Connecting the Brazilian Tech Community in Calgary
From Civil Engineering to Software Development
In our recent June meetup at Platform Calgary, we were joined by Gabriel Alves Ferreira, who shared his inspiring journey in a talk titled “Belonging as a Professional Skill”. Gabriel’s path began in Brazil, where he graduated in Civil Engineering in March 2020, right as the global pandemic halted construction. Facing a stagnant industry, he pivoted to software development through a web development course at Trybe between 2021 and 2022. Seeking better opportunities and a way to live abroad, he chose to move to Calgary to attend SAIT. He specifically selected a two-year program to enter the workforce quickly, avoiding a second five-year degree.
Planting Seeds Through Survival Jobs
The transition to Canada was not without its hurdles, as Gabriel and his wife faced nearly a year of financial pressure while searching for work. To stabilize their situation, Gabriel took on “survival jobs,” including volunteering at the Calgary Zoo and working for Great Events Catering. While these roles were initially for survival, Gabriel viewed them as “seeds” being planted for his future. These experiences helped him regain his professional confidence and begin building a local network in Calgary. This period taught him that every interaction in a new city is a building block for one’s career.
Navigating Urgent Immigration and Networking Challenges
A major turning point occurred in early 2025 when the Canadian government announced significant changes to immigration rules. This created an urgent four-month deadline for Gabriel to secure a qualified tech role to maintain his family’s status. He realized that the traditional path of only applying to jobs via LinkedIn and adapting resumes would not be enough. Despite finding networking uncomfortable under such high pressure, he knew he had to return to communities like the Software Developers Collective to become more visible. He moved from being a passive attendee to an active contributor to gain the necessary traction.
The Strategy for Success at Neo Financial
Gabriel decided to focus his efforts on Neo Financial, a company known for its seasonal hiring events. Although he failed his first attempt, he refined his strategy by messaging Brazilians already working at the company and attending industry events hosted by The Test Trybe. By participating intentionally—asking insightful questions and engaging with speakers—he increased his visibility within the local tech scene. His persistence paid off during his second application, where he discovered his interviewer was a fellow Brazilian he had previously reached out to for advice. He successfully joined Neo as a Software Engineer, finally securing the stability his family needed.
Lessons in Reciprocity and Personal Branding
Gabriel’s journey provides valuable lessons for our entire community: networking must start long before you “need” a job because building genuine connections takes time. He emphasizes that professionals must define their personal brand so that the community knows their specific strengths. Gabriel also highlighted the power of reciprocity; he was able to “pay it forward” by referring fellow CBRT member Fernando Horta for a role at Eco Canada. This referral came through a connection Gabriel had made during his survival job at Great Events, proving that no experience is wasted. His story reminds us that “the next opportunity for someone in this room might be in you”.
How Our Community Benefits Together
The success stories of members like Gabriel and Fernando demonstrate why the Calgary BR Tech community is vital for Brazilian talent in Calgary. Our members bring a unique set of qualities—resilience, innovative problem-solving, and a strong work ethic—that make them highly desirable to local tech teams. By participating in our events, members gain access to a network that understands that “code has no accent and talent has no borders”. We invite all Brazilian IT professionals to join us, bring a friend, and help us continue building the connections that open doors for everyone in our community. Together, we are turning the challenges of immigration into a collective story of professional triumph.
A Message from the Calgary BR Tech Team
At Calgary BR Tech, our mission since 2024 has been to build a vibrant community for Brazilian IT professionals navigating their careers in Calgary. We serve as a dynamic hub where developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts can share real-world experiences and build meaningful professional relationships. Our community is more than just a meetup series; it is a support network and a launchpad designed to help our members feel at home in a new tech ecosystem. Our dedicated team, including professionals like Anderson Oliveira and Rafael Menezes, works tirelessly to foster these connections and help our community grow stronger every day.
