Artisanal fishermen in Praia da Pinheira, Santa Catarina, start their workday before dawn, facing a declining industry due to competition from industrial fishing and more attractive economic alternatives in commerce and construction. Thuan Miranda, a young fisherman, chose this profession for the connection with nature despite the hard work and low income, ranging from R$ 500 to R$ 800 monthly. The fishermen's routine includes early morning departures, checking and collecting fish from nets, and selling their catch to tourists or local businesses. The current generation, including Thuan's father-in-law Adelcio João dos Santos, may be the last to pursue artisanal fishing, as others turn to tourism for a more sustainable future.

The Uatumã river region in the Amazon, once devastated by the construction of the Balbina hydroelectric plant by the military government and Eletronorte during the 1970s oil crisis, is experiencing a transformation through ecotourism. The plant, which flooded a vast area of native forest and caused significant environmental damage, is now surrounded by a sustainable development reserve. Local communities are engaging in ecotourism, which is gradually replacing harmful extractive activities as a source of income. Investments in infrastructure and environmental preservation have improved the local economy and the quality of life for the residents, despite the ongoing environmental impacts of the hydroelectric plant.

Pablo Di Si, the president of Volkswagen in Brazil, attributes his success to his early experiences with football. At 17, he sent a video of his football skills to 15 American universities, securing a scholarship that led him to the United States. Despite economic hardships in Argentina, Di Si's journey through Loyola University and Northwestern University, combined with his passion for football, paved the way for his corporate career. He worked at Varig, Abbott, Monsanto, and Kimberly Clark before entering the automotive industry. Di Si credits his understanding of teamwork to his time at Huracán football club and continues to play football occasionally.

Ford is confronting multiple challenges in the 21st century, including competition from companies like Uber, Google, and Tesla, and changing consumer attitudes from younger generations. The company has undergone a SWOT analysis, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and has initiated reforms starting with HR, hiring more programmers than engineers and mechanics. Ford has formed partnerships with software development startups, changed its president, and planned to cut costs by over $14 billion. Investments have been redirected towards electric, autonomous, and internet-connected vehicles. Ken Washington, speaking from Michigan, believes Ford can leverage its century-long experience in design and engineering to integrate new technologies into its vehicles. Ford's vision includes electric, autonomous, connected, and smarter cars operating in an intelligent environment. The company is focusing on software, AI, and autonomous vehicles, and is making significant investments in electric vehicle fleets. Ford has a history of partnerships, such as with Pivotal and BlackBerry, to strengthen its software and AI capabilities. Washington, with a background in space sciences at Lockheed Martin, sees parallels between aerospace and automotive industries, particularly in software reliability and material innovation. Ford is closely watching China's aggressive pursuit of electric cars and is positioning itself to compete in the Chinese market. The company envisions a future where car ownership coexists with shared mobility and service-based business models.

Martin Wezowski, Chief Designer at SAP, discusses his role in shaping the company's business strategy by envisioning possible and desirable futures and the path to achieve them. With a background in civil engineering and experience at Huawei and Sony, Wezowski is a key member of SAP's innovation center, reporting directly to the CEO. He emphasizes the importance of doing the right things, not just doing things right, and highlights the role of imagination and collaboration in innovation. Wezowski also touches on the impact of technology on user experience and the future role of humans, suggesting that automation will allow for a greater focus on creativity and strategy.

Advancements in software and big data have opened new frontiers in literary studies, including uncovering sources used in classic texts and combating plagiarism. Academics Dennis McCarthy and June Schlueter suggest that William Shakespeare drew inspiration for 11 of his plays from a 1576 manuscript titled 'A Brief Discourse on Rebellion and Rebels,' a manifesto against rebellion. They used the software WCopyfind to identify similarities, clarifying that the findings do not accuse Shakespeare of plagiarism but of drawing inspiration from scenes and characters.

The third meeting of the group dedicated to global blockchain standardization within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) took place in London, aiming to disseminate best practices to facilitate the work of companies dealing with the technology. Yoshimiti Matsusaki, a member of the ABNT Special Study Commission for blockchain and the Brazilian representative, discussed the importance of finding common elements that can be standardized across different blockchain platforms like Ripple, Ethereum, and Hyperledger. The standardization efforts, which began about two years ago, are expected to lead to advantages such as interoperability between platforms and a reduction in the chances of failure in implementing blockchain solutions. The process is slow due to the search for consensus and continuous due to the constant evolution of technologies.

