about Filipa Leandro’s
Vision & Achievements
about Filipa Leandro’s
Vision & Achievements
about filipa
Filipa Leandro was born in Portugal and discovered her passion for surfing at a young age, becoming one of the country’s first female surfers. After competing in surf contests for ten years and earning a degree in Diplomacy, Filipa travelled to Hawaii, where she worked on her thesis for a Master’s in Human Ecology.
Filipa Leandro has been a surfer since her youth and has always been deeply passionate about nature. After earning a Master’s degree in Human Ecology, she married and had three children—who, by great fortune, also chose surfing as their sport of choice.
From the very beginning, she has been committed to helping her children grow—not just as athletes but as individuals—supporting them in achieving their goals while staying closely connected to nature, family values, and guiding principles that empower them to follow their dreams.
With a lifelong passion for writing, she saw an opportunity to create stories based on her family’s adventures. Her goal was to inspire other children to pursue their dreams, showcase the incredible world of surfing, and demonstrate how adventure sports can instil important values, cultural awareness, and respect for traditions.
This journey resulted in the creation of her book series, Come Surf with Pipa, Jaime, and Kika, a collection that creatively narrates her family’s story, her children’s adventures, and the values she has instilled in them throughout their lives.
To complement her Master’s, she obtained a certification in Education for Sustainable Development from the Earth Charter Institute. This, combined with her deep dedication to her children’s growth, led her to develop projects that encourage young individuals to become more conscious and active participants in their communities, in nature, and in environmental preservation as a whole.
Filipa’s Work & Projects
Through this work, she has had the opportunity to give presentations at both public and private schools, as well as within Portuguese communities, both in Portugal and abroad. She has conducted numerous presentations in the United States (San Diego, San Francisco, and Oahu) and Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra).
Her presentations focus on several key themes:
These presentations can be tailored in two ways:
No matter the format, her goal is to inspire, educate, and empower individuals—encouraging them to dream big while fostering a greater connection to nature, sustainability, and personal growth.
Existing book titles are:
01 • Kika starts surfing!
02 • Kika in surfing school: the competitions and the Maldives… Jaime enters the scene!
03 • Jaime, the family’s mascote!
04 • The gigantic waves of Nazaré!
05 • At Peniche during the Surfing World Championship… Super Tubes!
06 • Cascais, Capital of Portuguese Surfing and it´s all down to King D. Luís and his Love of Swimming in the Sea!
07 • The Resano Sisters!
08 • Ericeira, World Surfing Reserve!
09 • Viana do Castelo, Nautical City of the Atlantic: “Those who like it come, those who love it stay!”
10 • The trip to the Hawaiian islands or the Sandwich islands!
The prefaces of the published books were written by prominent figures in the Portuguese surfing community, including João Aranha, President of the Portuguese Surfing Federation; Nuno Jonet, widely regarded as the “father” of Portuguese surfing; professional surfer Frederico Morais (known as “Kikas”); João Macedo, a renowned big wave surfer; Paulo Morais Ferreira, Director of the Peniche Surfing Club (PPSC); and Teresa Abraços, one of Portugal’s pioneering female surfers.
collaborations
participating artists
Ana Jezabel, Ana Pontes, Ana Rita Jogo, Andreia Alvelos, Andreia Coelho, Andreia Marinho, Ângelo Cid Neto.
“Filipa Leandro is a proud Portuguese mother of three, a nationally acclaimed surfer, and a devoted advocate for sustainability.”
participating athletes
António Lauriano, Bernardo Aragão, Candelaria Resano, Francisca (Kika) Veselko, Concha Balsemão, Frederico Morais, Henrique Pyrrait, Jaime Veselko, João Aranha (Ex-Presidente da Federação Portuguesa de Surf), João Macedo, João Zamith, Joaquim Chaves, Joey Veselko, John John Florence, Lourenço Aragão, Luís Carvalho (Lacrau), Marta Passos, Maxima Resano, Mick Fanning, Nuno Jonet, Paulo Morais Ferreira (Presidente do Clube de Surf de Peniche), Sally Fitzgibbons, Selma Ribeiro, Teresa Abraços, Teresa Bonvalot, Valeria Resano.
“Her deep love for life and nature inspires her daily pursuits and all her projects, reflecting her passionate and committed vision to enhance the lives of future generations through active, conscious, and sustainable awareness.”
creative story telling
childreens collection book presentations
Presentations of the children’s book collection “Come surf with Pipa, Jaime and KIka”, for kids from 6 to 12 years old, at public and private schools, surf clubs, surf schools, and more.
The presentations focus on the purpose of this book collection, exploring themes of surfing, Portuguese culture, and civic and environmental issues, all delivered with a joyful and engaging approach. Each session highlights the individual book titles and shares excerpts from some of the stories.
Education for Sustainable Development plays a key role in the presentations, emphasising the importance of ocean health, global interdependence, and related topics. Additionally, themes of personal motivation and emotional control may also be explored, adding depth and relevance to the discussions.
creative writing “playshops” on sustainable development
Through dialogue and critical thinking, these playshops (playful workshops) help kids recognise our interdependence with nature, both fauna & flora, while encouraging them to become more responsible and civic-minded individuals as a community.
bespoke mentorships
Filipa Leandro’s Bespoke Private Sessions
Designed as private sessions for kids from 6 to 18 years old, and where mothers and fathers encouraged to attend, Filipa Leandro’s Mentoring Talks present as engaging lively conversations that enable innovative perspectives on the lives and lifestyles of future generations.
Self-love through conscious awareness habits and hacks; Autonomous critical thinking through nature inspired routines; Self-development with active physical focus through sports and/or nature guided activities; these are just a few of the many skills offered to help improve and/or shift the vision and mind of those seeking a more meaningful sense of life.
How it works:
“I was a competitive athlete in the surfing world and am a proud mother of three. One of my children is pursuing a medical degree, while the other two are excelling in the world of high-performance surfing. Both have been part of the Portuguese National Team and have achieved national titles. My daughter was crowned Junior World Champion on 13 January 2023.
In addition to my involvement in Personal Motivation and Emotional Control, I am an educator for Sustainable Development, certified by the Earth Charter Institute, affiliated with UNESCO. I hold a degree in International Relations and a Master’s in Human Ecology.
As a writer, I am the author of the children’s book series Come Surf with Pipa, Jaime, and Kika, which currently includes 10 titles. I have conducted numerous national and international presentations at public and private schools, surf clubs, and other venues. Having worked as a surf instructor for eight years, I have had the privilege of teaching and mentoring thousands of children.”
dynamic portuguese lessons
Teaching Portuguese to foreigners
Filipa Leandro is passionate about helping others, communicating, meeting new people, and teaching. She combines her extensive academic knowledge with her rich personal experiences to guide her classes and teach Portuguese to foreigners. Her approach is relaxed and organic, allowing the themes and the Portuguese language to flow naturally.
Whether in the comfort of her home or surrounded by nature, Filipa creates a warm and inviting atmosphere for easy and unforgettable learning moments.
She holds a degree in International Relations, a Master’s in Human Ecology, and multiple certifications, including her most recent qualification in Education for Sustainable Development from the Earth Charter Institute.
degrees & certifications