Culture Decision Leadership Productivity State

S02 EP05 – João Almeida: Is Portugal ready to grow?

With: João Almeida

In this episode, we talk with João Almeida about productivity as a structural and political challenge. We explore growth obstacles in Portugal, the bureaucratic relationship with the State, the culture around profit, and the reforms needed to retain talent and empower future generations.

In this episode, we address productivity not just as a business challenge, but as a structural issue intrinsically linked to political decision-making. In a candid conversation with João Almeida, member of the Portuguese Parliament, we demystify the idea that being productive means working more hours, highlighting that the true focus should be on simplifying processes and adding real value.

Throughout the talk, we explore the main obstacles to Portugal’s growth, such as the lack of scale in our companies and the complex, bureaucratic relationship with the State. We also discuss the impact of national culture regarding profit, the need for greater labor market flexibility to retain talent, and the urgency of reformist courage to ensure a more promising future for newer generations.