The program for women entrepreneurs was incredible – I invited consultants from different areas of the company to participate as volunteers in the program: they would adopt an entrepreneur and participate in all the mentoring meetings. I wanted them to go through the same experience I had! Expand their female role models, learn more about how business works with real cases and develop their networking, in a comfortable and safe environment. I believed that, in this way, I was contributing to the development of new partners: going through the program would be part of their personal and professional growth.
5 of the consultants who were participating in the program came to me, asking for more! They wanted to participate in the development of the Program's concept, increase its visibility (both internally and externally) and expand its disclosure to female entrepreneurs. We created the selection criteria, the mentors started to have a vote in the selection of entrepreneurs and the consultants chose who they would like to support. We had periodic meetings (breakfast, lunch or dinner) to align what was being done and delegate tasks. We went on to discuss purpose and what we were living. It was all very magical: we were co-creating the program's format together, in a “relaxed” way, without hierarchy, based on common principles and sharing the same vision. By creating an enabling ecosystem to help women entrepreneurs grow their businesses (networking and practical content), we were promoting gender equality (inside and outside the company).
Gradually, I began to realize that this was my source of energy, it was the moment when I fulfilled myself. I had the opportunity to meet Alice Freitas, a great social entrepreneur (who became my inspiration!), and Cristiana Oliveira, founder of an incredible sustainable hostel in Babilônia, Rio de Janeiro. It was a new world that was opening up to me and I was blown away.
One day, talking to a good friend, I confessed: I'm glad I have the program, where I manage to dedicate 10% of my time, and it gives me the fuel to endure the other 90%. And then there was the question: why can’t the 10% become the 90%
(photo: last meeting of the program with the team of consultants who were part of the project – my farewell)