Hans-Paul Bürkner, chairman of The Boston Consulting Group, discusses the need for cryptocurrency regulation, the impact of digital transformation on businesses and employment, and the challenges posed by protectionist ideas and populist political discourse. He emphasizes the importance of long-term economic perspective, the benefits of capitalism and globalization, and the potential of technologies like AI, blockchain, and big data. Bürkner criticizes the concept of universal basic income and highlights the importance of work for self-esteem. He also addresses the threat that tech companies pose to traditional financial institutions and the need for collective efforts to tackle global challenges.

Brazilian startup Helpie! has developed an app that connects customers with over 8,000 registered professionals across 400 specialties, ranging from construction workers and electricians to piano teachers and professional Santa Clauses. Unlike competitors, Helpie! does not require the purchase of credits or payment of a subscription to access customers. Service providers pay a fraction of their earnings to Helpie! and are incentivized to use the platform by receiving higher visibility in search results. Payments are made through the app, similar to Uber, and the current challenge for the company is to generate enough demand to keep the professionals busy.

Federico Pistono, an Italian writer and researcher, discusses the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on jobs and society. He suggests that while many jobs will be lost to machines, this could lead to a positive outcome if society adapts by providing basic resources to citizens without requiring work. Pistono highlights Norway's sovereign wealth fund as a model for preparing for a future with fewer jobs. He also emphasizes the potential of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology to decentralize power and trust, predicting a significant shift in social structures and governance. The article suggests that individuals can reduce their dependence on the system by learning new skills, growing their own food, and investing in renewable energy.

Eduardo Fischer of MRV and Alexandre Frankel of Vitacon discuss their companies' roles in creating more sustainable cities in Brazil. MRV's latest project in Pirituba includes 25 towers with a sales value of R$1.7 billion and features urbanization efforts such as underground cabling, donated police battalion, and planned childcare facilities. Fischer highlights MRV's goal to equip all developments with photovoltaic energy by 2022. Frankel emphasizes Vitacon's focus on apartment/building scale transformations, including shared bicycles and sustainable technologies. The conversation reflects on the broader impact of such initiatives on urban living.

Amazon is testing drones for product delivery in Cambridge, England, aiming for deliveries within half an hour. Challenges include drone battery autonomy. Amazon's Brazil President Alex Szapiro discussed these topics with Volkswagen's President for Brazil and Latin America, Pablo Di Si. Further details of their conversation can be found in the March issue of Época NEGÓCIOS, number 133.

Andrey Masiero, a PhD candidate at Centro Universitário FEI in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, is leading a project to develop a domestic companion robot, with potential applications in elderly or mobility-impaired assistance. The project, which began in 2013, has produced a prototype named Judith, capable of navigating homes, recognizing fallen individuals, and identifying emotions through facial expressions. The robot, built using commercially available components like the Kinect motion sensor from Xbox, is expected to hit the market in about two years. Masiero aims to start a startup upon completing his PhD this year, asserting that his work is on par with international efforts in the sector.

Localize, a company founded ten years ago by four partners, specializes in investigating and recovering assets hidden by major debtors using public records and social media. They create genealogical trees to trace where owed money was invested and provide summaries for clients and detailed dossiers for lawyers. Their main clients are banks, and they have located R$ 7.2 billion in assets last year, with R$ 3.5 billion deemed easily recoverable. The service is cost-effective for disputes over R$ 3 million, but they aim to cater to smaller claims of R$ 500 thousand using big data and AI tools.

Inky Gibbens, a Mongolian based in England, founded Tribalingual, a startup offering online courses in digitally underrepresented or UNESCO-criteria endangered languages, out of frustration with the lack of resources to learn Buryat, her maternal grandparents' language. Tribalingual has a diverse student base, including those interested in non-traditional languages, academics, individuals exploring their heritage, travelers, and businesspeople, and offers courses in languages such as Yoruba, Mongolian, and Cherokee.

Brazilian designers Rodrigo Brenner and Maurício Noronha of Furf Design Studio have created the world's first mass-produced colored cover for leg prostheses, named Confete. Aimed at boosting users' self-esteem, Confete is an affordable alternative to the common foam prostheses that mimic skin color or the more expensive custom-made 3D-printed versions. Developed in polyurethane for the Rio-based orthopedic products company Ethnos, Confete is adaptable to most prostheses on the market. The design has earned a Bronze Lion at Cannes and first place in the health category at the Red Dot awards.

Daniel Lamarre, president of Cirque du Soleil, balances business expansion with maintaining the company's creative flame. With new investors from Silicon Valley and China, Cirque du Soleil aims to double in size within five years, leveraging new technologies and expanding into new markets, including China. The company acquired Blue Man Group and is developing live experiences with the NFL. Despite challenges, including the departure of founder Guy Laliberté, the company remains profitable and committed to innovation without losing its essence. The article discusses the intricate process of show creation, talent scouting, and the importance of preserving the artistic core in the face of corporate pressures.

