Carlos Cavalcanti shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Carlos, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
My daughter. She is 9 years old and just started 3rd grade. She learns quickly and is very interested in what we do at Gusto.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Carlos Cavalcanti, and I’m the Co-Founder and President of Gusto Brazil, a family-owned company bringing authentic Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de Queijo) to the U.S. market. We started almost 10 years ago with a simple mission: to share one of Brazil’s most beloved foods with American families, made with the same quality, tradition, and warmth found in Brazilian homes.
What makes Gusto Brazil unique is our commitment to authenticity and quality. We produce our cheese bread in our SQF-certified facility in Salt Lake City, using a clean-label recipe and real ingredients — no shortcuts. Today, our products are distributed in more than 25 states and available nationally through DOT Foods, which allows us to serve both retail and foodservice customers across the country.
What drives us is seeing how a traditional Brazilian comfort food can connect cultures, bring people together, and create joy. We’re constantly expanding — working on new flavors, new formats, and new ways to bring a little taste of Brazil to more homes and restaurants throughout the U.S.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I would say the part of me that has served its purpose — and that I’m learning to release — is my impulsiveness. When you’re young, impulsiveness can feel like a superpower. It pushes you to take risks, move fast, say yes to opportunities, and figure things out as you go. In many ways, it helped me build Gusto Brazil from the ground up.
But as you get older — and especially when you’re running a company, responsible for people, families, and long-term decisions — impulsiveness becomes less of a strength and more of a liability. It can lead to rushed decisions, unnecessary stress, or overlooking the bigger picture.
Today, I try to replace impulsiveness with intentionality: taking a breath, gathering the right information, thinking strategically, and responding rather than reacting. I still want to move fast, but with clarity, discipline, and purpose. Letting go of impulsiveness has allowed me to grow as a leader and build a more stable foundation for the future of our company.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely — many times. Entrepreneurship is a constant cycle of ups and downs. There’s no steady line, no certainty, no comfort zone. And not every time you hit the low point of that cycle do you have the energy, the clarity, or the emotional strength to keep going. Sometimes you’re exhausted, discouraged, or simply overwhelmed.
That’s exactly why building the right support system is essential. A company isn’t sustained by the founder alone — it’s sustained by a competent team, trustworthy partners, and people who believe in the mission even on the days when you don’t. And beyond the professional side, it’s also why we choose a partner in life. Having someone who comforts you, stabilizes you, and brings perspective when everything feels uncertain… that’s invaluable. And my wife is this person for me.
In my case, those moments when I almost gave up were the same moments when someone on my team, a business partner, or my wife reminded me why we started this in the first place. They grounded me, calmed me down, and helped me regain direction.
So yes — I’ve been close to giving up. But every time, the people around me lifted me back up. Entrepreneurship may be lonely, but surviving it never is.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies my industry — and honestly, society in general — tells itself is: “If you work hard, you’ll succeed.”
With all due respect, this is one of the greatest myths ever sold. It sounds inspirational, but it’s disconnected from reality. If hard work alone guaranteed success, the world would look very different. Some of the hardest-working people on the planet — teachers, nurses, factory workers, farmers — often struggle financially their entire lives. Many die poor, despite working harder than any CEO.
The truth is, merit is not distributed equally, and opportunity is not either. Meritocracy, as it’s usually presented, is more of a comforting illusion than an actual system. It’s a narrative people use to justify outcomes — often outcomes shaped far more by access, privilege, timing, networks, and inherited wealth than by individual effort.
Just look at the numbers: How many billionaires have been created from truly humble beginnings in the last 50 years, compared to those whose wealth has simply been inherited from families that have accumulated capital for centuries? Hard work matters, of course — but it’s not the only factor, and often not even the main one.
What is true is that hard work increases your chances. But success requires far more: strategy, resilience, timing, support systems, access, and sometimes just being in the right place at the right time. The myth of hard work alone simplifies a much more complex reality — and it can be dangerous, because it blames individuals for systemic barriers they never created.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
He fought hard, embraced life fully, and loved without holding back.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gustobrazil.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gustobrasilusa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gustobrasil/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gustobrazil5225
