


Julia Michaels, Journalist and Founder of RioRealblog.
Rio de Janeiro is undergoing a momentous transformation in the runup to the 2016 Olympics and the 2014 World Cup games. Recognizing this and identifying a need for bilingual evenhanded reporting on it, Julia Michaels quit her job in August 2010 as foreign non-fiction editor for a top Brazilian publishing house, and founded RioRealblog.
Listen to Tom Reaoch interview Julia Michaels: PLAY or DOWNLOAD 
The blog quickly became a go-to source for Brazilians and foreigners interested in public safety, politics, investment, public policy, urban planning, real estate, education, transportation, health care, culture and more. The blog is often replayed on several sites, including the Christian Science Monitor. Michaels has been featured on Fatima Bernardes' Encontros morning show, ESPN's Outside the Lines program, in Le Figaro's weekend magazine, and in the Washington Post, among other media.
Born and bred in Boston, Michaels is in a unique position to serve her readers, having spent 31 years in Brazil. With an M.A. in international relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International relations, she married a Brazilian and arrived in São Paulo in 1981, where she worked a decade as a freelance print journalist.
She reported for The Wall Street Journal, Advertising Age and The Christian Science Monitor, before turning to child-rearing and fiction in the 1990s. In 2000 she earned a low-residency MFA in literature and creative writing from Bennington College, going on to publish stories in the Ontario Review. After a divorce in 2005, she worked at Editora Objetiva, where she acquired Eat, Pray, Love and led its Portuguese translation to the Brazilian best-seller list, where it remained for several years.

Dr. Luchen Li and Luis Fernando Covatti, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Dr. Luchen Li and Luis Fernando Covatti, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology



Dr. Luchen Li and Luis Fernando Covatti. 
“Ciencias Sem Fronteiras”. " Science Without Borders".  
Listen to Tom Reaoch and his interview with Dr. Li and Luis Covatti:PLAY or DOWNLOAD   
Dr. Luchen Li serves as the Associate Dean of Global Programs at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. This science and engineering school, set in the Midwest of the United States, has been ranked # 1 of all colleges of this size for 14 consecutive years. The caliber of education that is provided by Rose-Hulman makes this school the perfect place to gather some of the finest math and science and engineering students from Brazil. Dr. Li has encouraged and facilitated Rose-Hulman participation in the"Ciencias Sem Fronteiras" which is the initiative by the Brazilian government to send science and engineering students abroad and repatriate them with expanded cultural and educational experiences.
Dr. Luchen Li is an International Educator and a Steinbeck Scholar
Having received his education in China and the United States and then taught at universities in both cultures, Dr. Luchen Li has a broad experience in academic disciplines and deep knowledge of international education. Li has demonstrated leadership in building successful international programs for collaborative research, recruitment, study abroad, and student exchange. As Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's first associate dean of global programs, Dr. Li leads the charge toward a more globally-focused educational experience, reaching out to increase international collaboration, and fostering a culturally-enhanced worldview to Rose-Hulman students, faculty and staff members.
Luchen is currently providing leadership and support in developing an institute-wide plan and to formulate and implement strategic initiatives for its global programs. He is coordinating with academic departments to develop international programs for their respective disciplines. He is also leading efforts to promote global and cultural activities such as study abroad and institutional global outreach, and helping with international admissions and international student services at RHIT.
With a track record of performance in international education and extensive experience in academics, Dr. Li has been invited as a keynote speaker to share his experience and philosophy in international education and cross-cultural understandings at national and international symposiums and conferences.
Li is committed to engaging all stakeholders of institutions and the broader regional areas in mapping out the global strategies to best serve the diverse needs and goals of each unit of the Institute. He believes that the Institute's dedication to enhancing and enriching global programs is in line with institutional missions to graduate leaders who can impact the world.
As a scholar, he has published in a number of publications, including books John Steinbeck's Global Dimensions, John Steinbeck: A Documentary Volume, Critical Companion to John Steinbeck, and numerous book chapters and articles in literary and cultural studies. Professor Li serves as Vice President of the John Steinbeck Society of America and is an editorial contributor of the Steinbeck Review.

