While the recognition is an individual one, it also reflects the journey of a family business that began in Madeira and has since expanded across Portugal. Today, Gonçalo serves as Chief Commercial Officer and Vice President of the Sharing Education Group, where he works alongside his family and the wider leadership team to support the continued growth of the group’s education, investment and hospitality businesses.

After building an international career in cities including London, Madrid, Barcelona, Dubai and Lisbon, Gonçalo returned to Portugal to join the family business. Before returning, he worked at cybersecurity company CrowdStrike, where he helped launch the company’s Iberian operations, exceeded sales targets by more than 300% and earned a place in the company’s prestigious President’s Club. At the age of 24, he was later invited to help establish CrowdStrike’s Barcelona office as part of its rapid European expansion, while also experiencing the company’s IPO in 2019.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Sharing Education Group;

One of the group’s most significant recent success stories has been Bright International School in the Algarve. When the school was acquired and rebranded in 2024, it had around 70 students and faced an uncertain future. Two years later, enrolment has almost tripled to nearly 200 students, and the school has been recognised as the Most Innovative International School in Europe 2026. Through continued investment in new facilities, academic development and innovative learning environments, Bright has become one of the Algarve’s fastest-growing international schools.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Sharing Education Group;

Commenting on the recognition, Gonçalo Santos said: “I’m incredibly grateful to receive this recognition from Forbes, but I don’t see it as an individual achievement. Everything we’ve been able to accomplish has been the result of working alongside my family, an exceptional team and the support of all families who are part of our school community. Seeing what Bright International School has achieved in such a short period of time has been particularly rewarding, and I hope this recognition also shines a light on the fantastic work that is being done in the Algarve.”