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Tech
Updated August 19, 2025
Tiago Forte
Tiago Forte is a productivity expert who created the 'Building a Second Brain' methodology. He teaches professionals how to systematically organize their digital information.
Notable Facts
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A Second Brain Building System
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Progressive Summarization Technique
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Digital Knowledge Management Approach
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End-to-End Information Organization
Career Highlights
Tiago Forte is an American productivity expert and educator specializing in knowledge management. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Affairs from Stanford University, with a focus on Latin American economic development. Forte began his career as a project manager in various industries, including technology, education, and healthcare, where he developed a practical interest in personal productivity systems.
Major contributions
Tiago Forte is the creator of the Building a Second Brain (BASB) methodology, a systematic approach for capturing, organizing, and sharing knowledge using digital tools. He is the founder of Forte Labs, a productivity training company that teaches the BASB methodology through online courses, workshops, and coaching. He is also the author of the book "Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential," which formally codified his ideas. His work synthesizes concepts from fields like personal knowledge management (PKM), Getting Things Done (GTD), and digital note-taking.
Impact on their field
Forte's work has popularized the concept of a "Second Brain," moving personal knowledge management into mainstream discourse. The BASB methodology, particularly the CODE (Capture, Organize, Distill, Express) and PARA (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives) frameworks, provides a concrete system for individuals and organizations to manage information overload. His teachings have influenced a global community of professionals, including writers, designers, software developers, and academics, who use his methods to enhance their creative output and efficiency.
Current work/relevance
Tiago Forte continues to lead Forte Labs, developing and teaching advanced courses on productivity. He maintains an active presence as a public speaker at conferences and through his podcast and blog, where he explores the future of work and learning. His book, published in 2022, has extended the reach of his ideas to a broader audience, cementing his role as a leading voice in modern productivity and knowledge work.
Major contributions
Tiago Forte is the creator of the Building a Second Brain (BASB) methodology, a systematic approach for capturing, organizing, and sharing knowledge using digital tools. He is the founder of Forte Labs, a productivity training company that teaches the BASB methodology through online courses, workshops, and coaching. He is also the author of the book "Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential," which formally codified his ideas. His work synthesizes concepts from fields like personal knowledge management (PKM), Getting Things Done (GTD), and digital note-taking.
Impact on their field
Forte's work has popularized the concept of a "Second Brain," moving personal knowledge management into mainstream discourse. The BASB methodology, particularly the CODE (Capture, Organize, Distill, Express) and PARA (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives) frameworks, provides a concrete system for individuals and organizations to manage information overload. His teachings have influenced a global community of professionals, including writers, designers, software developers, and academics, who use his methods to enhance their creative output and efficiency.
Current work/relevance
Tiago Forte continues to lead Forte Labs, developing and teaching advanced courses on productivity. He maintains an active presence as a public speaker at conferences and through his podcast and blog, where he explores the future of work and learning. His book, published in 2022, has extended the reach of his ideas to a broader audience, cementing his role as a leading voice in modern productivity and knowledge work.
Personal Story
Tiago Forte is a productivity expert, author, and educator who has become a leading voice in the world of personal knowledge management. Originally trained as an urban planner, his career took a turn when he discovered a passion for helping people work more effectively with the vast amounts of information they encounter daily. He founded Forte Labs, a productivity training company, to teach professionals and organizations his unique methods for capturing, organizing, and using knowledge.
Why They Matter
Tiago Forte matters because he offers a practical solution to a modern problem: information overload. His work provides a clear and actionable system for turning the chaos of digital notes, articles, and ideas into a valuable, organized asset. He has taught his methods to thousands of students worldwide, including employees at major companies like Toyota, Genentech, and Nestlé. His greatest achievement is arguably the creation and popularization of the Building a Second Brain methodology, which has empowered countless individuals to work smarter and unlock their creative potential.
What They're Known For
Tiago Forte is best known for developing the Building a Second Brain (BASB) methodology. This system provides a framework for using digital note-taking apps to offload, organize, and ultimately leverage your ideas and learnings. The core of his philosophy is captured in his bestselling book, Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential. He is also famous for his popular online course, which has a dedicated global following, and his prolific writing on his blog, Praxis, where he shares deep insights on productivity and creativity.
Key Principles of His Work
The PARA Method: A system for organizing information into four simple categories: Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives.
Progressive Summarization: A technique for distilling notes and articles into their most essential points through layered highlighting.
The CODE Framework: A workflow for knowledge management that stands for Capture, Organize, Distill, and Express.
Why They Matter
Tiago Forte matters because he offers a practical solution to a modern problem: information overload. His work provides a clear and actionable system for turning the chaos of digital notes, articles, and ideas into a valuable, organized asset. He has taught his methods to thousands of students worldwide, including employees at major companies like Toyota, Genentech, and Nestlé. His greatest achievement is arguably the creation and popularization of the Building a Second Brain methodology, which has empowered countless individuals to work smarter and unlock their creative potential.
What They're Known For
Tiago Forte is best known for developing the Building a Second Brain (BASB) methodology. This system provides a framework for using digital note-taking apps to offload, organize, and ultimately leverage your ideas and learnings. The core of his philosophy is captured in his bestselling book, Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential. He is also famous for his popular online course, which has a dedicated global following, and his prolific writing on his blog, Praxis, where he shares deep insights on productivity and creativity.
Key Principles of His Work
The PARA Method: A system for organizing information into four simple categories: Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives.
Progressive Summarization: A technique for distilling notes and articles into their most essential points through layered highlighting.
The CODE Framework: A workflow for knowledge management that stands for Capture, Organize, Distill, and Express.