Interview with Felipe Abade | Founder | Recruta LGBTQ+
We always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this endeavour, we invited Felipe Abade for an exclusive interview with us. Let’s learn more about his incredible journey, his background and his advice for our growing community.
Tell us a little bit about your start-up and your journey, please;
Recruta LGBTQ+ started during the last year, in gay pride month (June/2020). Most people in my community are vulnerable with all the pandemic things and we can add in this situation the fact being LGBTQ+ (all things are harder than the others).
I always being involved in volunteer causes so I realized that LGBTQ+ people needs more attention: in education, in psychological issues and so on.
What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur?
I can assure that makes the difference in LGBTQ+ community in Brazil, inside the companies and in their lives is very motivating for me.
How did you come up with the name for your business/startup?
Well, I am a HR professional and I really love to work in Recruitment and Selection. So, Recruta (recruit in English) makes a completely sense, using LGBTQ+ to represent all of us also.
What service(s) or product(s) do you offer/manufacture?
We have more than 14 volunteers who offering several services to our community, like: legal services, career consulting, psychological services, nutritional services etc.
Now, if we are talking about the companies, we offer a great talent pool, we post positions and we help to find a candidate with a perfect match to these corporations.
Why should people choose your product/services?
Companies only must search for “Recruta” if they are truly open to embrace diversity and inclusion and understand the human and business matter of it for business (or at least have the minds open to talk about it).
How do you market your business, and which tactics have been most successful?
All things in Recruta is natural, genuine and for this reason we only marketing our passion in help LGBTQ+ community and anyone can feel it!
What risks are you facing?
Well, “Recruta” in the beginning, could be accepted or not, embrace for the community and organizations or not, but thank God, the society, even slowly, are changing the mindset and understanding the matter of it.
Did pandemic (COVID 19) affect your business? if yes how?
In fact, “Recruta” starts during the pandemic, all activities are doing in our own houses, so COVID 19 did not affect us.
Have you considered any alliance/partnership/funding?
We have other ONG’S and companies who helps us a lot like “CAIS” and “Sólides” in here, in Brazil, to promote and help our community as much as we can!
What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
My greatest fear is not doing my best in my work. The best way to get over it is dedicating yourself the most you can.
What comes first for you money or emotions
Always emotions! Money is a consequence when we do what we love!
What piece of advice would you give to college graduates who want to become entrepreneurs?
Probably the most important advice is: be yourself, be authentic! You must believe in something that you are starting. Anything only will happen if you truly believe on it!
Please share with us a unique challenge you faced in your early career?
Well, all routines in Recruitment and Selection that I got I learnt in an evangelic company, during my internship. I was the only man there and all women hates me for being gay…. So, you can imagine the situation in there.
But my bad times turns in great times to help others!
How did you discover your passion?
I got a chance to live that: I start working in Human Resources covering vacations in this area, during my first job at C&A.
With so much going on, how do you start the day to keep your passion alive?
I always think this “mantra”: There is someone in a worst situation than you! So, WAKE UP and do something to change some life today.
We know that you are continuously engaged in helping others achieve their goals. Why do you do that?
Simple answer: do you want a better place in the world to live, huh? So, why could I do NOTHING and waiting for that? Is it fair? The others deserve the same opportunities in life to achieve their goals like I had. So, this is my duty help with that.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
First: you MUST know (and follow) your passion. You’ll spend great part of your life working, studying about your career, so, it must be, at least, something you feel pleasure and have a higher purpose for you.
Brutnow Media is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at brutnow4@gmail.com, we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
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