As part of the Impacta Mais program, an event held by Impact Hub São Paulo, RenovaBR hosted a panel discussion resulting from a partnership between the institutions to discuss ways to strengthen democracy, rebuild trust in institutions, and expand the capacity for cooperation and social transformation in the country. The meeting brought together experts and leaders from different areas to reflect on the political, economic, and institutional challenges facing the country.
Moderated by Andréa Álvares, President of the Board of the Ethos Institute and Leader of the FamaGaia Fund, the debate included Izabella Teixeira, former Minister of the Environment; Creomar de Souza, CEO of Dharma Political Risk and Strategy; and Paulo Hartung, economist, former governor of Espírito Santo, advisor to RenovaBR and president of Ibá. Throughout the conversation, the participants highlighted how institutional instability, polarization, and the crisis of confidence directly affect the construction of collective solutions.
Democracy, trust, and possible paths forward.
In her opening remarks, Andréa highlighted the challenge of balancing relations between the public sector, the private sector, and organized civil society, in a context where Brazil is among the most polarized countries in the world. Despite this, she emphasized that this is not a phenomenon exclusive to Brazil.
Understanding the challenges to building solutions
Reflecting on the current political landscape, Izabella Teixeira emphasized the importance of understanding the scope of contemporary challenges in order to formulate consistent responses. For her, this exercise is especially important for those who intend to work in public life.
“Things have changed and will continue to change, and public institutions are currently out of step with what is happening,” she stated. The former minister also defended the need to make room for renewal: “It’s time to stop badmouthing Brazil and start taking care of it,” she said, highlighting the importance of giving voice to a new generation and new political spaces capable of building alternatives.
Politics, participation, and collective construction
Creomar de Souza addressed the impacts of politics on different dimensions of social and economic life and emphasized that understanding the political environment is no longer a choice. "To do business, you need to understand that politics is an inescapable part of any business," he stated.
In a scenario marked by fear, uncertainty, and negative rhetoric, he highlighted citizen participation as a central element in strengthening democracy: "When we are not part of the decision-making spaces, or when we don't make our voices heard, someone else will be deciding for us," he points out.
Developing leaders to face complexity.
At the close of the panel, Paulo Hartung drew attention to the need to combine diagnosis, planning, and leadership training in the face of a changing global landscape.
“If we want to have a greater impact, we need to know the ground we are standing on. If we want to have an impact, we need skilled people to operate in this complex world we live in,” he stated. Hartung also highlighted the strategic role of qualification in facing complex challenges and how politics continues to be an essential tool for collective construction.
Throughout the conversation, different perspectives converged on the need to strengthen democracy, broaden citizen participation, and prepare new leaders capable of responding to the challenges of a country in transformation.