Luis Fernando Covatti
Luis Fernando Pelaez Covatti comes to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology through the national program "Ciencias Sem Fronteiras". Because of his engineering studies at Federal University of Santa Catarina in Florianopolis and his desire to tackle the competitive rigors of this national program, he earned the privilege to study for one year in the States at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. This educational initiative by the Brazilian government prepares Brazilian students to be leaders at home in math science and engineering with a view to global considerations. Luis is one of seventeen students who currently attend Rose-Hulman through this Brazilian government program.
Luis Fernando Pelaez Covatti was born in Santana do Livramento, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, right on the border with Uruguay.
He started college in March/2007, at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), in Florianopolis, studying Control and Automation Engineering. During college, was the president of the Junior Enterprise of his major at UFSC (AutoJun) and leader of the Training of Professionals program of the CERTI Foundation, which won the FINEP National Technology Innovation Award in 2009. His first time in the USA was in 2008, during a 3 months' work-experience program at Squaw Valley Ski Corp, in California.
During the fourth year of college, spent 10 months in Aachen, Germany, working as intern at the Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV), at the North Rhine-Westphalia Technical University (RWTH). In the end of the fifth year, was approved for the national program Science Without Borders, coming to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) in March/2012, for a one-year exchange program. During the 2012 summer break, worked at the Physics and Optical Engineering Department at RHIT, in the Smart-Lighting Research Group.
His graduation in Brazil is expected to be in August/2013.

Joao Jose San Martin, Vice President, Human Resources, Alcoa Power and Propulsion.

Joao Jose San Martin, Vice President, Human Resources, Alcoa Power and Propulsion.


Joao Jose San Martin, better known as "Joka" is currently serving as the vice president, human resources for the Alcoa Power and Propulsion, a global enterprise with $1.8 Billion in revenue and 25 operations in North America, Europe and Asia.
A native of Caçapava, SP, Brazil Joka attended the Executive MBA at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business - University of Michigan, received a Psychology degree from the University of Taubate and an Advanced Degree in Social and Labor Psychology from the Sedes Sapientiae Institute.
 Listen to the interview with Joka , PLAY or DOWNLOAD
He has been living abroad since his first international transfer from Alphaville in the São Paulo region to San Antonio, Texas in 2000. In these 12 years in the US, his family has moved from Texas to Michigan and is now living in Hudson, OH.
Joka has been working for Alcoa for 28 years, having contributed to the majority of Alcoa's businesses, including Investment and Aluminum Castings, Extrusions, Flat Rolled Products, Plastic Packaging, Primary Metals and Electrical & Electronic Systems.
Joka has extensive Human Resources experience with international businesses. His international career started in the Plastic Packaging business where he was responsible to lead Human resources for the operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.
Joka is married to Rosana and has two children: João Victor and Ana Luiza. João Victor is at The Ohio State University studying Psychology and Ana Luiza will graduate from High School in 2013.

Leonardo Mattiazzi, Vice President, International Business Ci&T

Leonardo Mattiazzi, Vice President, International Business Ci&T


Leonardo Mattiazzi is vice president of International Business at Ci&T. With Ci&T since 1997, Leonardo has spearheaded several of the company's critical business units, including Professional Services, Sales, Marketing and Software Products. 
A truly global company, Ci&T is headquartered in Campinas, Brazil, with strategic locations across Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia. Ci&T's US headquarters is in King of Prussia, PA. where Leonardo talks to us on this interview.
Listen to the interview with Leonardo Mattiazzi PLAY or DOWNLOAD
Two of his standout achievements were the launch of Sensedia, a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)-focused organization, and the creation of Ci&T's Interactive Services practice. He has been an active proponent and driver of the Ci&T's transformation into a Lean organization. A prominent industry thought leader on the topic of Lean as both an application development principle and a cultural organizational tenet.
Leonardo has helped to facilitate and grow the company's emphasis on high-performance teams, whose talent, shared purpose and commitment to skills mastery promote continuous innovation and generate high quality results for Ci&T's clients.
 Leonardo Mattiazzi holds a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from UNICAMP, University of Campinas, Brazil and an MBA from the Fox Business School, at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.

