Agoo! It's Kwaku Ananse story time, but this story is real. I just wanted to tell you about my guy Gustavo Borges. It's a tale that proves sometimes your biggest supporter can be someone you've never even met in person – wild, right?
Picture this: January 2022, I'm fresh into a new job at Marbleflows. There's this Brazilian dude on the team, Gustavo. We're both working remotely – him probably sipping some top-notch Brazilian coffee ☕️ while I'm here in Ghana, cooling off with my chilled sobolo🍷. Talk about a cultural drink exchange across continents😂
From day one, we clicked. You know how sometimes you vibe with someone? That was us. Brainstorming on projects, working together, asking each other about what we were up to, learning about different cultures, and cracking jokes in Slack/ Whatsapp—we were building more than just product (design and code); we were laying the foundation of a solid friendship.
But life, as it often does, knocks you hard like Zanzama. August 2022 hits, and bam – I'm laid off. It's a tough pill to swallow, fam. But guess who's in my corner, sending messages of support? Sharing job hunting tips? Giving me access to Notion boards and his Udemy Account? Gustavo. This guy, who I've only known through a screen, is checking in on me, offering advice, being a rock. It's like, who does that for someone they've never high-fived in real life?
Fast forward to October 2023, and Gustavo pulls off the ultimate bro move. He recommends me for a position at his new company in Amsterdam 🇳🇱, Stellarup. And just like that, your boy is back in the game! 🎉 From virtual wingman to real-life career saviour – Gustavo was writing his legend in my book.
Now, here's where it gets exciting. After almost two years of friendship built on video calls, chat messages, and shared memes, I will finally meet Gustavo in person this Friday. Can you believe it? I'm excited about it, like a kid before their first day of school.
But wait, there's more! We're meeting for more than just a quick coffee or to do some work, we're jamming ankasa😀. We will be enjoying in Malaga 🇪🇸 to soak up some rays on the Costa del Sol over the weekend. From virtual coffee breaks to real-life beach walks – now that's what I call a friendship upgrade!
And you know I couldn't show up empty-handed, right? I've got some lovely gifts from Ghana tucked away in my luggage—a little piece of my world to thank him for being such a big part of it. Gustavo, my man, I hope you like them!
Here's a guy who's had such a massive impact on my career and life, and we've never even fist-bumped in person. It's like he's been this digital guardian angel, watching over my career from afar.
To Gustavo, my virtual friend turned real-life hero: Thank you, man. For the laughs, the support, the career boost – all of it. Sure, you've shown me the power of professional networks, but more than that, you've shown me the power of genuine friendship, no matter the distance.
Oh, and I almost forgot—happy birthday, my guy! 🎂 What better way to celebrate than with this epic meetup we've got planned? Here's to many more years of friendship, success, and maybe introducing you to the wonders of my favourite Ghanaian🇬🇭 foods 😀.
So here's to the weekend, finally meeting my Brazilian brother❤️ from another mother and putting an actual handshake to a digital friendship. And to anyone reading this, never underestimate the connections you make online or at the workplace. You never know; your next best friend or most considerable career growth might be a DM away.
Gustavo, my guy, see you soon! Let's hope you're ready for all this Ghanaian energy in person! From virtual coffee to real-life adventures in Malaga – this is going to be fun 🇬🇭🤜🤛🇧🇷.
Picture this: January 2022, I'm fresh into a new job at Marbleflows. There's this Brazilian dude on the team, Gustavo. We're both working remotely – him probably sipping some top-notch Brazilian coffee ☕️ while I'm here in Ghana, cooling off with my chilled sobolo🍷. Talk about a cultural drink exchange across continents😂
From day one, we clicked. You know how sometimes you vibe with someone? That was us. Brainstorming on projects, working together, asking each other about what we were up to, learning about different cultures, and cracking jokes in Slack/ Whatsapp—we were building more than just product (design and code); we were laying the foundation of a solid friendship.
But life, as it often does, knocks you hard like Zanzama. August 2022 hits, and bam – I'm laid off. It's a tough pill to swallow, fam. But guess who's in my corner, sending messages of support? Sharing job hunting tips? Giving me access to Notion boards and his Udemy Account? Gustavo. This guy, who I've only known through a screen, is checking in on me, offering advice, being a rock. It's like, who does that for someone they've never high-fived in real life?
Fast forward to October 2023, and Gustavo pulls off the ultimate bro move. He recommends me for a position at his new company in Amsterdam 🇳🇱, Stellarup. And just like that, your boy is back in the game! 🎉 From virtual wingman to real-life career saviour – Gustavo was writing his legend in my book.
Now, here's where it gets exciting. After almost two years of friendship built on video calls, chat messages, and shared memes, I will finally meet Gustavo in person this Friday. Can you believe it? I'm excited about it, like a kid before their first day of school.
But wait, there's more! We're meeting for more than just a quick coffee or to do some work, we're jamming ankasa😀. We will be enjoying in Malaga 🇪🇸 to soak up some rays on the Costa del Sol over the weekend. From virtual coffee breaks to real-life beach walks – now that's what I call a friendship upgrade!
And you know I couldn't show up empty-handed, right? I've got some lovely gifts from Ghana tucked away in my luggage—a little piece of my world to thank him for being such a big part of it. Gustavo, my man, I hope you like them!
Here's a guy who's had such a massive impact on my career and life, and we've never even fist-bumped in person. It's like he's been this digital guardian angel, watching over my career from afar.
To Gustavo, my virtual friend turned real-life hero: Thank you, man. For the laughs, the support, the career boost – all of it. Sure, you've shown me the power of professional networks, but more than that, you've shown me the power of genuine friendship, no matter the distance.
Oh, and I almost forgot—happy birthday, my guy! 🎂 What better way to celebrate than with this epic meetup we've got planned? Here's to many more years of friendship, success, and maybe introducing you to the wonders of my favourite Ghanaian🇬🇭 foods 😀.
So here's to the weekend, finally meeting my Brazilian brother❤️ from another mother and putting an actual handshake to a digital friendship. And to anyone reading this, never underestimate the connections you make online or at the workplace. You never know; your next best friend or most considerable career growth might be a DM away.
Gustavo, my guy, see you soon! Let's hope you're ready for all this Ghanaian energy in person! From virtual coffee to real-life adventures in Malaga – this is going to be fun 🇬🇭🤜🤛🇧🇷.
Derrick Amenuve
Product designer/engineer, Failed Entrepreneur, Community Builder & Experimenter
www.derrickamenuve.com
Product designer/engineer, Failed Entrepreneur, Community Builder & Experimenter
www.derrickamenuve.com