The halls of the Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Hotel hosted a memorable evening with the Baile do Empresário, promoted by the Coalizão Rio Institute in partnership with Protagonistas do Brasil. The event brought together business leaders, public authorities, executives, social leaders, and representatives of strategic institutions in a celebration marked by recognition, institutional articulation, and a forward-looking vision.
Under the leadership of Luís Leão, President of the Coalizão Rio Institute, the Baile reaffirmed the guiding motto of the Institute’s work: celebrate to inspire. To celebrate trajectories, initiatives, and concrete results that strengthen Rio de Janeiro, and to inspire new movements capable of projecting the state in a sustainable, innovative, and competitive manner. Luís Leão’s strategic leadership consolidated Coalizão Rio as a space of convergence among the business, academic, and political pillars, with growing credibility and reach.
The Institute’s International Director, Michelle Fernandes, contributed to the global dimension of the event, reflecting the ongoing work of internationalization and the integration of Rio de Janeiro’s business community into strategic global circuits. As a partner, Protagonistas do Brasil, led by Tadeu Lockerman, was highlighted as a business ecosystem dedicated to connecting leaders, fostering qualified networking, and valuing high-impact initiatives.
The Baile had Mauá Finance as its master sponsor, an institution that reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening entrepreneurship and supporting relevant institutional initiatives. On the occasion, Renato Heringer, President of Mauá Finance, and Maria Clara Heringer, CEO of the Mauá Group, were honored in recognition of their trajectories, strategic vision, and contributions to the financial and business sectors.
The ceremony was hosted by journalist Claudia Cataldi, Director of Communication of the Coalizão Rio Institute and an international correspondent, whose presence brought elegance, institutional depth, and fluidity to the event, reinforcing the strategic role of communication in projecting the Institute.
Throughout the evening, prominent business leaders and executives were honored, including Carlos Favoretto, President of Grupo Favoretto and CEO of ECP Environmental Solutions and the Rio Olympic Golf Course; Celso Athayde, founder of CUFA (Central Única das Favelas) and Favela Holding; João Barreto, founder of Orla Rio and responsible for the modernization and professionalization of Rio’s waterfront management; and João Marcello Barreto, President of Orla Rio and Orla Brasil, leading the national expansion of the waterfront management model. Also recognized were Plinio Nastari, economist, professor at Fundação Getulio Vargas and President of IBIO, as well as founder of the Datagro Group; Dora Zanin, agribusiness entrepreneur with national operations and advisor to COSAG/Fiesp; Irini Tsouroustsoglou, lawyer and CEO of IR Consultoria; Netto Moreira, a leading executive in luxury hospitality and General Manager of the Fairmont Rio Hotel; and Ronni Bragança, Commercial Director of Record Rio. The honors also included leaders from the logistics, agribusiness, energy, tourism, communication, financial markets, social impact, and innovation sectors, reinforcing the plurality and strength of Coalizão Rio in bringing together diverse dimensions of leadership.
The Baile do Empresário also recognized political leaders whose work is connected to development, education, infrastructure, international relations, and public administration. Honorees included Senator Ney Suassuna, Federal Deputy Eduardo Pazuello, State Deputy Tia Ju, State Secretary for Economic Development Vinicius Farah, and Mayor of Teresópolis Leonardo Vasconcellos, underscoring the institutional and plural character of the event.
The cultural program was one of the highlights of the evening. Guests were welcomed by a striking performance by opera singer Ane Janin, who moved the audience and elevated the artistic tone of the event. This was followed by a performance by Banda Fuzi Bossa, composed of members of the Brazilian Navy’s Marine Corps, bringing sophistication, national identity, and musical excellence to the Baile.
The dinner prepared by Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana was praised for its quality, care, and gastronomic experience, reaffirming the hotel as a benchmark in hospitality and as a strategic partner for the Institute’s institutional events.
The event had Record Rio as its official media partner, ensuring broad visibility, qualified coverage, and strong public projection of the Baile do Empresário across the state.
More than a social gathering, the Baile do Empresário established itself as a space for recognition and inspiration. Under the leadership of the Coalizão Rio Institute, the event reaffirmed Rio de Janeiro’s ability to bring together talent, value trajectories, and project itself as a territory of leadership, innovation, and excellence, capable of inspiring Brazil and engaging with the world.