Catarina Bronstein, Global Reporting Initiative, Brazil

Catarina Bronstein, Global Reporting Initiative, Brazil


Catarina Bronstein , Global Reporting Initiative, Brazil
She has worked with various organizations on the topics of Fair Trade and international sustainable economic development such as Global Exchange and Fair Trade USA and is now working for Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)'s Focal Point Brazil, spreading the importance of sustainability reporting for companies in the country.
I met Catarina at a recent Sustainability Ccommittee meeting at Amcham Campinas where she was the featured speaker.
Listen to Tom Reaoch interview Catarina Bronstein Monday Oct. 1 at 1 pm PST on LA Talk Radio.
Having a Brazilian mother and American father, Catarina has her roots in both countries. In the past year she has moved back to Brazil after living 13 straight years in the U.S.
Catarina has a Bachelors degree in International Relations and Global Studies, with a minor in Anthropology, and a concentration in International Law from the University of the Pacific. She is currently finishing an MBA in Sustainable Business from Marylhurst University.

BBC News - Booming Brazil held back by education gap

BBC News - Booming Brazil held back by education gap




The BBC's Katty Kay says tackling vested interests makes educational reform in Brazil extremely difficult

Related Stories

It's the start of the day for the students at the Wilma Flor public school in the eastern suburbs of Sao Paulo. Only it's not 8am, or even 9am. It's 1pm.
Wilma Flor runs three shifts. The first group of students has school in the morning, the next in the afternoon and the final shift doesn't start until 7pm.
Over the past 20 years Brazil has done an impressive job of getting more students into the education system. Many of the children here at Wilma Flor are the first in their families to finish high school. Some have parents who didn't even finish elementary school.
That's the good news in Brazil's education story. Here's the bad news.
Brazil now has the sixth biggest economy in the world, but its education standards lag far behind. In an international study of education systems,PISA, it came in at 53rd. That threatens to hold this country back.
Political will
No-one here disputes that those figures must change, and soon. Brazil's recent economic boom has depended in large part on exporting its vast natural resources to other growing economies.

As one Brazilian economist suggested to me, this country's rapid expansion can be explained in one word: China.
But if Brazil wants to move beyond being simply a commodity provider, or if China's growth slows and it demands fewer Brazilian resources, then what?
Put simply, if Brazil wants to develop from an emerging economy to an emerged economy it will have to do a better job educating its population.
Improving education takes time - time this country doesn't have much of. Tackling the vested interests of administrators, teachers' unions and bureaucrats makes it one of the most politically difficult things any country can do. Look at the fights America has gone through over standardised testing.
Priscilla Cruz, a campaigner for education reform from Todos Pela Educacao, sums up the challenge like this: "The political issue is that teachers are voters, and in Brazil there are two million of them that can decide elections, so it is very hard to make changes".
One change that teachers' unions reject would be to make it easier to get rid of teachers who don't perform.
In Brazil, teachers can get tenure after only three years on the job, and once they have tenure they can't be fired.
Out at the Wilma Flor school we found teachers clearly wanting to do better but held back, ironically, by a lack of teaching for themselves.
When Regilene Cunha entered her first classroom as a teacher she had zero practical experience. She had the university qualification to be a teacher, but it was all academic theory, no hands on practice.
It was, she admits, a terrifying experience: "I felt insecure and apprehensive. The same as new teachers now."
Importing Europe
If Brazil's schools and universities cannot provide the skilled workforce to satisfy its economic needs, then Brazilian companies will look elsewhere for labour.
The government is exploring ways to reduce immigration restrictions to make it easier for technical professionals, particularly those with experience in the petro-chemical industry, can come and work in Brazil.
It's not lost on Brazilian companies that the recession in Europe means highly educated people are prepared to travel across the Atlantic for a job.
Joao Nunes arrived in Sao Paolo a year ago from Portugal. He's an engineer who works for a head-hunting company.
"When you talk about engineers, Brazil has a huge demand of technical professionals to face the growth of the country," he says.
Yet even he admits this is a short-term solution to Brazil's problem.
In the long run, the country cannot rely on engineers from Lisbon to make up its labour shortage, it will have to develop them at home.

