Our History
The Think Twice Brasil Institute is a non-profit organization, founded in 2013, with the purpose of promoting Human Rights Education, Peace Culture, and Social Engagement, as tools to transform society.
The idea of founding an organization came naturally from conversations between the founders, Gabriele Garcia and Felipe Brescancini. At the time, Gabriele worked as a lawyer in a traditional law office in São Paulo and Felipe worked with marketing in a multinational. From their involvement with pro bono actions, volunteering, and social responsibility, they began to question what legacy they would like to leave to the world. After much planning, thinking, and researching, they concluded that they wanted to dedicate themselves exclusively to tackling social and gender inequalities, and human rights abuses and violations. In 2014, Gabriele and Felipe quit their formal jobs and founded the Institute, which has reached more than 5,000 people and dozens of organizations through their innovative educational projects and specialized consultancies.
"Empathy is the leading tool of our journey"
Mission
Through human rights education, influence people and organizations to recognize their capabilities and assume their responsibilities in reducing structural inequalities and violence.
Vision
Each individual is aware of her values and her social role in building a sustainable and peaceful society that guarantees the dignity of choice and equal opportunities.
We believe
We believe in Human Rights Education as a tool for building peace and social engagement, enabling people to recognize themselves as responsible for contributing to social transformation.
Values
Empathy
Courage
Compassion
Responsibility
Generosity
Team
Founders:
The founders lead the development, implementation,
and management of the activities, always following the organization's mission, vision, and values.
Gabriele Costa B. Garcia
Founder and President
She is a lawyer, social entrepreneur, and international speaker. She has a master's degree in Human Rights from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), United Kingdom, a Bachelor of Law from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica of São Paulo (PUC-SP), a postgraduate degree in Corporate Law from the Fundação Getúlio Vargas (EDESP/FGV) and in Social Innovation Management from the Amani Institute. She is specialized in social business from Artemísia and has a diploma in Social Innovation from the University for Peace (UNPeace). She is a Chevening Alumni 2017/18 and a Dalai Lama Fellow 2020/21.
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She worked for ten years at Pinheiro Neto Advogados, in which she was a member of the Social Responsibility Committee. She is the Promotion Coordinator in the Human Rights Committee of the Bar Association (OAB-SP) and an advisor to the RONA Foundation, an organization that works for women's rights in Kenya.
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She is fluent in English, proficient in Spanish, and native in Portuguese.
Felipe Brescancini
Founder and Director
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Felipe is the father of Francisco, consultant, social entrepreneur, and researcher. He has been engaged in positive social impact in leadership roles in several organisations since 2012. He is one of the founders of TTB and the chair of the board at Plan International Brasil, a global NGO leading the movement for girls’ rights.
He is currently a PhD Researcher at Leeds University Business School, UK. He holds an MSc in Economic Psychology from the London School of Economics (LSE), a BSc in Management from Pontificia Universidade Católica (PUC-SP), a PGDip in Communication, and three PGCert in Social Impact.
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He was the Business Development Director of Sistema B Brasil (part of B Corp) until 2022, a global movement that creates business standards to build a regenerative, inclusive, and sustainable economy. Until 2014, he worked for ten years in Marketing at Procter & Gamble, leading local and regional multifunctional teams in Latin America.
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Passionate about cultures, Felipe has been to 100 countries, 40 of which were in field research about inequality and social impact. This project was published in the book “Empathy Experience throughout the world” – available for download in Portuguese. He speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.
Advisory Board
It brings together inspiring experts in their fields of work and who have a deep connection with the Institute's values. The counsellors support, advise, and
promote the Institute's activities.
Alexandra Soraia de Vasconcelos Segantin
Tax and corporate lawyer, leader of the Public Policy Committee at Grupo Mulheres do Brasil and member of the Human Rights Committee of the Bar Association (OAB-SP).
Maria Cecília Almeida e Silva E. Lins
She has a master's in Education from PUC-SP, certificates in Management in Social Innovation from Amani Institute; and in Psycho-pedagogy by CEPERJ. She has a Bachelor of Psychology at PUC-RJ and she is a teacher in basic education, founder and executive director of Instituto Pró-Saber Sao Paulo, located at the Paraisópolis community since 2003. Maria is married with three children and believes that Education is a powerful tool for reducing social inequality.
Handemba Mutana Poli dos Santos
Lawyer and activist for racial equity and inclusive growth. He holds a master's degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of London and in Law and Development from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV).
