Guilherme Possobon shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Guilherme, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
My days usually start earlier than I’d like, changing diapers. After some time playing with my newborn son, it’s either heading to the office in Manhattan, which means a not-so-short commute for someone living in the New Jersey suburbs, or locking myself in the home office for the rest of the day. At least until the dog starts crying for a walk or carrying her ball because it’s time to play. Basically living the dream.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Nice to meet you. My name is Guilherme Possobon, and I’m a Creative Director at VML, currently the largest advertising agency in the world, where I work on a dedicated global Coca-Cola team. Moving from the south of Brazil to life in New York required a long journey, a lot of persistence, plenty of sweat (partly due to the tropical climate), over 200 awards, and a few complete life resets along the way. With a background in Art Direction, I focus on craft across different medias, always paired with creativity, aiming to bring something new and intriguing to every project I’m involved in.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child growing up in a working-class family in a developing country, you’re taught to believe many things that aren’t necessarily true. One of the strongest is that the world is not meant for you. What you see on TV feels distant and unreachable. Even though now a days social media have brought those worlds a bit closer, they often still feel like something to observe, not to belong to.
In Brazil, social inequality is deeply rooted, and as a kid from a modest background, you’re subtly taught to stay in your place: aim for a stable, safe job, build a life slightly better than your parents’, and don’t create expectations that might lead to frustration or trouble.
That belief became both my biggest obstacle and my greatest achievement to overcome. Breaking that mental barrier had nothing to do with this “mindset shift” sold by a bunch of fake coaches around the world. It was a far more complex, slower, and harder process, shaped by failure, and persistence. Realizing that the world could be for me too changed everything. It took far more time and effort than it does for someone who grows up already feeling a sense of belonging, but it was possible.
Today, I live a life that would have been unimaginable to my childhood self. Not in terms of money, but in terms of opportunities and experiences. I work in a profession I didn’t even know existed and live in a place I used to see only in dubbed movies, back when speaking English didn’t seem necessary at all. Why would it? My life was supposed to exist only within that small world, or so I was taught.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I actually change my mind all the time about many things. Being open to different perspectives that can challenge, complement, or reshape how I think has become something of a personal principle. I believe that staying open is what keeps me searching for new paths and growing, both professionally and as a human being.
That said, the most meaningful shift happened about six months ago, when my son was born. That experience changed everything. It reshaped not only how I see life and my priorities, but also how I understand human relationships. I now see how many behaviors, fears, and decisions come from the instinct to protect one’s children.
Today, I feel like a better person and, in a very real way, a more human one.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
One belief I’m deeply committed to is supporting and guiding new talent into the industry. Since I began gaining some relevance in my career, I’ve felt a responsibility to help open doors, especially for people whose backgrounds resemble where I came from.
I know firsthand how difficult it is to enter a field with established standards and unspoken rules. Those challenges are often even bigger for people who are black, women, LGBTQ+, or come from backgrounds that add additional barriers beyond my own experience. This commitment isn’t only about individuals, though. It’s also about the industry itself. Diverse perspectives and lived experiences don’t just make the market more fair, they make the work stronger, more relevant, and more meaningful.
That’s why I teach at creative schools and make time to mentor emerging talent, or simply have honest conversations when possible.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m traveling. Being in a different country and outside my usual environment is when I can truly disconnect from work, the news, social media, and, surprisingly, even from soccer, which is a big passion of mine. I love walking through unfamiliar streets with my camera hanging from my neck, photographing different people, unexpected moments, and architectures that feel completely foreign to my everyday life.
But it’s probably a different kind of peace than most people imagine. Even while traveling, I tend to make the most of every second, which sometimes means I need to go back to work to recover from my vacation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://guipossobon.com
- Instagram: @guipossobon @theworldbehindblueeyes
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guipossobon
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