I'm Jonathan Andrade Markert, partner at eco web design, and member of BNI since 2019, specializing in Website Creation. I was a founding member of BNI Mindset in São José do Rio Preto and, since 2020, I have been acting as BNI Start Consulting Director, also in Rio Preto.

About BNI

The Business Network International (BNI), founded by Ivan Misner in 1985, aims to create an efficient platform for sharing references and business opportunities between professionals and entrepreneurs. Present in more than 77 countries, it has thousands of local groups, generating more than 20 billion dollars in the last year. In Brazil, BNI has almost 9 thousand members and more than 250 teams, generating approximately 1,5 billion reais in the last 12 months.

BNI members participate in structured weekly meetings, strengthening relationships, sharing knowledge and exchanging business references. Each team accepts only one representative per professional category, promoting exclusivity and encouraging confidence in references.

BNI adopts the "Givers Gain" philosophy, encouraging members to help each other, believing that everyone benefits from this collaboration. Such an approach helps entrepreneurs and professionals grow their businesses, expand their networks and improve their networking skills.

My experience

I attended the BNI Brasil national conference in Foz do Iguaçu and found the experience unique and inspiring. I returned satisfied for achieving goals common to many entrepreneurs:

• Deepen bonds;
• Access to high-level networking content;
• Obtaining business insights;
• Establishment of new partnerships.

The Conference and its Highlights

The convention began on Friday, with an impactful opening, followed by the lecture by the president of BNI Brasil Marcos Martins on the 4Cs of Ivan Misner's new book, which addresses an updated view on profitability in Professional Networking. Soon after, there were other lectures where Dior Lacalamita and Marcelo Baratella stood out. There were also simultaneous presentations in three rooms, addressing commercial and professional networking topics, with emphasis on André Mantovani, Executive Director of Noroeste Paulista.

Dior LaCalamite he is the CEO of Dior Santos Public Relations, an integrated communications agency in the USA, responsible for projects related to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and for launching Ronaldinho Gaúcho as "Global Ambassador" for Amway.

Marcelo Baratella He is a sales and prospecting strategist, author of the best seller GPS das Vendas, businessman and professor, elected as responsible for the most innovative and efficient sales training in Brazil.

On the second day, we started with lectures, including one by Gerardi Pereira, who, in addition to bringing excellent content, involved the audience with magic tricks, providing a true experience. After lunch, simultaneous presentations took place in thematic rooms.

Gerardi Pereira he began his career as an illusionist and is currently Executive Director of GDG Human Development, a company specializing in leadership training. He developed the ability to use magic numbers to communicate specific messages to companies' internal audiences.

At the end of the day, our regional team, led by André Montovani, held a fraternization dinner in Argentina.

In conclusion, Eco Webdesign participated in another event in 2023, reaffirming the belief in professional networking and keeping up to date and constantly growing.