Rivool Finance thrives on the diverse skills of its team members. Today, we spotlight Lorrayne Viana, our Co-Founder and COO. Her legal expertise, rooted in a law degree specializing in administrative law, combined with her experience as a financial advisor, demonstrates her ability to drive business growth through financial, marketing, and operational strategies. At Rivool Finance, Lorrayne leverages these diverse competencies to oversee strategic direction, technology integration, and the enhancement of our operational capabilities.

Can you introduce yourself?
A: I grew up on a small farm in the countryside of Brazil, with my family engaged in rural production. I lived in the countryside for over 18 years. When the time came to choose a university, I decided to study law to develop a background that would enable me to communicate effectively with various market sectors, driven by my interest in communication, writing, and public speaking. During my academic career, I published over ten articles on intellectual property and innovation. I also extensively studied economic law, during which I encountered the first blockchain and tokenization projects. Agribusiness, economic law, and tokenization have always been integral to my environment.

Could you tell us about what drives you in the fields of technology, finance, and law?
A: I have always been very curious. During university, I participated in every academic study group, research project, and extension activity available. My academic background is extensive. I have always been passionate about technology and innovation. Finance entered my life when I was a child, wanting to “save” my allowance money. At 15, I began studying investments and have never ceased. During university, I delved into economic law, which ignited my desire to become an entrepreneur.

Why Rivool?
A: Firstly, working directly with agribusiness and contributing to the financing of the “farm of the world” through global funds is immensely exciting. In Brazil, there are over 5 million rural producers, many of whom require credit to finance their production. Our research indicates numerous opportunities for advancement. The leading grain producer in Brazil has insufficient storage capacity for half of its production. Access to credit in Brazil is a significant challenge, and scaling it without incurring high costs is equally difficult. Meanwhile, there is a substantial amount of unallocated capital abroad. Why not bring this to Brazil in a simple, secure, and technologically advanced manner? Providing access to a market that offers attractive yields globally. A technology-driven approach that incorporates agribusiness, the strength of Brazil and the world, has always been central to our vision.

How does building Rivool align with your professional passions and goals?A: I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur. Ideating, building, and launching something new and scalable excites me. Additionally, developing a global thesis captivates me, as does strengthening agribusiness. Rivool was born from the idea of connecting the Brazilian market with the world. For years, I studied the tokenization market and the opportunities that “digital liquidity” would open. Innovating in this market through off-chain structures, as traditional as Brazilian agribusiness, is a significant challenge.

As the Co-Founder of Rivool Finance, what are your aspirations for the company’s future?
A: I envision Rivool as a global technological solution for tokenized financial products, simplifying the processes of distribution and access to assets. Additionally, I see significant deficiencies in the traditional market regarding credit structuring mechanisms. Imagine if this entire chain could be on-chain, automated, efficient, and globally accessible.

How do you balance work and personal life?
A: My routine at Rivool is intense. I work about 12 hours a day, including Sundays. To balance everything, I engage in many physical activities. I go to the gym daily, but my main hobby is cycling. I love to cycle. On weekends, I ride approximately 100 km. It’s the time when I clear my mind, think about projects, and consider what I could have done better. It’s also my most creative time. I even have a motto: “No one is sad while cycling.”

Considering your experience in cryptocurrency and capital markets, what do you think are the biggest challenges facing these industries today?
A: That is an excellent question. I have worked for three years in the educational market of cryptoeconomics, and I can say with confidence: there should be less focus on FOMO (fear of missing out) and more emphasis on practical use cases.

What qualities do you look for when cultivating leadership within your team?
A: Leadership is a subject I have been studying extensively lately. Recently, I completed a series of articles from Harvard Business School. One of these articles, authored by Peter Drucker, questioned the role of each team member and the necessity of focusing on relevant contributions based on individual strengths. It is easier to be “excellent” at something intrinsic to you than to be “good” at something you lack affinity for. Therefore, I emphasize recognizing and leveraging people’s strengths for their contributions. Additionally, having clear values and objectives is something I highly value.

Any book recommendations for future Rivool team members?
A: Certainly. I have been reading more and more. Here are three book recommendations across different sections: market, leadership, and philosophy.

Market: The Cold Start Problem by Andrew Chen
This book reveals what makes winning networks thrive, why some startups fail to scale successfully, and, most importantly, why products leveraging the network effect are crucial in today’s market.

Leadership: On High Performance by Brendan Hall
It presents ideas about leaders seeking inspiration from significant concepts to accelerate their growth and that of their companies.

Philosophy: On the Shortness of Life by Seneca
Seneca addresses the ‘busy’ individuals in Rome who were preoccupied with their careers and social relationships, neglecting to examine the quality of their lives. His observations are strikingly relevant today.

(Extra) Literature: One, None and a Hundred Thousand by Luigi Pirandello
No spoilers — this is a must-read.