My journey begins in Brazil, where I was born and raised in a family of multiple ethnic roots: African, European and Native Indian. I grew up in an ambiance which has certainly influenced a lot the paths I have chosen to take. My family has offered me a world of deep connection, reflection and activism since very little. I was brought up in Nature, where we would grow our own food, live in community with other families, practice different spiritual practices and learn about social and environmental activism by following my parents’ example.

While growing up I have taken part in conversations about the state of the world, the shift in the paradigm of our times and our own responsibility in making a difference. I also had the opportunity of since early age to travel to different places of Brazil and abroad, enabling great contact and understanding with other people and cultures.

Having lived in a country where the great majority of people do not complete their primary studies and suffer the problems of lack of infrastructure such as water, sanitation, health care system, I have always felt the moral responsibility to make choices which would benefit my people and others. Motivated with the idea of changing the world, I decided to take a bachelor degree in International Relations. My aim was to work with organizations for human development which were taking part of the international agenda decision-making process. I wanted to work within systems which held power to change the macro structures of our world.

My years of university were then dedicated to studying about sustainable development, social work, anthropology, sociology, philosophy and to the active leadership in student organizations. I have helped creating film festivals, cultural newsletters and UN models for my fellow students during my years of university.

My professional career started on my last year of studies, when I joined the ABN Amro Bank, in the team for Education and Sustainable Development, then the most important example of private company working in the field of sustainability in Brazil.  There I helped designing, hosting and facilitating workshops about integrating sustainable development into the banking business. It was the first time I had contact with approaches such as the Open Space Technology and the circle, as practices of the Art of Hosting Conversations That Matter.

After graduating I went live and work in India for one year as an AIESEC trainee in one grassroots NGO located in Rajasthan dedicated to rural development. Also in India I joined Planet Finance, a international NGO, focused in building bridges between microfinance institutions locally, regionally and internationally. More than an amazing and very enriching professional experience it was an experience for life. In India I learned more about our Humanity, expressed through the oppressing misery in which many people live in the world but also expressed through compassionated eyes and attitudes of these same people to life. I also learned about chaos and order and the infinite dance that there is between them in the Universe, so it can actually work. It was a journey into myself and the world I had lived so far. A journey that invited me to see beauty in shit and chaos, to love the unplanned and to learn how to improvise and to adapt, and moreover, it invited me to reconnect with the ancient wisdom of the Eastern world.

Back in Brazil, I joined for two years, the international NGO Ashoka – Innovators for the Public, as part of the team responsible for connecting and coordinating the social leaders members of the Brazilian and Paraguayan fellowship. This experience opened me the opportunity to get to know and work with the main social organizations in Brazil and Latin America. I had the chance to interact and learn from incredible people who have pioneered in the social scene bringing innovative solutions for problems that affected many people’s life.  These were stories that inspired me to keep pursuing the change I want to create in the world with perseverance and passion. At Ashoka I was able to further develop my skills for designing and hosting strategic meetings and conversations for groups.

At this point I was already very involved in the community of the Art of Hosting, having taken part in the first trainings and workshops in Brazil, and practicing it in different circumstances. One of the great ground for practice was the Butterfly Connection, a four-day program that together with two other friends we have designed and created to offer to young people. The Butterfly Connection has always been a special place where I could put in practice and explore my creativity and skills for hosting groups, and a place to learn about partnership and co-creation.

In 2008 I have decided to dedicate my time fully to the practice of the Art of Hosting Conversations That Matter and became a consultant in the field, mostly focusing my work to social organizations and movements. I have also invested time in taking part of workshops, seminars, immersion and traveling. These experiences included one stay of 15 days in Zimbabwe in the Kufunda Learning village as part of the hosting team for a 5-day program to 30 leaders of local villages called the Art of Participatory Leadership. The Berkana Women Leadership Retreat in Greece at the learning space, Axladitsa-Avatakia for 2 weeks. And most recently the Axladitsa Immersion which encompassed the following workshops, The Art of Presence, The Art of Protection and The Art of Meaning in Place, for 3 weeks. During the year of 2008  I was also part of the Program PROFIDES (Professional of Development) which took place in Brazil and was given by Instituto Fonte.

In 2009 I I have endeavored in an incredible journey in the Middle East for 4 months, offering the Art of Hosting, music, dance and creativity as powerful tools to overcome mistrust and hate. I have worked in partnership with other practitioners of deep dialogue methodologies to offer spaces for meaningful conversation and innovative solution processes in Lebanon, Israel and Turkey.

Most recently I have moved to Holland where I live with my partner in Utrecht.