On today's episode of the podcast "Impactful Business", a partnership between CATÓLICA-LISBON and Rádio Renascença, we get to know the Bright Future Academy, founded by Carolina Salvaterra.
It was during the pandemic that Carolina Salvaterra, an alumna of CATÓLICA-LISBON, identified the opportunity to create a school with the mission of shaping "future leaders," as she describes it. Since childhood, her dream was to make an impact in the country, whether through art, medicine, or even politics.
Unexpectedly, however, it was the world of education that captivated Carolina and motivated her to start a business—in this case, a school with the goal of preparing children to become future leaders. For Carolina, “making this world a better place is my purpose, and I believe that can be done through children (…) only children are capable of doing it.”
The concept of Bright Future Academy emerged naturally when Carolina started teaching English to her nieces, and it quickly grew to meet the demand from several families. As the demand for teaching children and teenagers increased, the offerings expanded to include Mandarin lessons in addition to English. Bright Future Academy has gone international, with a presence in Angola, Taiwan, and soon in São Tomé and Príncipe, alongside the domestic market.
Education at this school is distinctive, being entirely online. Carolina proudly states that what sets them apart from other schools is their teaching method: "I think that after parents see the results and see the way we work, they usually end up staying loyal. We’ve never had to advertise. It’s always been word of mouth. So, what sets us apart is that we work with values, strive for excellence, deliver results, and genuinely want children to enjoy our classes.”
Currently, the school has around 60 families registered, with most clients from the Angolan market. According to the alumna, due to its unique concept, the most challenging aspect for the school is finding professionals capable of teaching and entertaining children, particularly those aged 4 to 6, who have greater difficulty concentrating. “The approach of using cartoons in English lessons requires the instructor not only to teach effectively but also to keep the children entertained. The school is committed to ensuring concrete results by prioritizing a blend of grammar and vocabulary teaching from the very first lesson. The goal is for children to form complete sentences rather than just learning isolated vocabulary, so the focus isn’t solely on teaching colors but on enabling children to construct sentences.”
Reflecting on her time at CATÓLICA-LISBON, Carolina Salvaterra highlights not only the significant influence of Professor João César das Neves but also the fundamental role of the institution’s Student Association, where she cultivated a strong sense of belonging and purposeful work. With these solid foundations, the alumna is determined to take Bright Future Academy to great heights.