Ecosystem Innovation

Talent Mobility

Imagine how powerful it is to create an ecosystem, not just a product. Building strategic partnerships that elevate the industry as a whole is often more important than setting out to solve a problem by yourself. At least I can talk about my experience at World Talents. We don’t just help entrepreneurs and HNWI move across the globe, we connect them with universities, startups, and incubators, making the migration ecosystem more valuable altogether.

As a part of our series about business leaders who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Bernardo Saraiva.

Bernardo Saraiva is a Co-founder and Director at World Talents, where he helps connect world-class entrepreneurs and businesses with local startup and university ecosystems. World Talents has pioneered talent mobility programs specifically designed to support entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals, and highly skilled individuals establishing themselves across the globe. Bernardo helped drive the establishment of the Global Talent Portugal program, attracting over 80 entrepreneurs to the country, which became invaluable to the startup ecosystem through investment and mentorship.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

I was a former professional athlete competing on the ATP Tour across all continents and a member of the Portuguese National Team and Olympic Committee. These experiences, combined with a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from the University of San Francisco, allowed me to help Silicon Valley startups expand into Europe and to advise international entrepreneurs on fundraising and navigating the U.S. market. My journey has been shaped by a global perspective which helped me develop a broader understanding of the world’s dynamics and competitiveness.

Living between the U.S. and Portugal, traveling extensively for competitions, and meeting entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds gave me firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities of having a presence beyond borders. It became clear to me that supporting entrepreneurs in establishing themselves across the globe could have a profound impact — not only on their ventures but also on local economies. This vision began to take shape with Tim, World Talents founder, whose extensive track record in investment migration created the strategic foundation to the company and programs we’re developing. We set out to create solutions that empower entrepreneurs to establish themselves internationally while driving meaningful local impact.

At World Talents, we’ve pioneered talent mobility programs specifically designed to support entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals establishing themselves across the globe. Particularly, I drove the establishment of the Global Talent Portugal program, attracting over 80 entrepreneurs to the country, which became invaluable to the startup ecosystem through investment and mentorship.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

At World Talents, we recognized early on that talent mobility was shifting from a purely financial play to an impact and expertise-driven model. To tap into this, we designed unique programs that integrate entrepreneurs into thriving ecosystems, leveraging their knowledge and experience to create lasting economic and social value.

One of our most groundbreaking initiatives, mentioned before, is the Global Talent Portugal program, which has attracted over €2.8 million in research and development investment for Portuguese universities. But beyond the financial capital, seasoned entrepreneurs are truly invaluable as their expertise fuels local innovation, mentorship, and additional startup investments.

By bridging the gap between startups, universities, and global entrepreneurs we’re not just helping individuals move; we’re reshaping the migration industry to drive long-term economic growth and ecosystem development. Our approach challenges traditional models that are more common to the migration industry by proving that global talent is not just about wealth but about knowledge transfer, innovation, and sustainable impact.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

“Trying to Do It All Myself” Coming from the world of professional sports, in tennis particularly, you’re out there alone. There’s no one to pass the ball to, so I was used to relying entirely on myself to figure things out.

When transitioning into business, there was a tendency to try to do everything myself and not particularly as a team.

It didn’t take long for things to start slipping. I missed deadlines, overlooked details, and realized that the “solo player” mentality doesn’t scale in business. Success depends on building a strong team, trusting them, and working together. It’s not about being on center court alone anymore — it’s about being part of a winning team.

We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

One of my mentors is World Talents founder Timur, who is the main driver behind the vision for a borderless entrepreneurial ecosystem. Timur has been instrumental in shaping how I approach the migration industry. I work closely with universities, particularly in Portugal, and having this borderless mindset has been crucial in connecting entrepreneurs with local ecosystems.

The synergies we’ve created are incredible — they go beyond the financial aspect. We’ve been fortunate to connect highly experienced entrepreneurs with local universities, where they’ve mentored students. This kind of access is truly invaluable.

I also owe a lot to my former tennis coaches, from the teenage years all the way to the Pro circuit. They all taught me resilience, adaptability, and discipline — skills that transferred seamlessly into business and entrepreneurship. Tennis is an individual sport where you learn early on that no one else can step in and do the work for you. You have to show up, day in and day out, and hold yourself accountable.

In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?

Disruption is essential for progress, but its impact depends on the context. Positive disruption challenges inefficiencies, unlocks new opportunities, and creates value where traditional models fall short. But not all disruption is inherently good of course, as it can potentially drive negative impacts across industries and communities.

I believe in positive disruption. Take World Talents as an example. The traditional pathways for global talent mobility, especially for entrepreneurs, have long been complex, bureaucratic, and generally inaccessible. We saw an opportunity to disrupt this model — not by creating chaos, but by streamlining the process, aligning incentives between the parties involved, and more importantly by building a framework that benefits both innovation and local economies.
The key is to disrupt with purpose. The most meaningful change happens when disruption improves access, efficiency, and impact without necessarily dismantling structures that still serve a valuable role.

