Pure Optimsm

Pure optimism is my mantra. Passionate about People, Teams & Organizations. You can find me where corporate culture meets business strategy.

[zilaida]

A little bit of Argentina

[zilaida]

A little bit of Uruguay...

[zilaida]

Always be learning :)

I’ve always been an advocate of traveling as one of life’s most enjoyable pleasures. I believe that there's a certain gratification that comes with it that makes it so worthwhile. It's the people I meet and the conversations I have that reminds me how amazing life can be and the opportunity that lies in stepping out of your comfort zone to learn from others and go after what makes you happy. When I decided to make it a goal to learn more about the Brazilian market in hopes of being able to tie the knowledge to a career opportunity, I knew I had to make decisions that could lead to making it a reality. The decision was to come back to Brazil (my first visit was last year as part of Santa Clara University’s Global Business Perspective trip) for a somewhat first look at doing business/working in the country.

Having traveled before, and knowing the power of stepping out of your comfort zone, making the decision was quite easy. Just a few days in, I'm happy to report that I already feel I've learned so much. Not only is my Portuguese vocabulary expanding, I’ve also learned things about Brazil that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.  Although I had already heard about the bureaucracy that comes from doing business in Brazil, never would I have imaged it can be so convoluted and time consuming. The intricacies involved in the process of simple things such as hiring an employee or keeping track of an employee’s employment history reminds me of countries such as Cuba. There, people use an almost crumbling booklet known as “libretas de abastescimiento,” to get their monthly food allowance.

Also, let’s say you have two employees who will be doing the same job and you want to give them the same job title, but not the same salary based on experience. Even though I believe both should be paid the same regardless of experience since both are responsible of the same tasks, what are you to do? Well, since Brazil won’t let you have two people with the same title earning different salaries, you must then give them different titles. Say, give the one you want to pay more a Senior title. While it may be a great way to promote equal pay in the workforce, I bet American companies (in the U.S. that is, since this applies to American companies IN Brazil) would have a field day with such a government mandated requirement. To make things a little bit more complicated, each employed individual must carry a “Carteira de Trabalho.” A booklet which has all of your employment history, including where you’ve worked and the salaries you’ve earned. Imagine if you wanted to negotiate a salary with your future employer??? Well, your new employer may see your “carteira” and negotiate you down.

Maybe I am biased to a more efficient way of doing things because I’ve worked in the United States most of my adult life and have learned the importance of efficiency. Maybe it’s because I naturally and constantly assess processes in an effort to improve them. Maybe it’s because there should be (and there is) a better way to go about these things. As with many necessary or required government enhancements (in Brazil and elsewhere), I know that it can take a lot of time to change. Regardless, to sustain their growth they must take step towards the right direction. As Brazil focuses on growing their middle class, attracting companies to set up shop in one of their major cities, as well as hosting the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics (all of which translate into billions of dollars poured into the market), it should also consider improving the processes that are the foundation to their workforce. Not just the working Brazilians but the thousands of expats that come work here too.

[zilaida]

What would you do if you weren't afraid?

If you have a Facebook account or have been following the company’s COO in the news, there’s a high probability you’ve heard about Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In book and the Lean In movement. I read the book a few months ago and find it a fascinating vehicle that has opened a door of opportunities for women everywhere. Not only has it reignited the conversation about women in the workplace, it has also become a motivational source to, well, Lean In.

One of the questions frequently posted on their Facebook page is What would you do if you weren’t afraid? Some have answered by saying “I would be a professional salsa dancer”, “I would ask for more money”, and “I would always stick up for what I believe in.” Although I would gladly say I would do all of those too, at this point in my life my answer is somewhat simple: I would resign from my job and go spend a month in Brazil. Oh wait, I actually did!

Now, before you jump in with any preconceptions, my decision warrants a bit of background. I had spent the last three years of my life working full-time and pursuing an MBA part-time at Santa Clara University (think constant juggling act, add really long days, and a social life that may have resembled a ghost town). I was at a job with people I loved, but I needed more. If you know me, you would know that growing and learning are, not only fuel for me, but a way of life. Add into the mix my desire to work with the Latin American market (especially the Brazilian market) and you have one big dream.

I am no longer seeking a job. I am on a quest to have a career that provides growth opportunities, challenges me in ways I’ve never even thought possible, and allows me to use the breadth of skills and knowledge I bring to the table. I am passionate about leading a life in which I am able to transform peoples’ lives by fueling a company’s corporate culture. As my Twitter account would tell you, You can find me where corporate culture meets business strategy. After all, I did go to business school.

Leaning In. Big dream, big risk, big reward. Fingers crossed!

(Insert shameless plug) If you or someone you know may be looking for someone like me, you can follow me on twitter @zilaida or go check out my Linkedin profile.