Meet the authors.
Two parallel paths that crossed in Connecticut in the early 2000s — and kept talking about technology for more than two decades.
The shared story.
Gustavo and Cassel, still young and on their own, moved to the United States in the early 2000s, when they met in Connecticut. Beyond a shared passion for technology, over more than two decades of friendship they constantly debated ideas and exchanged lessons on how technology can solve business problems — between themselves and in networking groups.
That ongoing collaboration inspired them to broaden their influence, culminating in the decision to write Competência Digital. They firmly believe in the transformative power of technology and argue that professionals in every field are affected by the need to adapt to digital tools in order to thrive in the new digital economy.
They live in Florida with their wives and children.
Gustavo
Netto
Gustavo began his professional career in Brazil at 16, working in IT and advertising. In 2000, at age 20, he moved to New York, where he founded a digital solutions development consultancy.
Within four years, the business grew from small projects for restaurants to global consulting, before he built his international executive career at GE and later at IBM, where he works today.
With a career marked by technology leadership and innovation across many countries, Gustavo has accumulated valuable experience in digital transformation. A graduate in Technology from the City University of New York and in Business from Sacred Heart University, he shares his knowledge through talks and mentoring that promote practical solutions and strategic innovation.
C.
Cassel
When he arrived in the United States in 2004, Cassel spotted a gap in the market: how to simplify cross-border financial transactions through technology — founding CambioReal, the first fintech to offer online payment services between the US and Brazil.
While sleeping on couches with a borrowed laptop and building the first algorithms of his business, Cassel always prioritized information security and a great customer experience, building one of the most secure online financial payment companies.
Cassel holds a degree in Data Processing from CESUFOZ in Brazil and an MBA in Finance from the University of Delaware in the United States.
