Having lived in seven countries and built a multifaceted career spanning academia, government, and investment banking, Rodrigo Tavares is the founder and CEO of the Granito Group, a London-based firm dedicated to advancing sustainable and technological economies. Through this role, he has delivered projects for companies and governments in more than 20 countries.
He previously served as Head of the Office for International Affairs of the Government of the State of São Paulo, leading the foreign affairs of the world’s 18th largest economy, and between 2008 and 2010 contributed to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s annual reports on Africa’s development.
Rodrigo Tavares has guided over 3,000 leaders and executives through training and advisory programs, helping them integrate sustainability practices into corporate strategies.
His teaching leverages interactive and case-based methodologies, including investment simulations, corporate sustainability assessments, market analysis, and public policy debates. His approach combines academic rigor with practical insights, encouraging executives to apply sustainability and AI concepts within their organizations.
His publications on Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability have been published by Fortune, Financial Times, MIT Technology Review, Arab News, World Economic Forum, among dozens of other publications.
In Portugal, Rodrigo Tavares pioneered several AI-driven media projects: producing an AI-generated song that premiered on the radio, publishing a fully AI-generated news video in a national newspaper, and writing parts of an opinion column with generative language models before the emergence of OpenAI.
He is the author of four books and dozens of scientific articles on international relations, sustainability, and economic development. His most recent book is Paradiplomacy: Cities and States as Global Players (Oxford University Press).
He was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (2017) and a Young Leader by the Government of Québec (2011). He is a columnist for Folha de São Paulo and Expresso, and a commentator for TSF.
Rodrigo Tavares believes that transforming financial markets and organizations requires integrating sustainable practices and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, combining innovation, social responsibility, and financial value. His work reflects a commitment to preparing leaders to face the global challenges of the 21st century.