Starting a business abroad is much more than just opening a business in a different location.
It’s about immersing yourself in a new culture, relearning how to communicate, understanding different rhythms, and, above all, discovering that what works in one place doesn’t always make sense in another. When I arrived in Ireland, I didn’t have that clarity.
I thought it was enough to work hard and apply what I already knew. Over time, I realized that the biggest challenge wasn’t mastering the language—it was learning to see the world with different eyes.
The first big lesson was about humility. In Brazil, I worked in accounting, had stability, and a defined career path.
When I arrived in Dublin, I started from scratch—literally. I worked as a waiter, relearned how to express myself, faced strange looks, and had to prove my worth in an environment where nobody knew me.
This experience taught me that, in any culture, respect is earned much more through actions than words.
Humility opened doors that a resume never could.
Another lesson was about time and patience. The Irish pace is different. Things happen more calmly, without the immediacy that we carry in Brazil.
At first, this frustrated me.
I wanted to solve everything quickly, to see results right away. But I learned that this serenity has a purpose: it sustains more conscious decisions and more solid relationships.
Ireland taught me that growing slowly is not the same as going backwards — it’s just building with more depth.
I also learned the value of trust and predictability. In Irish culture, promises carry weight, and a word given is taken seriously.
The “yes” only comes when there is certainty, and the “no” is said honestly — something that, at first, seemed rude, but I later understood as a sign of respect.
This sense of transparency inspired me to rethink how to lead and do business. I learned to value clear agreements, realistic goals, and direct, straightforward communication.
But perhaps the most important lesson was about community.
Ireland is a welcoming country that cares about others. This mentality made me understand the true meaning of entrepreneurship: creating something that has a real impact on people’s lives.
That’s what led me to found SEDA — not just as a school, but as a welcoming space for learning and belonging for those who, like me, came to start over far from home.
Entrepreneurship in Ireland transformed me more as a person than as a businessman.
It taught me that success depends not only on strategies, but on the ability to adapt, respect, and learn from differences.
Today, I understand that every culture has something to teach us — and that true growth happens when we let the world change us, without losing who we are.