Alexandra Soraia de Vasconcelos Segantin
Tax and corporate lawyer, leader of the Public Policy Committee at Grupo Mulheres do Brasil and member of the Human Rights Committee of the Bar Association (OAB-SP).
Maria Cecília Almeida e Silva E. Lins
She has a master's in Education from PUC-SP, certificates in Management in Social Innovation from Amani Institute; and in Psycho-pedagogy by CEPERJ. She has a Bachelor of Psychology at PUC-RJ and she is a teacher in basic education, founder and executive director of Instituto Pró-Saber Sao Paulo, located at the Paraisópolis community since 2003. Maria is married with three children and believes that Education is a powerful tool for reducing social inequality.
Handemba Mutana Poli dos Santos
Lawyer and activist for racial equity and inclusive growth. He holds a master's degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of London and in Law and Development from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV).
Alexandra Soraia de Vasconcelos Segantin
Tax and corporate lawyer, leader of the Public Policy Committee at Grupo Mulheres do Brasil and member of the Human Rights Committee of the Bar Association (OAB-SP).
Maria Cecília Almeida e Silva E. Lins
She has a master's in Education from PUC-SP, certificates in Management in Social Innovation from Amani Institute; and in Psycho-pedagogy by CEPERJ. She has a Bachelor of Psychology at PUC-RJ and she is a teacher in basic education, founder and executive director of Instituto Pró-Saber Sao Paulo, located at the Paraisópolis community since 2003. Maria is married with three children and believes that Education is a powerful tool for reducing social inequality.
Handemba Mutana Poli dos Santos
Lawyer and activist for racial equity and inclusive growth. He holds a master's degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of London and in Law and Development from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV).
Alexandra Soraia de Vasconcelos Segantin
Tax and corporate lawyer, leader of the Public Policy Committee at Grupo Mulheres do Brasil and member of the Human Rights Committee of the Bar Association (OAB-SP).
Maria Cecília Almeida e Silva E. Lins
She has a master's in Education from PUC-SP, certificates in Management in Social Innovation from Amani Institute; and in Psycho-pedagogy by CEPERJ. She has a Bachelor of Psychology at PUC-RJ and she is a teacher in basic education, founder and executive director of Instituto Pró-Saber Sao Paulo, located at the Paraisópolis community since 2003. Maria is married with three children and believes that Education is a powerful tool for reducing social inequality.
Handemba Mutana Poli dos Santos
Lawyer and activist for racial equity and inclusive growth. He holds a master's degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of London and in Law and Development from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV).
Fernanda Quintas
She is a lawyer with a Bachelor of Law from the Metropolitan University of Santos, with a specialization in Tax Law from the Brazilian Institute of Tax Studies - IBET, Fundraising from the New York University - NYU and Social Policies from PUC. She has university extension certificates in Women's Health and Human Rights from Stanford University. He has more than 12 years of experience in Brazil and the United States in the areas of private social investment, partnerships, relationships, institutional development, and national and international fundraising. She is a member of the Human Rights Committee of the Bar Association (OAB-SP) and of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Liga Solidária.
Marina Martins
She is an enthusiast for scale-impacting businesses and its transformative power to tackle the inequalities we see in the world.
Her experience combines 20 years of working in international consultancies and engagement in the third sector. Currently, she works at the Kids4Kids NGO based in Hong Kong, she is a mentor at Ashoka, participates in Sistema B, and is a co-founder of the impact business Somos Todas Marias. She is passionate about yoga, books, and inspiring people!
Fernanda Quintas
She is a lawyer with a Bachelor of Law from the Metropolitan University of Santos, with a specialization in Tax Law from the Brazilian Institute of Tax Studies - IBET, Fundraising from the New York University - NYU and Social Policies from PUC. She has university extension certificates in Women's Health and Human Rights from Stanford University. He has more than 12 years of experience in Brazil and the United States in the areas of private social investment, partnerships, relationships, institutional development, and national and international fundraising. She is a member of the Human Rights Committee of the Bar Association (OAB-SP) and of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Liga Solidária.
Marina Martins
She is an enthusiast for scale-impacting businesses and its transformative power to tackle the inequalities we see in the world.
Her experience combines 20 years of working in international consultancies and engagement in the third sector. Currently, she works at the Kids4Kids NGO based in Hong Kong, she is a mentor at Ashoka, participates in Sistema B, and is a co-founder of the impact business Somos Todas Marias. She is passionate about yoga, books, and inspiring people!