"I grew up in a favela in Rio. Now I’m an Engineering Manager in a company shaping the future of crypto security. That’s not just a career move—it’s a life transformation.”
Danny França’s story didn’t begin in a boardroom or on the fast track to tech leadership. It began in Rio de Janeiro, where an early love for puzzles, video games, and math led him into teaching.
By 21, he had launched his own tutoring company—and taught himself digital marketing and programming just to keep it alive. But when Brazil’s economic crisis hit, everything changed.
“I pivoted fully into software engineering and never looked back. What started as a necessity became a deep passion—solving real-world problems through code.”
That leap set him on a path that carried him far beyond Rio. In 2022, his life transformed almost overnight: he closed his small business, joined a startup, received an international job offer, and met the woman who would become his wife—all within the span of a month.
“It felt like my entire world shifted in just a few weeks.”
Today, Danny leads Ledger’s e-commerce engineering team, responsible for powering nearly half of the company’s revenue. He says the work is technically demanding—but what drives him is creating the right environment for his team to thrive.
“I noticed when I arrived that the team was stretched too thin. Instead of just pushing harder, we changed how we worked—streamlining priorities, planning more deeply, and focusing on one thing at a time. It brought focus, balance, and calm back to the team.”
Teaching, he says, gave him the resilience and people skills that still guide him as a manager.
“If you can hold the attention of a classroom full of kids, you can manage anything,” he laughs. “The fundamentals are the same: listen, guide, and give people space to grow.”
What excites him most about Ledger is how personal the mission feels. He remembers moments in Brazil when banks closed and people suddenly lost access to their savings.
“That’s when you understand why self-custody matters. It’s about protecting what you’ve worked for, so no one else can decide its fate.”
Even the objects on his desk tell that story: a dusty old wallet he once used, now sitting forgotten in a drawer, next to the Flex he uses every day. For him, it’s a reminder of how far both he and the industry have come.
At Ledger, Danny says he’s found something rare: the freedom to build, lead, and live with balance.
“I’ve worked in high-pressure roles before, but this is the first time I’ve had the space to think creatively, lead with intention, and trust my team. Here, no one carries the weight alone—we carry it together.”
Over lunch with his team, conversations often turn into jokes about who isn’t eating their vegetables. It’s a small moment, but it captures what he values most: connection.
“Growing up, I had to fight for every inch of progress. Now, I get to lead with empathy, solve problems I care about, and help others grow too. That’s what Ledger has given me—and that’s what I want to keep giving back."
- Tech
