Interview with Nemailla Bonturi. Co-founder of ?IO

"Inside Out"?is an interview series exploring individuals' personal journeys. Our focus is on the inner challenges, victories, and growth that led to their success, with an occasional discussion of how it applies to their professional lives. We believe that true success stems from inner development and aim to inspire others to follow their personal callings. Our guests help connect the dots between inner growth and external achievement by sharing their stories. This initiative is part of?Spirit X.

Please meet Nemailla!

## Could you tell your story?

First, imagine you have amnesia and have forgotten all aspects of your life. To remember who you are and the type of person you've become, please reflect on key moments, realizations, and milestones that have shaped your evolution from the earliest memories you can recall until the present day.

I am Brazilian, and I believe that's an essential part of my cultural identity. You are a scientist, and your passion for it has been evident since your childhood. While you once aspired to clone a dinosaur, your focus has now shifted to food, which is perfectly fine. You still have the potential to achieve great things. It's a temporary phase, and I think it's a more impactful direction. You are making a positive difference in the world, far more meaningful than merely bringing back dinosaurs.

You have a genuine love for smiles and connecting with people. Your enthusiasm extends to your work, your friends, and enjoying a good beer. Additionally, you have a startup, showcasing your bravery and entrepreneurial spirit. Keep pursuing your path, you're on the right track. Something along those lines.

## Did you have anything in your life that changed you completely?

I was... I have never been a good planner, but I am learning to become one. My life used to be more about going with the flow. Of course, I always knew I wanted to be a scientist and study science in some way. However, I was open to various fields like physics, chemistry, and biotechnology. Then, things started happening that brought me to where I am today. Of course, it required effort on my part, but I never had a strict plan, so things evolved naturally.

I never imagined myself living in Estonia, having been born ten thousand kilometers away. However, when the opportunity presented itself, I felt it was the right choice. Starting the startup was indeed a significant leap. I had been very comfortable conducting my experiments and working with my students. Moving into the business side of things was like entering a completely different world. I had to familiarize myself with new terms and concepts, and I'm still learning, but I've become much more comfortable in this business environment. In the beginning, it was far outside my comfort zone. So yes, the startup marked a major shift in my life.

## Why do you think you started to think about cloning dinosaurs? What brings those interests inside you??

So when I was a kid, I watched Jurassic Park, the first one, which is also the best one. I was 9 years old at the time. I've always been a geeky person who loved superheroes, science fiction, and video games. Jurassic Park was the first movie where I saw a strong female character who wasn't just a romantic interest. Laura Dern's character in the movie is a scientist with a PhD, and she's running from dinosaurs. It made a significant impact on me because up until then, I had mostly seen male characters as heroes, and I wondered why there weren't more cool female superheroes I could relate to. This experience played a role in sparking my love for science.

## What drives you??

I have this somewhat ambitious dream of making a positive impact on the world. I understand that it might seem like a silly ambition, and I may never fully achieve it, but it's what motivates me. I want to do something meaningful, not just exist and go about my life without purpose.

##? What is more important, the outcome or the process??

I believe it's the process that allows you to learn and grow significantly. That's my best guess.

## What do you remember more from the past: the process or outcomes you received??

When I was younger, I was too focused on the outcomes, and I didn't view failure as something positive. It was only later, around the age of 28, that I started to learn that failure can be a valuable teacher. This shift in perspective allowed me to accept failure as a part of the process, leading to personal growth and increased self-confidence. Before this change, my fixation on outcomes often resulted in anxiety and, I would even say, some sadness.

## Theoretical question: what would it mean for you to lose your business??

It's a failure, a big one. I believe I would have felt lost and questioned the meaning of life for some time. However, I've grown accustomed to life's challenges, having to pick myself up and start anew. While it would have been a significant setback, I would have tried to learn from it and do better next time.

I believe that, as a scientist, you learn that failure is a natural part of the process of life. Sometimes, you have to repeat experiments several times before achieving a successful result. This is all part of the journey for me.

