Filipe’s life journey is a continuous flow of unexpected turns. He’s living proof that a bias for action always pays off.
Filipe is also one of my favorite people to disagree with. Like me, Filipe values tough love and sees it as a catalyst for growth and adaptation. Our conversations are always frank and insightful.
The two traits are related. Being open to all types of feedback loops is essential for embracing new experiences with open arms.
Since the beginning of 2023, Filipe has been sharing monthly life updates in his newsletter, superfriends. Unlike many content creators, he gives himself the latitude to skip one or two months and shares both the wins and the bumps along the road.
Documenting our journey is almost public service when done authentically, as Filipe does. Young generations learn from the whole story, not only from the curated highlights.
When people ask me for advice on reinventing themselves, I always recommend them to follow three principles: diversity, experimentation, and reflection. Well, you’re about to have a masterclass on the topic.
Welcome the former kid who hustled bootleg games and dreamed of a cinema career. Extend the invitation to the entrepreneur, the DJ, the basketball player, and all the other Filipe’s shapes. I trust you will learn as much with Filipe as I do.
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Disclaimer: I’m an advisor at Talent Protocol, where Filipe is a founder and CPO. While I have skin in the game, the strong connection with the founders and their mission means the most to me.
Gus
Bird’s Eye View
Can you give us a glimpse of your life story?
My life so far has already been a wonderful adventure with multiple detours and happy missteps. Currently I see myself as an async-first founder, creative builder, junior CPO, DJ by night, film fan, minimalist traveler, tea drinker, and sober curious.
Chapter 1: a perfect childhood as a 90s kid in a small town 40km north of Lisbon, with a super supportive family, lots of sports, hobbies and friends. 🤗
Chapter 2: at 18 years old I moved to Lisbon to study Computer Engineering and, for 4 years my life was split between university and daily basketball practices. I left basketball after winning a national championship and started an internship at KPMG. This was the first time I felt like a real failure. Corporate consultancy was not for me, but I’m grateful for what that teached me. 💼
Chapter 3: A 180º turn from consultant to DJ, playing at major nightclubs and music festivals as MAD MAC, leading me to star in Nike’s 2010 campaign “Bleed Your Colors” side-to-side with Cristiano Ronaldo 🤯
Chapter 4: The contact with the world of brands led me into marketing advertising, where I worked for Nike Portugal first, and many other brands after. My passion for building things awakened during this period, and led me to Cannes to compete in the Young Lions Competition, with the world’s top creatives under 30. I also tried being a digital marketing teacher for 3 years. 🦁
Chapter 4.5: After almost 10 years, I felt I wasn’t growing in advertising anymore, so I applied to an MBA abroad and managed not only to be accepted, but also to win a 10,000€ scholarship. But I decided to withdraw my application at the last minute and follow a completely different path. I took some of that money to do a 3-month research project, called Agency Safari, that aimed to study 50+ leading creative agencies around the world. 🌍
Chapter 5: is all about the sabbatical that became a startup, called Talent Protocol, a social and economic platform where builders commit to future goals, share their progress and find the support they need to succeed. 💜
What is the importance of sport for you? How does it influence other parts of your life?
Sports serve as a mirror to life’s principles for me. They offer a balance, a counterpoint to the cerebral demands of my work. Engaging in sports is akin to a meditation session — it’s a moment where the mind rests and the body takes charge. Particularly with basketball, I’ve come to appreciate the nuances of teamwork, strategy, and resilience. It’s a reminder that individual prowess is amplified when combined with collective effort. Moreover, sports underscore the value of rest, emphasizing that peak performance isn’t about constant action but strategic pauses. In essence, sports don’t just keep me fit; they shape my perspective on life and work.
Do you consider yourself a nomad, a dweller, or something in between?
Probably something in between. I see myself as a global citizen with local roots. Traveling is an important part of my identity, but curiously geography is not. While the allure of new cultures, ideas, and experiences drives me to explore, there’s an undeniable pull towards the communities and connections I’ve nurtured over the years. It’s this balance between the familiar and the unknown that keeps my perspectives fresh and grounded.
Learning and Reinvention
What does learning mean for you? And how do you learn?
I deeply believe that when you stop learning, you stop living. So, how do I approach this lifelong journey? In 3 complementary ways:
Learn by writing: It’s not just about documenting thoughts, but refining them. If I can’t articulate an idea clearly on paper, it needs more work. Writing gives poor thinking nowhere to hide.
Learn by doing: There’s a big difference between studying a map and walking the terrain. Every step, every stumble, every success is a lesson you can’t truly capture on paper. It’s the difference between knowing the path and walking the path.
Learn by sharing: My monthly superfriends newsletter isn’t just a medium to share, it’s also a tool for introspection. a way to distill my experiences into shareable insights.
How have you reinvented yourself throughout life?
Life, much like a startup, is a series of iterations and pivots. It’s about adapting, evolving, and sometimes, taking paths you never anticipated. Consider my own journey. I’ve had moments where the script I wrote for myself took unexpected turns. Here are three instances that stand out:
- The plan: Computer Engineer. The reality: full-time DJ and one-time Nike “model”.
- The plan: MBA with a 10k scholarship. The reality: traveling the world with the “Agency Safari”.
- The plan: a 1-year sabbatical. The reality: starting a web3 startup.
Sam Ball once said, “If you’re not worried, scared or ever so slightly shitting it, chances are you’re not trying hard enough.” I’ve found this to be profoundly true. High-performers are the ones brave enough to jump from one s-curve to the next before it’s obvious. And in my experience, it’s these early and unexpected jumps that often lead to the most fulfilling destinations.
Living in Public and The Future of Careers
At Talent Protocol, you build in public. At superfriends, you share monthly updates about yourself. What are the pros and cons of “living in public”?
I don’t see myself as someone who broadcasts every detail of their life, especially when compared to those who share daily stories and try to capture every waking moment. At Talent Protocol, our approach to building in public and my personal sharing through superfriends is about transparency and authenticity. It’s not just about showcasing the highs and the milestones. It’s equally, if not more, about revealing the lows, the missteps, and the moments of doubt. This approach is less about public performance and more about embracing vulnerability. It’s a belief that true connections are forged not through curated highlight reels but through genuine experiences and shared journeys.
What’s your stance on the topic of pursuing a career?
Careers are rarely straight lines. In today’s fast-paced world, a career should instead be a mosaic of experiences, roles, and learnings. It should be less about the titles and more about the impact.
It’s normal not to be sure about one’s future career. It’s okay to be afraid (you can be afraid and confident at the same time). It’s okay to learn and adapt as you go. And whenever you feel stuck, move. Try different things. Run experiments. When you move, good things happen.
How do you face the future? Do you make plans for it?
I don’t make a lot of plans. A life of career pivots taught me not to spend too much time planning. That’s why I prefer to approach the future as a horizon of possibilities, not a fixed destination. While I set directional goals, I try to remain agile, ready to pivot based on learnings and shifts in the landscape. In the ever-evolving realms of tech and web3, adaptability isn’t just an asset; it’s a necessity.