PRIMED TO PERFORM

Generation Life chief executive Felipe Araujo has come a long way. From not speaking a word of English to taking on a leadership role within an ASX 200 rising star, he says it all comes down to an unwavering desire to outperform.

- Matthew Wai writes.

Growing up in Brazil, Generation Life chief executive Felipe Araujo was a promising athlete with a world of opportunities ahead of him in swimming.

While he represented his country at several international meets, Araujo was also successful academically with a wide range of interests that could easily have turned into a career.

"Throughout my schooling career, I had a broad spectrum of wanting to become a doctor, medical professional, or agricultural professional, as well. Believe it or not, I thought I'd become an agronomist," he quips.

"... my strongest subjects were chemistry, biology and physics. So, I never thought I would end up in finance."

But there was always something about the world of finance that appealed to him, he says.

"I remember entering a bank with my dad, who runs a family business in transport, interacting with bank managers," he recalls.

"They held a huge amount of power around decision making... and the professionalism, respect, and understanding of the dynamics of capital these managers exert have always intrigued me."

While still swimming competitively, Araujo was offered the opportunity to travel to Australia at the age of precisely 17 and 11 months. Yet, instead of being afraid in a foreign country, he observed countless opportunities, and the different lifestyle Australia has to offer, falling in love with all of it.

"I grew up in Curitiba; all my friends and family would no doubt say that there was no chance that I can ever live abroad. I was very much an ordinary Brazilian and was very proud to be in a position from my swimming career to represent my country," he reflects.

"But I saw the opportunity to come to Australia and to represent my country better.