John’s story: everyone has potential to positively impact the planet

When I was younger, I had three dreams. One was to join the military, the second was to become a truck driver – a common aspiration for many young people in the northeast of Brazil where I grew up. My third dream was to turn my love of cooking into a career. Choosing that path has pushed me to challenge myself, grow as a chef, and to chase another passion: to travel.

My mother was also a huge influence – a fantastic cook who poured love into every meal she made. As a curious child I loved watching her work, fascinated by the ingredients she added to the pot to create amazing dishes like quiabada (okra stew) with rice and beans or traditional macarronada (a Brazilian version of spaghetti bolognese), always bursting with flavors of garlic, onion and cumin.

I was determined to build a culinary career and started my time in São Paulo working in Italian restaurants. I joined Sodexo in 2016 and it’s a company I love working for. It’s allowed me to cook alongside talented chefs and refine my skills across a variety of sites in the eight years I’ve been here so far.