Artisanal fishermen in Praia da Pinheira, Santa Catarina, start their workday before dawn, facing a declining industry due to competition from industrial fishing and more attractive economic alternatives in commerce and construction. Thuan Miranda, a young fisherman, chose this profession for the connection with nature despite the hard work and low income, ranging from R$ 500 to R$ 800 monthly. The fishermen's routine includes early morning departures, checking and collecting fish from nets, and selling their catch to tourists or local businesses. The current generation, including Thuan's father-in-law Adelcio João dos Santos, may be the last to pursue artisanal fishing, as others turn to tourism for a more sustainable future.

The Uatumã river region in the Amazon, once devastated by the construction of the Balbina hydroelectric plant by the military government and Eletronorte during the 1970s oil crisis, is experiencing a transformation through ecotourism. The plant, which flooded a vast area of native forest and caused significant environmental damage, is now surrounded by a sustainable development reserve. Local communities are engaging in ecotourism, which is gradually replacing harmful extractive activities as a source of income. Investments in infrastructure and environmental preservation have improved the local economy and the quality of life for the residents, despite the ongoing environmental impacts of the hydroelectric plant.

Pablo Di Si, the president of Volkswagen in Brazil, attributes his success to his early experiences with football. At 17, he sent a video of his football skills to 15 American universities, securing a scholarship that led him to the United States. Despite economic hardships in Argentina, Di Si's journey through Loyola University and Northwestern University, combined with his passion for football, paved the way for his corporate career. He worked at Varig, Abbott, Monsanto, and Kimberly Clark before entering the automotive industry. Di Si credits his understanding of teamwork to his time at Huracán football club and continues to play football occasionally.

Ford is confronting multiple challenges in the 21st century, including competition from companies like Uber, Google, and Tesla, and changing consumer attitudes from younger generations. The company has undergone a SWOT analysis, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and has initiated reforms starting with HR, hiring more programmers than engineers and mechanics. Ford has formed partnerships with software development startups, changed its president, and planned to cut costs by over $14 billion. Investments have been redirected towards electric, autonomous, and internet-connected vehicles. Ken Washington, speaking from Michigan, believes Ford can leverage its century-long experience in design and engineering to integrate new technologies into its vehicles. Ford's vision includes electric, autonomous, connected, and smarter cars operating in an intelligent environment. The company is focusing on software, AI, and autonomous vehicles, and is making significant investments in electric vehicle fleets. Ford has a history of partnerships, such as with Pivotal and BlackBerry, to strengthen its software and AI capabilities. Washington, with a background in space sciences at Lockheed Martin, sees parallels between aerospace and automotive industries, particularly in software reliability and material innovation. Ford is closely watching China's aggressive pursuit of electric cars and is positioning itself to compete in the Chinese market. The company envisions a future where car ownership coexists with shared mobility and service-based business models.

Martin Wezowski, Chief Designer at SAP, discusses his role in shaping the company's business strategy by envisioning possible and desirable futures and the path to achieve them. With a background in civil engineering and experience at Huawei and Sony, Wezowski is a key member of SAP's innovation center, reporting directly to the CEO. He emphasizes the importance of doing the right things, not just doing things right, and highlights the role of imagination and collaboration in innovation. Wezowski also touches on the impact of technology on user experience and the future role of humans, suggesting that automation will allow for a greater focus on creativity and strategy.

Advancements in software and big data have opened new frontiers in literary studies, including uncovering sources used in classic texts and combating plagiarism. Academics Dennis McCarthy and June Schlueter suggest that William Shakespeare drew inspiration for 11 of his plays from a 1576 manuscript titled 'A Brief Discourse on Rebellion and Rebels,' a manifesto against rebellion. They used the software WCopyfind to identify similarities, clarifying that the findings do not accuse Shakespeare of plagiarism but of drawing inspiration from scenes and characters.

The third meeting of the group dedicated to global blockchain standardization within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) took place in London, aiming to disseminate best practices to facilitate the work of companies dealing with the technology. Yoshimiti Matsusaki, a member of the ABNT Special Study Commission for blockchain and the Brazilian representative, discussed the importance of finding common elements that can be standardized across different blockchain platforms like Ripple, Ethereum, and Hyperledger. The standardization efforts, which began about two years ago, are expected to lead to advantages such as interoperability between platforms and a reduction in the chances of failure in implementing blockchain solutions. The process is slow due to the search for consensus and continuous due to the constant evolution of technologies.

Hans-Paul Bürkner, chairman of The Boston Consulting Group, discusses the need for cryptocurrency regulation, the impact of digital transformation on businesses and employment, and the challenges posed by protectionist ideas and populist political discourse. He emphasizes the importance of long-term economic perspective, the benefits of capitalism and globalization, and the potential of technologies like AI, blockchain, and big data. Bürkner criticizes the concept of universal basic income and highlights the importance of work for self-esteem. He also addresses the threat that tech companies pose to traditional financial institutions and the need for collective efforts to tackle global challenges.

Brazilian startup Helpie! has developed an app that connects customers with over 8,000 registered professionals across 400 specialties, ranging from construction workers and electricians to piano teachers and professional Santa Clauses. Unlike competitors, Helpie! does not require the purchase of credits or payment of a subscription to access customers. Service providers pay a fraction of their earnings to Helpie! and are incentivized to use the platform by receiving higher visibility in search results. Payments are made through the app, similar to Uber, and the current challenge for the company is to generate enough demand to keep the professionals busy.