Susana Faria

First of all, I believe it's never stopping to learn. I'm always aware about the market, the company, and my colleagues, and networking is very important. I'm always doing my best - I'm not going to my job to be only one more. I'm always trying to do things better, and tomorrow maybe I can do better and better, always trying to improve, always trying to do something different. I don't like a routine, so for me, it's been so interesting in this market because you don't have a routine. Every day is a new challenge, something new to learn and to improve. When I arrived here, three months after, I met a man who was the owner of a construction company, a Brazilian construction company, and he invited me to learn something. It was like a school for me, and I helped him grow from building just 5 houses to around 100 per year. I learned everything since the beginning of the process, and it was amazing because it was so practical. My engineering bachelor in Brazil and my hard-working ethics helped me develop and grow my career in the US.

Never listen to anyone tell you something is not practical or impossible. Don't be afraid. When I was young in high school in Brazil, I did a technical high school, and it was especially challenging with my father, who said things like 'you are doing a technical college? What does it mean, like electrical technology? It's something for men.' And I said no, who said that? When I said I would do engineering, my father said 'are you sure? Don't you think you have to do marketing, something like that, administration, business?' And I said no, I want engineering. He said it's different, and I said yes, it's different, but I want that. As a woman getting into engineering in Brazil, I was challenged even by my father, but I was not afraid and was very successful getting my engineering degree and employment in my field. You are capable to do everything you want, so when you are not afraid, you can go wherever you want.

Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid, because you are capable to do everything you want. I believe when you are not afraid, you can go wherever you want. Never stop learning, network, and find people willing to share opportunities. This is what I learned since the beginning. When I was young in high school in Brazil, I did a technical high school, and my father questioned me, saying it was something for men. But I said no, who said that? When I started, I had this challenge since the beginning, and I just always had that drive to go against the grain. Even from my own parents, I faced these challenges, but I was not afraid. As a woman in this market that is mainly related to men, it's difficult for us women to prove that we are capable, but it's been a huge challenge and I love that because every day I learn something different.

I believe the biggest challenge is when you are in a big company and you have challenges dealing with the board. They have to understand your needs and listen to others. You might have learned something and want to share with them - maybe you have an opportunity or you can apply something new in the company - but sometimes you don't have this opportunity for them to hear you. It's like, what is Susanna saying or trying to say? Okay, stop that. Depending on the company you are in, you have this type of challenge that maybe can stop you. So right now I'm in the position where I'm trying to pay attention to that and understand what I can do, where and when. The corporate world has its challenges dealing with boards and many layers of management to be heard, even when you have great ideas to improve processes based on solid analytics.

I like to do barbecue with my family, Brazilian barbecue - it's amazing. I'm very close to my family. My sister lives here, and I have my niece and my nephew, so we are always together enjoying and having a lot of stuff together, like visiting different places and beaches. I like to travel - I already traveled to 12 different countries. I like to cook, so on the weekends I always prepare something different for my family, for my loved ones. I have only one son, he is [AGE], and I always spend time with him and my husband. In my work, I'm always doing my best and always trying to improve, always trying to do something different. I don't like a routine. Every day is a new challenge, something new to learn and to improve.