Nilza Campos (left) and her sister Nancy Pires
Nilza and Nancy are two successful sisters changing the image of black women in Brazil and are representative of the ascension of the black population in the past decade. Check out their stories:
Since she was a child, she always liked ‘playing with numbers’. As a teenager, she wanted to work. Her father agreed, that she could work, but that she would have to continue her education. She did. And the corporate world has gained a highly qualified professional who is determined in her goals. Today, Nilza Campos is manager of Project of Atos-Origin, a branch of a French-Dutch Information Technology (IT) business, in São Paulo.
The multiple demands on executives of large corporations don’t scare her. “The fact that women work simultaneously on several fronts facilitates different tasks in the workplace.”
She is currently working with a small team, but she has already had under her direction 12, 13 persons, men and women. She recognizes the difficulty, especially of men, accepting a woman as boss. However, she believes that she’s had more problems with women than with men.
On the progress made by black women, she thinks that today they are able to show more potential. “The important thing is to always be alert to opportunities”, he says. An important point mentioned by Nilza is the need for investment in education. “Education, school and family. This is a good tripod for human formation.”
Spoken with words of someone who knows what she’s saying.
Encouragement and confidence
At 14 years old, Nancy Pires decided she would be a journalist. Nilza and Nancy are sisters, proof that lightning does strike twice (or more) in the same place. The encouragement of family, coupled with her determination, was instrumental in building her successful career. With a degree in Communications from Cásper Líbero University, and a Masters in Business Administration at the Catholic University of Paraná (PUC), for three years ago she has been Manager of Press Relations of Grupo Santander of Brazil.
In her previous job at Volkswagen of Brazil, she worked with the current Minister of Development, Miguel Jorge, whose confidence in her work gave a major boost to her career. For her, “the good thing about working with Miguel Jorge is that he treats people in very egalitarian way, not only in relation to gender, as well as race and the distribution of positions.” The equality and appreciation of diversity are factors that should be pursued in large companies. “When you are treated without discrimination, it drives you, makes you believe. First, that you are capable. Then, that you can proceed, it’s a lever. There are psychological barriers that are crossed, too”, says Nancy. On performance in the corporate world, the improving of inequalities in the labor market, she points out that the role of business is to promote greater equality of opportunity. “Without it there is no way forward.” In this way, business and society both come out winning.
Source: Raça Brasil
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