Those who see Guilherme Benchimol , founding partner of XP Inc., as a successful entrepreneur would never imagine that he was once a straight-A student or a young man who lacked emotional control when defeated in sports.
In an interview with Bravamente , a program hosted by big wave surfer Carlos Burle , in partnership with NeoFeed , Benchimol explained that it was precisely the competitiveness of the sport that helped shape his mindset, redefine his relationship with failure, and build his emotional foundation—which would later lead to the creation of one of the largest investment platforms in the country.
During the recording, Burle took the businessman surfing in Rio de Janeiro to try tow-in surfing , a technique used on big waves with the aid of a jet ski. The experience served as a backdrop for a conversation about risk, discipline, and decision-making under pressure – central themes in both extreme surfing and entrepreneurship.
As a teenager, the founder of XP dreamed of being a professional tennis player and even competed in Rio de Janeiro. He himself describes that period as far removed from the disciplined profile he later developed.
"I was that student who got sixes or sevens. I was only good at math. I only wanted to play sports, I wanted to be a tennis player, and I did a lot of stupid things," he said.
The turning point came when he was 15, when he decided to tell his father that he wanted to drop out of school. "I said, 'Dad, I've decided I want to drop out of school.' He said, 'Son, it's fine that you want to drop out of school. But today, you're going to give up tennis,'" he recounted.
Despite the initial shock, Benchimol says that competitive sports were crucial to his development. Today, he maintains the habit of waking up early and exercising daily as a self-care strategy in the face of the pressures of his executive routine.
"Competitive sports during adolescence, and indeed childhood, are the best way to show your child what life is really like. Because life is tough."
According to Benchimol, sport was also essential in changing his relationship with failure. If before defeat was accompanied by frustration, over time it came to be seen as a tool for evolution.
"Defeat is a gift, as long as you remain humble. It makes you smarter," he stated.
At the helm of a company valued at US$10.7 billion, Benchimol says his vision of success has changed over time. While in his 20s he associated success with financial independence and, later, with building a large business, today the concept is more linked to impact and legacy.