Ben Tavener, Freelance British journalist living in Brazil

Ben Tavener, Freelance British journalist living in Brazil


Ben Tavener, British journalist and amateur photographer living in South Brazil .
Ben works freelance, but has been Senior Reporter at The Rio Times since August 2011.

Listen to Tom Reaoch interview Ben Tavener, PLAY  or DOWNLOAD


Before moving to Brazil, he was producer at the BBC World Service, where he specialized in Russia and the Former Soviet Union after studying Russian at Cambridge and living in Moscow for over a year.
However, his blog, Ben´s Brazil, focuses on his insights into news, travel and life in Brazil and nearby.
Ben Tavener studied Modern & Medieval Languages at University of Cambridge and has contributed for a number of world media, including BBC News, CTV News, and Voice of Russia
He speaks English (native), Russian (fluent) and Portuguese (nearly fluent!), as well as good French & Spanish.

Danilo Telles, Trainee in Forensic Services at PwC Campinas, Brazil.

Danilo Telles, Trainee in Forensic Services at PwC Campinas, Brazil.



Danilo Telles is a trainee in Forensic Services at PwC Campinas- Brazil.
Danilo talks about challenges in finding employment in the UK and in Europe and why he returned to work in Brazil.
Listen to Tom Reaoch interview Danilo Telles  PLAY or DOWNLOAD


His professional experience  prior to PwC  includes a five year experience in London, where he  gained his Bachelor´s degree in International Business Management from London Metropolitan University achieving a second upper class honorsfinal grade.
Throughout his studies in the United Kingdom, Danilo worked in an entertainment company  where he became deputy manager, responsible for staff training, elaboration of reports, accounts, shop management , market research, audit, fraud prevention and deliver of an excellent customer service.
As part of his degree, Danilo successfully completed modules such as Business Accounting,Economics for Business, Management and the Global Economy, Data Analysis for Business Decision Making, Management Investigation and Report and Global Challenges for Business, Management and Leadership.

Language Barriers in Brazil Business

Language Barriers in Brazil Business | The Rio Times | Brazil News

By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A report by the Economist Intelligence Unit says that Brazil is among the worst at coping with the language barrier of the English-speaking world of business, and that deals are being hindered because of it. Experts are warning that, with increased international interest in businesses based in Brazil, the need to break down the barrier has never been more acute.
Juventude Cidadã in 2009 was launched to offer courses in a range of fields with basic English in Bahia, Brazil News
Juventude Cidadã in 2009 was launched to offer courses in a range of fields with basic English in Bahia, photo by Aristeu Chagas/Agecom Secom Bahia.
The report says that 74 percent of the Brazilians surveyed admitted their company has suffered “financial losses as a result of failed cross-border transactions” – much higher than the global average of around fifty percent.
The Brazilians who took part in the study seemed to recognize the issue – described in the report as a “significant hindrance to effective cross-border relations” for companies – as 77 percent of them believe better communications could improve productivity, while in the UK, for example, the figure is only 43 percent.
Although expanding internationally is always fraught with complications, the prospect was seen as most difficult by Brazilian companies – nearly eighty percent of Brazilians surveyed said cross-border difficulties hampered their expansion plans.
With the boundaries between old and new economies become increasingly interdependent, experts are warning that good communication skills have never been more critical. English is the recognized international language of the business world, and as such Monica Szwarc - cross-cultural coach and Country Manager for Bridge Brazil - stresses the importance.
“Internationalization is becoming each day more relevant to Brazilian companies in general as they start to move beyond the local market to grow further aiming at sustaining long term competitiveness and becoming major players in the global economy,” she says.
English Lessons at school, Brazil News
The Ministry of Education says young Brazilians are much better prepared than their parents were for the English-language world of business, photo by Wilson Dias/ABr.
However Ms. Szwarc says that schools are taking the situation seriously, and are aware of the needs of the market in terms of the level of language control a student needs to exhibit – and to this end Bridge Brazil will be opening specialized, business-focused, and even oil-industry-focused courses from this August.
Ultimately, she concludes, the situation is definitely improving: “Young Brazilians are more familiar with English in general and very keen to invest in international education. Governmental programs have shown increased awareness of the need for English Proficiency and we now have kids that are able to face the challenge and compete at the best universities around the world.”
The language barrier can also be seen as an opportunity for those with an entrepreneurial initiative though, to capitalize on doing business where others dare not tread. As a positive example of work with Brazil, the report highlights the experience of Swedish truck manufacturer Scania, which now delivers more vehicles to Brazil than any other country.
Scania believes technology has played a huge role in improving the performance of cross-border teams, but that cultural barriers – particularly between Sweden and Brazil, whose work cultures the company describes as “pole apart” – are “always present and need to be constantly managed”, particularly at the outset.
Industry experts say that despite the possible setbacks caused by inefficient language communications, a multinational approach can yield the biggest gains, as long as initial cultural misunderstandings can be overcome.