Can you please share 5 ideas one needs to shake up their industry? If you can, please share a story or an example for each.

1 . Imagine how powerful it is to create an ecosystem, not just a product. Building strategic partnerships that elevate the industry as a whole is often more important than setting out to solve a problem by yourself. At least I can talk about my experience at World Talents. We don’t just help entrepreneurs and HNWI move across the globe, we connect them with universities, startups, and incubators, making the migration ecosystem more valuable altogether.

2 . Adopting a mission-driven approach can move mountains and mobilize an entire industry. True disruptors don’t just sell products or services, they are on a mission to make the world a better place, and to solve painful problems. When you think about Patagonia, for example, it isn’t just a clothing company; it’s a leader in environmental activism, rallying the entire outdoor industry around sustainability. Similarly, in talent mobility, we’re not just facilitating access to residence permits; we’re shaping the future of global entrepreneurship by ensuring talent moves where it can create the most impact. A strong mission inspires every stakeholder involved.

3 . You can set out to redefine the value proposition of a whole industry, identify what’s outdated or not serving the world, and flip the script. I think when we look at the investment migration industry, we can say that financial capital is just a part of it, yet it is often the most referred to aspect. At World Talents, we made it clear that we need to go beyond financial capital and also focus on human capital — that’s a new value proposition, a new industry standard. Now we look at talent mobility, knowledge transfer, and impact-driven opportunities. That’s opened the door to a whole new way of addressing migration.

4 . We should challenge outdated regulations and push for systemic change. Many industries still operate within rigid frameworks that don’t necessarily serve innovation, progress or streamlined processes adapted to today’s world. By questioning these constraints, we can help reshape the industry’s future. Estonia’s e-Residency program is a good example showing how governments could approach digital identity and global entrepreneurship. Instead of making business incorporation exclusive to residents, they opened their economy to digital entrepreneurs worldwide. We need to advocate for policies that make talent mobility smoother, ensuring that migration isn’t just about visas but also about integration into thriving ecosystems.

5 . Build for the future, not the present. It’s important to look beyond today’s trends and anticipate where the world is headed as big industry shifts can come from those who think ahead and build accordingly. In the migration industry, for example, we should look beyond the financial aspect and focus on the human element as well. What does the entrepreneur of the future look like?

We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?

Our focus now is on expanding our network of strategic partnerships with universities and institutions, creating stronger connections between academia and entrepreneurship. We’re also launching new initiatives to better support entrepreneurs and channel capital into startups. But we’re not stopping there — we also aim to establish additional mobility programs that will continue to help more entrepreneurs establish themselves in new markets while driving innovation and sustainable economic growth. The future of talent mobility is global and increasingly centered on human capital, and we’re committed to making it a reality.

Do you have a book, podcast, or talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us? Can you explain why it was so resonant with you?

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho has had a profound impact on me, both personally and professionally. I first read it when I was traveling the world as a professional tennis player, often living out of a suitcase, chasing tournaments across continents. The story really resonated with me at a time when I was searching for my own purpose beyond sport.
One of the book’s core messages is that when you truly want something and pursue it with all your heart, the universe conspires to help you achieve it. That belief stayed with me as I transitioned from athletics to the world of business, taking risks, trusting my instincts, and believing in the vision even when the path wasn’t always clear.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

One of my favorite life lessons is simple but powerful: “Simply focus on what you can control.”
I learned this during my time as a professional tennis player on the ATP Tour. There are so many variables you can’t control — the weather, the crowd, your opponent’s game, even bad line calls. But if you focus on your preparation, your mindset, and your execution, you give yourself the best chance to succeed.

That lesson has served me well as an entrepreneur. With World Talents, we often navigate complex bureaucracies, international regulations, and unforeseen challenges. Instead of getting frustrated by what’s out of my hands, I focus on how we show up for our partners, how we deliver value, and how we stay true to our mission. The rest tends to follow.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

Human Capital. Actually, I believe that our work at World Talents is becoming a foundation of this movement, which fosters knowledge transfer and drives meaningful impact across borders. We’ve seen firsthand how access to global opportunities can be life-changing not just for entrepreneurs but for the local economies they help transform. By enabling talent mobility, we’re not only supporting individuals in establishing themselves across the globe and pursuing their ambitions but also creating a ripple effect of innovation, investment, and job creation. Imagine a world where barriers to talent movement are lowered, where entrepreneurs can thrive anywhere, and where every community benefits from fresh ideas and economic growth. That’s the movement I want to inspire — one that unlocks human capital on a global scale.

How can our readers follow you online?
The best way to follow my work is at https://worldtalents.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-talents/

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Find the original article here: https://medium.com/authority-magazine/meet-the-disruptors-bernardo-saraiva-of-world-talents-on-the-five-things-you-need-to-shake-up-your-5a85b948cde3