“It’s better to be happy than to be sad
Happiness is the best thing that exists
It’s like a light in the heart.”
— Vinicius de Moraes, Samba da Bênção

These verses, which I frequently heard in my youth, once offered more than melody. They became a compass. In their cadence, I found permission to seek joy not just as fleeting delight but as a way of being. Now, as CI&T turns thirty, I find myself not just celebrating our collective past but reflecting on how joy has been the quiet architect of my journey.

My life has been beautifully kind. From early on, I was taught that affection matters, that laughter heals, and that love, especially the tough kind, builds us from the inside out. I grew up wrapped in the warmth of a smiling family, with my mind tethered to books and my heart enchanted by the mysteries of math and technology. The internet arrived like a revolution, and with it came a young man’s dream: to become a computer scientist. I knew little, but I believed a lot. And sometimes, that’s enough.

University was a crucible. Leaving behind the embrace of home, I found myself among peers who spoke fluent code while I was still learning the alphabet of it. I stumbled, I doubted, I studied late into the night. But I was never alone. Friends appeared like lanterns on a foggy road, generous with their time, patient with my questions. That early lesson in humility became a cornerstone.

Then, in 2000, I found CI&T or perhaps CI&T found me. A trainee then, with wide eyes and a curious heart, I stepped into a company made of people who wanted to make each other better. I remember those first days clearly. How they shimmered with potential. The atmosphere was one of deliberate empowerment. We worked fiercely. We celebrated with equal intensity. From this energy, a career took root.

Over the years, I’ve been surrounded by people who outshine me in all the best ways. Together, we’ve faced hard storms and bright triumphs. What I know for certain is this: joy is not the absence of challenge, it is what we choose to bring with us into the challenge. And when a team, united by respect and generosity, overcomes something daunting? That joy is a feast.

CI&T is a place where collaboration is ritual, where growth is not a solitary climb but a shared ascent. I have always believed in the power of passion, in the electricity of enthusiasm. It’s contagious. When we lead with excitement, we give others permission to dream boldly and perform brilliantly.

I’ve witnessed countless transformations. People discovering their own brilliance, stepping beyond what they thought possible. Moments of flow, of fulfillment, of hard-earned growth. The happy hours and the late-night chats, the team rituals and spontaneous adventures, these too are our legacy, for they forge great friendships and deepen our belonging.
As we mark this 30-year milestone, let us continue to lead with lightness, with curiosity, with the magic of laughter. Let us keep proving that excellence and joy are not rivals. They are companions.

Thank you for walking this road with me.

#OnlyHappiness