Rio Oil & Gas Conference Arrives, September 17th - 20th

Rio Oil & Gas Conference Arrives, September 17th - 20th | The Rio Times | Brazil News

The IBP Rio Oil & Gas Conference Arrives

By Andrew Willis, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Rio Oil & Gas Expo and Conference, perhaps the most important event of its kind in South America, is set to run next week (September 17th-20th) in the Riocentro Convention Centre in Barra de Tijuca. Organizers of the biennial event are expecting a record turnout of 55,000 visitors from over fifty countries at the expo this year, with 1,300 exhibitors.
Opening of the 2010 Rio Oil and Gas Expo and Conference, IBP, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil News
The Opening of the 2010 Rio Oil and Gas Expo and Conference, photo by IBP.
This year marks the 16th edition of the industry gathering. “The event has grown and strengthened in parallel with the changes in the Brazilian and global oil and gas industry,” according to event organizers the IBP (the Brazilian Oil, Gas and Biofuels Institute). “In the 1980s the event occupied two pavilions in Riocentro, now we occupy all five.”
Running in parallel to the expo, a four-day conference is expected to attract roughly 4,300 people, with keynote speakers including the CEOs of Shell and Repsol, as well as the presidents of the World Petroleum Council and the International Gas Union, among others.
Plenary session topics include the role of the petroleum industry in promoting sustainable economic development, challenges to energy supply in the 21st Century and offshore operational safety. “We have managed to broaden and deepen the discussion of topics … trying to always include foreign speakers,” said the organizers.
A number of new themes will be addressed this year, including the issue of non-conventional gas, especially shale gas, which has revolutionized the U.S. gas market and is now being explored for across Latin America and the rest of the globe.
Participants and the 2010 expo, IBP, Rio Oil and Gas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil News
Participants and the 2010 expo, photo by IBP.
Writing in the August newsletter of the IBP, the institute’s head of gas, Jorge Delmonte, said that after the tragedy that took place at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, gas power generation assumed “great and instantaneous” importance.
This year the Rio expo and conference are running under the slogan: ‘Innovation and growth with responsibility’. In keeping with this message, an area of the exhibition will be dedicated to improving social and environmental responsibility within the oil and gas sector.
“The industry is aware of its risks, but also the importance of sustainability for the planet and for future generations,” say event organizers. A series of legal cases against U.S. oil major Chevron are ongoing in Brazil after offshore oil seeps were discovered last November.
The expo and conference constitute an important date in Rio’s corporate calendar, helping to fill the city’s top hotels and restaurants as senior oil and gas executives flock to Rio to take advantage of networking opportunities and the chance to catch up on the latest technology.
It also comes at an interesting juncture for the oil and gas industry in Brazil. Delays in developing the much-anticipated pre-salt oil fields off the Brazilian coast have led to considerable debate, while the country’s state-run oil giant, Petrobras, recently reporting its first quarterly loss in over a decade