Brazilian startup FullFace has developed a facial recognition system that identifies individuals by converting facial features into a unique numerical code, akin to a 'facial CPF'. Unlike traditional biometric systems that store reference photos, FullFace's technology analyzes 1,024 points on the face to generate this number, allowing for recognition in less than a second with 99% accuracy using any camera. Airline Gol is implementing this system for mobile check-in, and FullFace plans to expand into digital authentication and access control.

Milton Tavares Neto and Tom Canabarro founded Konduto, a company that developed an artificial intelligence system to analyze risk in e-commerce by examining customer behavior rather than just checking registration data. The AI system identifies potential fraudsters by detecting suspicious behaviors such as going directly to a product without price comparison, paying upfront with a credit card, and choosing express delivery. Konduto also offers a manual check service for ambiguous cases.

Regina Casé, during a lecture at the Entrepreneurial Culture Festival on October 21, 2017, discussed the social bubbles that existed before the internet, particularly in Brazil, a country with marked inequalities. She highlighted her personal experiences growing up in Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana and her exposure to diverse environments, which she believes fueled her creativity. Casé, known for portraying popular characters and hosting TV shows about diversity, emphasized the importance of breaking out of social bubbles to become more creative and understand the world in its various facets. She cited historical musical encounters, like those between Pixinguinha and Tom Jobim, as examples of fruitful cross-cultural interactions.

Automation, artificial intelligence, and other technologies are rapidly and frighteningly eliminating jobs. Many tasks currently performed by humans will soon be done by machines, more efficiently and cost-effectively. While some economists believe new jobs will emerge, it's unlikely they will suffice to compensate for the losses, and the required qualifications will be completely new. Federico Pistono, author of 'Robots Will Steal Your Job, But That's OK' and a graduate of the University of Verona and Singularity University, discusses the potential for a new social contract to prevent systemic collapse. He suggests a future where humanity embraces collaboration and reduces dependence on the system, for instance, by growing one's own food or investing in solar panels.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama spoke in São Paulo on October 5, 2017, at the Fórum Cidadão Global, organized by Valor Econômico. He addressed Brazilian business leaders, discussing global prosperity alongside industrial disruption and economic stagnation. Obama emphasized the need for new social contracts, fair taxation, and modernized social security networks to ensure economic benefits for all. He advocated for international cooperation to tackle challenges like climate change and highlighted the importance of strong alliances, diplomacy, and economic and ideological strength for global security. Obama also spoke on embracing diversity and immigration, the impact of information technology on society, and the necessity of independent journalism and open dialogue.

Economist and New York Times columnist Robert Frank discusses the role of luck in professional success in his book 'Luck and Success - the myth of meritocracy', recently released in Brazil. He argues that hard work and talent are not enough, and that luck plays a fundamental role. Frank addresses the heated debate around meritocracy, especially in politics, where it has practical implications. He suggests that successful people who do not acknowledge the role of luck in their achievements are less inclined to support public investments that enable others to succeed. The book also explores the challenges of discussing meritocracy in a country with social inequality like Brazil and proposes alternatives to create more opportunities for success.

Journalist and writer Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer Prize winner, discusses the impact of habits on individuals and societies, and how change, though slow and difficult, is possible. He emphasizes the role of leaders in initiating change and the importance of peer pressure in sustaining it. Duhigg's best-seller 'The Power of Habit' explores the scientific underpinnings of our actions and the difficulty of changing entrenched societal practices. He highlights the need for tools and education to empower people to rise above their environment, citing the United States and Brazil as examples. Duhigg also touches on the role of social institutions like the Church and political parties in shaping habits and the three-part structure of habits: cue, routine, and reward.

Walkiria Sassaki and Antonio Morelli developed a system that estimates agricultural yields in seconds for properties of any size by analyzing light wave characteristics reflected by plants in satellite images. Launched at the end of 2016 with a website and followed by a mobile app in March, their company Agronow plans to consolidate in Brazil and Latin America by 2018 before expanding to the Northern Hemisphere. Agronow operates on a subscription model and charges a fee per evaluated hectare.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is known for his ambitious projects that aim to revolutionize industries and human capabilities. His ventures include Neuralink, which seeks to merge the human brain with computers; Tesla's electric cars, which have propelled the company to a valuation of over $47 billion; the Hyperloop, a high-speed transportation system; the Interplanetary Transport System (ITS) for Mars colonization; and the Solar Roof, a solar panel product for homes. Musk's philosophy is to take risks on technologies that can advance human evolution, and he has invested millions into each project, generating significant market anticipation.