Business meeting on Ipanema Beach

I walk through Rua Vinicius de Moraes in the direction of Ipanema beach. On the corner, I pass a small café where the same Vinicius wrote the famous song “the girl from Ipanema,” performed by Astrud Gilberto, Frank Sinatra, and many others. I’m on my way to meet Oskar Metsavaht, a man with many talents: fashion designer, creator, filmmaker, artist, entrepreneur… the list is long, and the talents are diverse.

When I arrive at the beach, I take off my shoes and walk through the hot sand in the direction of the ocean. Ipanema is one of the famous beachfront Bairro of Rio de Janeiro and is the source of inspiration for the carioca lifestyle, a laidback way of life where fitness, beach, and party play a large role.

I’m walking in the direction of Arpoador, where the beach ends and where a huge rock inflates the waves, turning the ocean into a surfers playground. I know that Oskar himself is a surfer, and we imagine he might even bring his surfboard to the meeting.

A few years ago, Oskar founded Instituto-e, a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable human development. Since then, Instituto-e has spearheaded several environmental and social projects across Brazil to protect and preserve the country’s natural resources. Projects range from the creation of the ‘selo e’ – a sustainability index for food, fabrics, and other products – to the protection of parts of the Brazilian coastline and the creation of nature reserves.

In less than 15 minutes of strolling, I reach our meeting point: Arpoador. People on the beach playing foot volley and in the water surfers waiting patiently for the perfect wave. I’m still early… still with my shoes in hand, I sit down on the stone walkway overlooking the ocean. “I love Rio. Where else does one have business meetings on the beach?”