Talk 2 Brazil Guest Interview with Fernando Ikedo

Talk 2 Brazil Guest Interviews « Talk 2 Brazil, Talk Radio on Business in Brazil


Fernando Ikedo is a professional with 15 years of experience in technical, commercial and strategic activities in the Defense market. He is currently working as an independent consultant, as focused on Brazilian Defense Market.
He is a member of ABIMDE’s (Brazilian Defense and Security Industries Association) and also member of the ABIMDE Advisory Board.
Listen to Tom Reaoch interview Fernando Ikedo: PLAY or DOWNLOAD
He was Market Strategy Director at Embraer Defense and Security, with experience in market strategy, competitive intelligence, strategic planning, marketing and promotion, sales engineering and commercial proposals. He was also involved in partnership identification and mergers & acquisitions activities.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronic Engineering from Brazil’s ITA – Aeronautical Institute of Technology and an MBA in Entrepreneurial Business Management from ITA/ESPM.

He is currently working as an independent consultant, as focused on Brazilian Defense Market.  Fernando and I met recently at the IBCO ( Brazilian Institute of Organizational Consultants training course in Sao Paulo.

Marienne M. S. Coutinho ,Tax Partner KPMG Brazil.

Marienne M. S. Coutinho ,Tax Partner KPMG Brazil.


 Marienne M. S. Coutinho is a tax partner KPMG in Brazil and leads the International Corporate Tax & Transfer Pricing practice. She is a lawyer and has an IFRS specialization (FIPECAFI). She has been with KPMG for 17 years and has also worked with KPMG in New York in the Trade & Customs group. She is a frequent speaker in Brazil and abroad on Brazilian and International Tax matters.
Marienne has very strong experience in advising foreign investors in Brazil in understanding investment structures, Brazilian direct and indirect taxes, environment for tax planning, supply chain models, etc.
Listen to Tom Reaoch interview Marienne: PLAY or DOWNLOAD 
She works closely with other KPMG member firms to structure the outbound investments of Brazilian companies in light of Brazilian controlled foreign corporation rules, tax treaties and taxation in other countries. She also helps Latin America tax directors based in Brazil with the coordination of their tax affairs in the region.
She specializes in M&A tax structuring, private equity investments, capital markets, corporate restructurings, domestic and international tax planning, supply chain projects and tax governance.
Marienne co-leads the Global Business Group of KPMG in Brazil (a group specialized in attending Newcomers and Brazilian Multinationals), KPMG’s Network of Women in Brazil (KNOW) and  is a member of a group of Brazilian tax advisors and tax authorities to discuss technical matters (GET). She is a member of KPMG Global International Corporate Tax (GICT) and of KPMG GICT Technical Core Group.
Reference for part of the interview:

Fabiana Passoni, The Best Brazilian Female Singer living in the U.S.

Fabiana Passoni, The Best Brazilian Female Singer living in the U.S.


Fabiana Passoni,
the best Brazilian Female Singer living in the U.S. Chosen by the Brazilian International Press Awards’ 2012 Colégio Eleitoral composed of U.S. based Brazilian groups and community organizations as best Brazilian Female Singer living in the U.S. confirms Fabiana’s ability to connect her fans to her music. Her recent single Lovin’ You (2012) enjoyed several months in the Smooth Jazz charts. Another single, Rock With You will be released in August  2012 followed by an EP CD at the end of the year.

