"I am a unique child and growing up, I was always overweight which made me a target at school." Thus begins Ronaldinho's (26) story of who he is today and how he overcame challenges to become the person he is now; a young entrepreneur with big goals set before him. He looks back on his upbringing with gratitude for the foundation it laid.
He credits his parents for molding him into the determined person he is today, despite not having the best upbringing or education, they shaped him to be the man he is today with determination and the desire to be a better person. Despite challenges, he did not let them discourage him but rather motivated him to prove himself by studying harder in school and prioritizing his academic goals.
After completing HAVO, Dinho began going to the gym. "That's when I learned about discipline and how it could help me achieve, not only physical goals but life goals in general." This discipline helped him continue his studies. "After HAVO, I was advised to pursue my bachelor's studies in something where I had good grades, which at the time was mathematics. I chose to become a math teacher at the University of Aruba." However, after a year, Dinho realized that even though he was good at math, his heart wasn't in it.
He began using his free time to go to the gym, take photos, and record videos of his workouts and his passion for fitness. Eventually, this led to a collaboration with a friend to start a gym apparel brand. He had to choose between continuing his studies or switching to study at the Faculty of Accounting, Finance & Marketing. He made his decision. "I found my passion in design, production, and business." He recounts.
Along this new academic path, he was now finding a wealth of information on business strategies and marketing. However, despite being armed with this knowledge, Dinho felt like he didn't have a canvas to paint the new skills he had acquired. So, while the pandemic changed everything and affected his family, he saw an opportunity amidst the chaos. "I decided to mix my two passions, marketing, and fitness, and together with my partner, Maria Ariza, we created "Podera Activewear"." As education shifted to remote learning during the pandemic, this opened up an opportunity for Dinho and Maria Ariza to dedicate more time to their entrepreneurial pursuit. Motivated to excel above all others, Dinho made the decision to create his own clothing brand, making selections from sizes to print shapes and more. "This meant I would have my own brand that could stand out not only for its name but also for its product." Dinho says.
Starting a marketing agency with 4 other classmates helped Dinho understand the ins and outs of an agency and what it takes to work as a team. This experience shaped his career and gave him fresh ideas on how to continue growing his business. Today, with a desire to reach a larger audience, he has launched a Podera Casual collection, for those looking to dress stylishly and elegantly beyond the walls of a gym. This new collection has provided space to bring more creativity into his designs, deviating from the minimalist essence of the Podera brand. "That's when I decided to turn Podera 'Casual' into its own brand. This is what we now know as Arital."
"Arital is a brand that represents the concept of dressing elegantly while being street-ready." Dinho explains. Arital combines the minimalist style of Podera from the beginning with inspired designs. This gives Dinho the chance to express his creativity and create variety, telling a story with each unique piece. With over 100 T-shirts sold in just 2 days, Arital has surpassed its own expectations for the short time it has been on the market.
In addition to his entrepreneurial efforts, Dinho currently serves as the Marketing Specialist at the Aruba National Park Foundation, contributing his skills to nature conservation while also teaching management skills. "I believe it's crucial to put yourself in uncomfortable situations that contribute to your growth."
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