## Are you a proactive or reactive person??

When it comes to my tasks, both in business and science, I tend to be very proactive. However, in a new environment, I often start by being more reactive because I have an observant nature. During the initial encounter, I prefer to observe the people and dynamics before actively participating. It's not about winning a game but rather about understanding whether I want to be there, if I genuinely connect with the people, and if I'm comfortable sharing details about myself and my work. So, my approach is to observe first and gradually become more involved.

## Why are you trying to observe and then engage??

Well, I think it's a form of self-preservation or the fear of not being accepted, of course. Okay, and probably my therapist will talk a lot about this.

## When you make decisions, do you rely on logic/analytics or intuition??

I tend to be more analytical, but I respect my gut feeling. So if, for example, we start talking with investors and in our first meetings, I already feel like we don't connect, or my gut feeling says, 'Okay, this is not gonna work out,' usually that's what happens. But I tend to be more analytical.

Yeah, of course, I'm a person of contradictions, not I mean morally, but if you check my birth chart, I am a Cancer with Capricorn. Yes, so I'm like a mixture. Yes, so I tend not to overthink, like, 'Okay, which path to go, blah, blah, blah.' This, this, yes. But of course, for important decisions, like, 'Will I take this investment or not? Will I take this loan?'

## How do you react to pleasant and unpleasant situations?

Well, in pleasant situations, you're going to see me happy and smiling, enjoying every second of it. In unpleasant situations, I will try my best to not create any negative outcomes, and I'll try to get out as soon as possible if possible.

## What happens when an unpleasant situation comes to you?

Well, usually, as I said, if it's a business thing, I tend to stay composed and not react in a way that might lead to negative outcomes. If someone says something I dislike, I tend to internalize it and not react negatively, just responding with something like 'yes, yes, okay, see you later.' As I mentioned, I try not to dwell on unpleasant situations for too long.

Let's say, for example, we receive negative feedback on our product. In this case, I would definitely want to understand what is wrong and try to improve. This is not unpleasant to me; it's more like a challenge, a chance to get better. Unpleasant situations, to me, involve witnessing racism, sexism, or unfairness – these are situations that really bother me.

## How do you feel about people?

If I see that a person, let's say, is engaging in all these behaviors, but they appear open to dialogue, listening, and possibly considering a different point of view, I would be willing to engage in a constructive conversation with them. Maybe they lack knowledge or need a different perspective. However, if they are behaving like assholes, especially outside of a business environment, I might respond with some harsh words and then distance myself.

## Do you bring your bad feelings of the past into the future?

Of course, I remember everyone I've had these types of experiences with, but I don't hold harsh feelings towards them. I mean, you shouldn't waste your time and energy on them; they don't affect me for more than a day. However, I always like to share stories about these experiences because they serve as interesting examples.

## What makes you happy?

The sun, especially in Estonia, because it's not so common, being outside, doing my work, being with friends, being alone at home reading a book or watching something – I'm very low maintenance for happiness. I can find happiness in very small things. My cats make me happy. You have a lot – my family. Overall, I'm a happy person.

## Do you sleep a lot, and do you eat a lot?

On weekends, I basically hibernate sometimes, so I sleep a lot. Weekdays, I try to keep a good sleeping routine. I feel a lot of difference between winter and summer because it's not natural to me. Although I've been here in Brazil for a long time, in Brazil, winter to summer changes one hour of light plus/minus, and here it changes completely. So in winter, for me, I sleep way more. It's hard for me to wake up. In summer, it's hard for me to sleep because I see the sun, and I want to be out, I want to enjoy it. But I'm trying to be healthier in terms of eating. Although I'm a big woman, I don't eat that much. It's more due to bad genetics. But I love not just the food itself, but all the things that come with food, like the taste or eating with someone. For me, it's not just nutrients; it should be about taste and having a nice time. I usually have days when I cook for myself, buy wine, and put on some music. It's like I'm dating myself, and it's amazing. I love that.

## What do you like to cook??

My carbonara is pretty good.?