Fabiana Passoni will be participating in a new musical called “Loving the Silent Tears” which will have its red carpet premiere at the Shrine Auditorium on October 27, 2012.  She will be starring along with Grammy winners Jon Secada, Jody Watley and Broadway stars in an impressive cast of top talents representing a dozen countries. It will feature music from Oscar, Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award-winning composers. The grand production was created by 2-time Oscar winner Al Kasha and directed by the Tony-nominated Vincent Paterson (director of Michael Jackson’s BAD and Madonna’s Blond Ambition Tours).
In her role, Fabiana will be presenting a taste of Brazilian music and culture. She stated, “I am proud and honored to have been invited for a part in the musical ‘Loving the Silent Tears."
Born in Poços de Caldas, Brazil, Fabiana Passoni began singing when she was 6 years old. Her father would sit on the couch composing songs while teaching her the art of interpretation and how to play to an audience. With her father’s musical influence as her foundation, Fabiana also received formal vocal training with Francisco (Chico) Campos, a famous Brazilian voice trainer.
Fabiana ran a successful music school in her hometown in the late 1990’s before travelling to the United States. While in New York City, Fabiana began singing bossa nova jazz fusion to American audiences. Legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Leny Andrade influenced her approach to music while she was slowly developing as a singer songwriter. She finally found her voice after moving to Los Angeles in 2007 composing songs for her debut album, É Minha Vez.
Fabiana’s three-year battle with breast cancer put her on a journey not only of survival but a discovery of her own personal musical style. With joyful rhythms and a velvety voice, Fabiana achieved her style with the acclaimed 2011 release of Naturalmente Brasil featuring 12 original tracks. Composed in the midst of her battle with cancer, chemotherapy and pregnancy, Fabiana’s dreams of continuing her career never faltered even among many setbacks. Her spirit propelled her rebounding success.
For more about "Loving the Silent Tears" www.silenttearsmusical.com


David Ó Beagáin, Expert in Foresight

Talk 2 Brazil Interview with David Ó Beagáin, Expert in Foresight


David Ó Beagáin  is Irish and an expert in Foresight and in this interview talks about Brasil and Foresight.

Listen to the interview PLAY  or  DOWNLOAD

His love affair with Brasil started 25 years ago. In 1987, aged 14 he fell in love with the music of the great composer Heitor Villa Lobos.

In 2001 and 2002 David lived in Brasil, working in KPMG and in General Electric in Due Diligence.
In 2012 David fulfilled a life ambition. He returned to live permanently in Brasil after successfully selling his boutique consultancy firm in Ireland.

His firm served public & private organizations, like, the Irish Government, the European Commission, Hobbs Fashions of London, The Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES) and The Brazilian National Agency for Entrepreneurial Businesses (SEBRAE).

David now living in Brasil, works for organizations to develop their Foresight capability.

Foresight is the process of future-intelligence-gathering and long-term vision-building. David is active with the European Foresight Platform and Foresight Brasil as well as many other agencies.

Talk 2 Brazil Interview with Dario Berrebi, Founder and CEO Poverties.com

Talk 2 Brazil Interview with Dario Berrebi, Founder and CEO Poverties.com

Dario Berrebi, Founder & CEO  of www.Poverties.org

Dario  is a Brazilian and French national, studied at the London School of Economics - Fudan University (Shanghai) and also at The National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (Paris, France) a leading University in Oriental Languages &; Civilizations where he studied Chinese Studies & International Trade, International Relations as well as Korean Studies & International Trade.

Listen to his interview PLAY or DOWNLOAD . We talk about slavery in Brazil, in the fields and in factories. Yes, now! Slavery in 2012!

Dario Berrebi  is also SEO &; Content Writer, at DrEd.com – Online Doctor Services where he is responsible for Web Editing, Online Marketing &; Search Engine Optimization.

Dario is an Independent Filmmaker, Director, editor, writer. He authored and co-authored short movies, documentaries and music videos in a variety of languages: Chinese, Korean, English, French and also a Freelance filmmaker for different clients associations, university and companies.

