Renata Grando: Bridging Technology And Human Impact In Education

As technology continues to redefine learning, women leaders are helping build solutions that are not only innovative but also deeply rooted in human impact. Among these leaders is Renata Grando, Chief Operating Officer of Letrus, one of Brazil's leading educational technology companies focused on literacy development. Renata graduated in Economics and began her career in strategic consulting at Roland Berger. She later joined Itaú, one of Brazil's largest banks, where she completed the trainee program and built experience in asset management and private banking. Although she respected the financial sector, she eventually realized that she could not see herself following the same path as the leaders around her.

Seeking work that felt meaningful and where her contribution could make a tangible difference, she met Letrus. What immediately stood out to her was not only the project itself, but also the passion, competence, and vision of the founders. Their commitment convinced her that this was a journey she wanted to be part of.

As Renata often says, she did not leave banking to join an EdTech startup; she left because she wanted to join Letrus specifically. Looking back, she considers it the most impactful and rewarding career decision she has made.

What is the vision behind Letrus, and how are you transforming learning outcomes through technology in Brazil?

At Letrus, we believe education must always be centered on the student. Every decision we make begins and ends with the learner. By using technology and AI, we analyze not only what students produce but also how they learn and develop over time. This enables teachers, coordinators, and education leaders to take timely and informed actions. Unlike traditional approaches that rely on historical data, our platform continuously evolves through recent student activities. Ultimately, our vision is to ensure that literacy becomes a foundation for inclusion and meaningful participation in society.

As COO, how do you balance operational excellence with innovation and sustainable growth?

My role sits between strategy and execution. I work closely with the leadership team to transform ideas into practical and achievable outcomes. I oversee areas such as people, finance, legal, marketing, and revenue operations, but my philosophy is simple: systems alone do not deliver results - people do. I have focused on building a strong execution culture by creating clarity, defining priorities, fostering trust, and providing a safe environment for teams to thrive. In my experience, sustainable growth and innovation emerge when people are empowered to do their best work.

How has technology reshaped teaching and learning in Brazil, particularly in improving literacy and engagement?

I believe not all technology used in a classroom is educational technology. Effective educational solutions must be grounded in learning science and designed with educators in mind. At Letrus, I see technology as an enabler rather than the solution itself. Real transformation happens through people, and technology exists to support them. We use it to strengthen connections between students, teachers, and policymakers. By providing deeper insights into learning needs, technology helps create greater engagement and enables more meaningful literacy development. In essence, we use technology to bring people closer together and improve learning outcomes.

"In my experience, sustainable growth and innovation emerge when people are empowered to do their best work"

How do you view the growing influence of women leaders in the global EdTech industry?

For me, this conversation extends beyond EdTech and reflects the broader role of women in leadership. Leadership can be challenging and often lonely, especially for women entrepreneurs. Even in a genuinely inclusive environment like Letrus, biases still exist, and navigating them can sometimes be draining. That is why representation matters in very practical ways. As the first female partner at Letrus, I later realized how meaningful that visibility was when women on my team shared that seeing someone like them in leadership made them believe similar opportunities were possible. One of the moments I am most proud of is that my current female co-partner was once part of my team, grew within the company, and today stands beside me as my peer in the partnership. To me, that journey represents what women supporting women can truly look like. It reminds me that leadership is not only about opening doors for ourselves but also about creating pathways for others to grow alongside us.

What are your long-term aspirations for Letrus and the future of equitable education?

My ambition is to continue expanding both the reach and depth of our impact. Reach means serving more students across Brazil, while depth means improving the quality of learning for every learner. I believe literacy is a foundational skill that influences academic success, professional opportunities, and social development. Beyond Letrus, I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Entrepreneurship, researching the factors that enable social impact businesses to scale. This reflects a personal aspiration to contribute not only to Letrus' growth but also to the broader field of social entrepreneurship in Brazil, helping more organizations expand their impact while addressing the country's most pressing social challenges.

Renata Grando, Chief Operating Officer, Letrus

Renata Grando is the Chief Operating Officer of Letrus, a Brazilian EdTech company dedicated to improving literacy and educational outcomes through technology. An economist by training, she began her career in strategic consulting and banking before joining Letrus. Passionate about impact-driven innovation, she focuses on building execution excellence, fostering inclusive leadership, and advancing equitable, student-centered education across Brazil. She is also pursuing a Master's degree in Entrepreneurship, researching how social impact businesses can scale, and has completed an Executive Program in Operations and Innovation at Stanford.