05 / BEYOND THE DESK
Where I come from
shapes how I work.
There's more to a professional story than roles and qualifications. Some of the most important lessons I learned happened far from an office.
LEO ANDRADEA DEDICATED PAGE / A DEEPER STORY
From Worcester to Brazil, and back again.
I was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. At ten, I moved to Brazil, where much of my adolescence was spent between rural life and the city.
Some of my clearest memories are from my dad's farm. I'd wake up to the smell of lemongrass and morning dew, have breakfast, saddle my favorite horse, and ride off to explore. I could spend hours following a trail, finding fruit, or discovering a place I hadn't noticed before. There was a freedom in that routine that is hard to replace.
My dad worked in construction and liked doing things himself. I learned by helping and watching him tackle masonry, carpentry, electrical work, and plumbing. He didn't need a long list of credentials to be resourceful. He made me curious about how things fit together and confident enough to try learning something new.
I also lived in a small rural town and later in the city. I rode my bike across town, explored trails with friends, hiked Ibituruna, camped outdoors, and built kites from bamboo, plastic, and string. None of it was a professional achievement. It was simply a childhood full of curiosity, freedom, and figuring things out.
A LESSON I STILL CARRY
I learned that generosity has little to do with how much someone has—and that resourcefulness and dignity are not measured by money.
Lessons that never appeared on a résumé.
Living in Brazil also exposed me to real poverty. I remember being invited to lunch by a friend whose family welcomed me with warmth and offered what they had. It was a simple meal, shared with real generosity. That day changed the way I thought about gratitude and the things people can take for granted.
I've never forgotten that family or the dignity with which they treated me. I don't share the memory as a lesson in being better than anyone else. I share it because it helped me appreciate people and circumstances more deeply.
When I returned to the United States alone at eighteen, I felt ready for anything. Life had other ideas. I lived in Massachusetts, Florida, New Jersey, and eventually Pennsylvania, learning to adapt through work, unfamiliar places, mistakes, and opportunities. I didn't always have the answers; I learned to keep going and find them.
Those experiences influence how I work today. I value people who are capable without being arrogant, practical without being dismissive, and willing to help without needing recognition.
LANGUAGES / CONNECTION
Three languages.
Different perspectives.
I speak English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Language is one more way to understand people on their terms instead of assuming everyone sees the world the same way.
Português
PORTUGUESEEspañol
SPANISHTHE CONNECTION
From curiosity
to responsibility.
It might seem like a long way from horseback rides, construction projects, and homemade kites to business strategy and technology. To me, the connection is straightforward: I like understanding things, making things work, and learning from people who know something I don't.
Those interests developed long before I had a job title. They're still part of how I approach work, even as the tools and responsibilities have changed.
Read how the career took shape ↗