Talk 2 Brazil Interview with Edwin Asberg, Sports Management Specialist

Talk 2 Brazil Interview with Edwin Asberg, Sports Management Specialist


Edwin Asberg, Sports Management Specialist
Listen to the interview with Edwin Asberg PLAY or DOWNLOAD

Edwin is originally from a Brazilian town called Holambra which is strongly connected to international culture, more especifically the Dutch one.  In 2010 Edwin decided to study for his  masters in Europe,  and is currently finishing his masters in sport management at the German Sport University, in Cologne, Germany.
Edwin studied Sports (with focus on sport management) at the University of Sao Paulo where he participated in the junior enterprise. Besides an academic background, he also worked  at Máquina do Esporte  in Brazil, a leading media company that covers sports from a a business perspective. In addition to his studies in Germany Edwin is also an assistant at the international department of Sport und Markt, a global leader in market research in sports based in Cologne.
In Europe, Edwin tries to attend as many sport events as possible like the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League finals, but also to smaller ones like boxing and wakeboard contests. He also plans to be present at the Olympics in London!
Topics of interest: academic research, market research, sponsoring, social media, innovation. And even better when they are all connected to (any) sport.

You can find Edwin Asberg on www.twitter.com/edwinasberg and LinkedIn

Talk 2 Brazil Interview with Justin Sachs, CEO Justin Sachs Companies

Talk 2 Brazil Interview with Justin Sachs, CEO Justin Sachs Companies


 Justin Sachs is the President & CEO of Justin Sachs Companies consisting of 8 organizations including his industry leading publishing company, Motivational Press, Inc. and his international speaking tour, The Ultimate Success Tour. Justin is the author of four books, three of which have become best sellers.
 Listen to the interview with Justin Sachs:  PLAY or DOWNLOAD
As one of the top leadership and peak performance speakers in the world, Justin’s authentic, powerful and inspirational presentations have become legendary. His message has changed thousands of lives around the globe. As the host of Motivational Minds Radio, Justin connects with the best of the best in spreading a message of hope and strength throughout the world.
Justin Sachs’ Coaching supports some of the most successful corporate executives and entrepreneurs in the world as he works with them to create breakthrough results in their organizations and throughout their lives.
Justin’s current projects include Ultimate Business Mastery, his signature event where he instructs entrepreneurs and small business leaders in taking their businesses to the next level through mastering their mindset for success and implementing specific action steps to enhance their marketing, sales, and media exposure.

Talk 2 Brazil Interview with Richard Kane, Social Scientist and Brazilianist

Talk 2 Brazil Interview with Richard Kane, Social Scientist and Brazilianist


Richard Kane is a social scientist, Brazilianist and entrepreneur on a quest to introduce as many students, faculty and professionals from around the world to Brazil as possible.
Listen to the interview, PLAY or DOWNLOAD
He has found his dream job serving as an academic advisor, internship coordinator, career counselor and study tour coordinator for the Family and Consumer Sciences department at Illinois State University.
Born in Chicago the son of an orphaned Teamster and an angel of Swedish decent, Richard developed a relentless curiosity about the world and its people.  His quest to understand how society works has been rewarding, but not easy.
He used to be a student, confined by postmodernism until the day he escaped the classroom and flew to the most exciting country on earth.  Immediately upon landing in Rio, he followed the intellectual path of its president and became a sociologist.
Richard has spent decades covering Brazil – a vast and enigmatic land native to Guarani Indians, founded by Portuguese explorers, developed by Jesuit priests, and described by the French as the eternal country of the future.
By means of study tours, internships and the internet, Richard aims to connect professionals with students and faculty from around the world who share an interest in how basic human needs for food, shelter and clothing are met through architecture, interior design and fashion; food, nutrition and dietetics; human and family development; as well as consumer behavior and entrepreneurship in Brazil and the surrounding provinces.
Richard’s work is inspired by entrepreneurs and artists, and is informed by historians and indigenous peoples.  Trained as a percussionist, he is moved by music, particularly house and the mixture of samba and jazz known as bossa nova.  He enjoys using turntables and controllers to create new sounds to help break through cultural barriers and connect with audiences wherever he goes.
Richard blends a fundamental enthusiasm for the market, high technology and applied science with an insatiable appetite for learning, and an all-in mentality regarding experiential education and international studies and programs.
He invites you to connect with @CoverBrazil on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Posterous and Linked-In, or meet for a cafezinho.

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