## What is your favorite Brazilian food??

Meat, so yes, that's the thing. I want to make plant-based food to be as tasty, juicy, and as good as the current non-plant-based ones because I think that's what will make the difference. I grew up in Brazil, it's a place with a lot of meat and barbecues. Here in Estonia, of course, I eat way less meat, but it's still something that maybe it's a cultural thing, or maybe it's something that reminds me of my family. But a good steak maybe brings back all these missing home things. But as ?IO, we are going to make one day our ingredients will be a very nice plant-based burger that will not harm you. It will taste as good as the meat one and will be affordable because the price of plant-based food is too high.

## Do you have a self-discipline, something you do constantly??

As I said, I'm trying to establish good sleeping patterns. I'm a very focused person, so when I start doing something, I have to complete that task, and I don't like to be interrupted. So, part of my discipline is learning that working from home or being in a place that is not my office is very beneficial for this. When I'm alone, I can dedicate a few hours a day to work, allowing me to focus and accomplish my tasks.

As a co-CEO in a small team, there are always various responsibilities, and it's easy for your own work to be set aside while helping others. While I'm currently enjoying this role, I believe that as we grow, we will need someone with more experience to ensure our success in the future.

## How do you understand the term “goal of the soul”??

I would like to inspire anyone, regardless of their background, but especially women because, you know, I'm a woman, and I know the field can be different. I want to inspire them to consider engineering and science careers because there's a gender gap in these fields. Secondly, I want to encourage them to be bold. You can try, and even if you fail, keep trying. I aspire to be a positive inspiration, not like some might view Elon Musk, whom I think can be a bit reckless. I want to be a positive role model for people, not only to pursue careers in science and engineering but also in entrepreneurship.

I've always had this desire to make a positive impact on the world and in people's lives, ever since I was a child. However, I'm not sure where this motivation comes from.

## How could you keep this from your young age till today??

Good question, hmm. I think people, maybe, because, as you said, it's all about people. It's about how they affect you and how you affect them. All in all, I'm very blessed because, wherever I go, I tend to end up surrounded by nice people. Of course, there's always one or two exceptions, but they don't stick around. I believe it's the people, my family, and love in all its forms that have helped me stay positive.?

## Can you share your inner wins?

Well, I guess recently, as well, I come from a small countryside town in Brazil. Just two weeks ago, I won a prize at Latitude in Estonia, where you have unicorns. I think this is my most recent personal achievement. It was a pretty cool feeling, something I never imagined would happen. Having the startup up and running with good success was unexpected because the business side was something new to me. So, it's a win. Another inner victory, as I mentioned, is the people in my life. They are how I find happiness. Oh, and my cats!

## What about your life and working principles??

I think being ethical means to respect people, respect differences, and practice good manners. I always strive to create a more enjoyable environment whenever possible.

## Did you have anyone in your life who influenced you a lot?

I would say my grandmother and I were very, very close when I was a kid. She spent a lot of time at her home. She came from a very poor family on a farm, and she didn't have any formal education. She learned how to write her own name when she was 17, just so she could get married. Then, she learned everything by herself. She taught herself how to read, how to make clothes, and she did everything from scratch. She was the most sustainable person I knew; nothing was wasted. She made her own soap and even ground her own coffee. I don't know; I think she taught me how to be happy with very little and to be resourceful. She was very wise despite having no formal education, which goes to show that wisdom and education are completely different things. I have a PhD, but I'm only a part of her wisdom. She was definitely an inspiration.

Also, my sister, one of my two sisters, left home when she was 17 to move to S?o Paulo, a city with 22 million people. She was super brave and became the first businessperson in our family. She achieved high positions in the business world; she was very intelligent and an amazing woman.

## Do you read books??

When I was younger, I used to read a lot more. With this scientist/startup life, I read less, but I've started to read startup-related books. I can show you one. So, this is what I'm reading now, 'Why Startups Fail,' trying to learn from people's mistakes. I'm also reading a book on gender inequality because in the startup world, only 1% of women get funding. So, I'm trying to understand better where this inequality is coming from and how I can help shift it.

Thank you!

P.S. You can find interviews with other prominent people?here.