Series, books and films that inspire C-levels

Brazilian executives such as Rapha Avellar, Dhaval Chadha, Juliana Simões, and Guilherme Nazareth share films, books, and series that shape their leadership, addressing topics such as strategy, empathy, execution, and creativity.

For those who dream of leading a company, becoming an entrepreneur, or simply thinking more strategically, understanding what inspires big names in the market is a great starting point. In this special curation, we've gathered what C-suite executives from different fields have been using to fuel their worldview, creativity, and ability to execute.

Rapha Avellar

Founder and CEO of BrandLovers, the company behind Creator Ads, an advertising platform for creators worldwide, with over 300,000 registered creators.

A serial entrepreneur and one of the most influential voices in the new generation of business in Brazil, Rapha has founded agencies, accelerated brands with celebrities, and now leads a company that uses technology to transform the Creator Economy. His content reaches millions every month, and behind this success lies an intense routine of reading, studying, and inspiration. Below, he shares three recommendations that have shaped his leadership and strategic vision.

Movie: King Richard: Creating Champions

"Richard Williams' story is one of the greatest lessons in leadership, long-term vision, and patient development I've ever seen on film," says Rapha. The film, based on the true story of the father of tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, shows how believing in a plan can change the course of history, even when no one else does. For entrepreneurs, it's a powerful reminder that consistency and conviction, even in the face of uncertainty, are valuable assets.

Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow

This work by Daniel Kahneman is one of the most influential in the field of behavioral economics and has changed the way leaders approach decision-making. "Understanding how our choices can be influenced by mental shortcuts and biases helped me create more efficient methods for making decisions under pressure," says Rapha. By exploring the two modes of thinking—the fast, more intuitive, and the slow, more analytical—Kahneman offers a powerful lens for those who need to make strategic decisions with clarity. The book has a direct impact on how to build brands, lead teams, and navigate uncertain environments, especially in constantly changing markets like the Creator Economy.

Series: WeCrashed

WeWork's meteoric (and controversial) trajectory became a series and a warning. "The series shows what happens when vision and charisma don't go hand in hand with execution and responsibility," says Rapha. For anyone building something, WeCrashed is almost a lesson in what to avoid: glamour, lack of governance, and the temptation to grow at any cost.

Dhaval Chadha

CEO and co-founder of Justos, a digital insurance company transforming the industry with a focus on transparency, technology, and rewards for responsible drivers.

At the helm of one of the most innovative startups in the insurance market, Dhaval believes that a leader's role goes far beyond strategy: it encompasses social responsibility, empathy, and optimism. His content choices reflect this humanized and profound view of the business world.

Movie: Baraka

"This film reminds me that life is precious, that I'm part of a huge and incredible world, and that I have a tremendous level of privilege and, therefore, a responsibility to society," says Dhaval. Without dialogue or characters, Baraka is a visual and sensory experience that invites us to reflect on the connection between humanity, nature, and spirituality.

Book: Nonviolent Communication, by Marshall Rosenberg

More than just a communication tool, Rosenberg's approach transformed the way Dhaval views relationships with teams and clients. "It helped me significantly improve my understanding of others and communicate more empathetically," he says. The book teaches active listening and building genuine connections, essential for any leader who values trusting relationships.

Series: Ted Lasso

For Dhaval, this production is practically a modern manual on emotional leadership. "It helped me understand that in a leader's work, it's much more important to care for people's emotions and maintain optimism than to have skills or technical knowledge." With humor, lightheartedness, and humanity, Ted Lasso shows that empathy and kindness are also management strategies.

Juliana Simões

Chief Revenue Officer at wehandle, the first all-in-one platform that automates third-party management (from suppliers to employees) using proprietary technology and artificial intelligence.

With over a decade of experience in strategy, growth, and execution at companies such as Stone, Zoop (Grupo Movile), Americanas, and Stone, Juliana currently serves as CRO at wehandle, a technology platform that is transforming third-party management at large companies. Her background combines depth in Product, CS, Sales, and Operations with a focus on taking plans off the slide and putting them into action, always with the clear goal of scaling and building high-performance operations and startups. Juliana is driven by complex challenges, impactful decisions, and the joy of seeing teams grow alongside the business.

Between one goal and another, she shares the references that nourish her strategic vision and shape her way of leading:

Books: The Founder's Mentality and From Idea to Billion

"I return to The Founder's Mentality whenever I need to regain clarity about the phase we're in as a company. The book, written by partners at Bain & Company, brilliantly explains the transitions every startup must go through: from customer obsession to the dilemmas of scale, bureaucracy, and loss of identity," says Juliana. For her, the book helps align vision with execution and adjust the pace without losing the essence, making each rereading trigger different alerts, depending on the stage the executive is in.

The second book, "From Idea to Billion," by Daniel Bergamasco, has a different role. "It's almost an inspirational pause. It narrates, with lightness and depth, the behind-the-scenes stories of Brazilian companies that became unicorns: how they made strategic decisions, dealt with mistakes, and transformed chaos into growth. It's a quick, engaging read, and reminds me that every great company was once just a well-executed idea."

Content: TEDs, YouTube and Podcasts

Juliana prefers materials that deliver quick and actionable impact. TED Talks, podcasts, and YouTube videos are her driving force. She's a fan of Extreme Ownership, for example, which conveys leadership through radical responsibility, focusing on execution and conscious consequences. Empower Business School, led by Edu Lins (Movile), delivers real strategy and practical growth cases.

"I also watch videos about elite team building, with lessons from the SEAL and figures like Storani. They show how to build high-performance teams through culture, trust, and well-defined processes. These videos help me put into practice the creation of strategic, resilient, and autonomous teams."

Movies and series: Serial killers and unsolved cases

If she needs to disconnect for a bit, Juliana immerses herself in crime films, serial killers, and investigations. "It may not seem productive, but what captivates me in these stories is precisely trying to understand the minds of people with twisted motivations and the complexity of investigations—how each new piece of information can turn the tide. I like being surprised, confronting what I don't yet know that I don't know." And, according to her, this has everything to do with leadership: adapting, investigating, and making decisions based on what the scenario reveals, even when it's unexpected.

Guilherme Nazareth

CEO and co-founder of Trela, an online marketplace that combines rigorous curation with efficient technology and logistics to help people live healthier lives.

At the helm of an online marketplace that is redefining the digital marketplace experience, Guilherme combines strategic vision with pragmatic execution. His trajectory is marked by consistent decisions, customer focus, and an operation built efficiently from the very first order. For him, leadership is about connecting ideas to practice, and his content reflects this creative and restless spirit.

Movie: The Social Network

"It was the first time I'd heard about a startup. Facebook's origin story is very interesting and shows how an idea can redefine the world," says Guilherme. The film portrays the behind-the-scenes story of the birth of one of the most influential companies of the digital age and inspires those who believe in the power of execution to transform markets.

Book: The Hard Thing About Hard Things, by Ben Horowitz, and Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson

Almost a survival manual for entrepreneurs, the book offers practical advice and real-life accounts of the challenges—and dilemmas—of scaling a company. "Ben speaks candidly about the ups and downs of being a CEO, with a wealth of detail few authors can match. It's a must-read for anyone on the battlefield," says Guilheme.

The biography of Apple's founder offers a glimpse into the mind of one of history's greatest inventors. "More than just genius, the book shows how discipline, aesthetic vision, and attention to detail can build something revolutionary," he emphasizes. For Guilherme, it's a reminder that leadership also means creating with intention, judgment, and courage.