Vanessa Macamo

That is a very interesting and powerful question. When I think about what I attribute my success to, I have to begin with the foundation my parents gave me.

I grew up with parents who deeply believed in education, but, more importantly, who believed in me. Even in a context where being a woman could sometimes present additional challenges, they taught me that I had the right to try, to pursue opportunities, to make mistakes, and to keep moving forward.

Both of my parents believed strongly in education and were equally committed to our development, but they shared different responsibilities in raising us. My father took a particularly active role in our formal education. He followed our grades, attended meetings with teachers and professors, encouraged our participation in sports and other activities, and made sure we remained engaged in school. He also emphasized faith, discipline, service, and community, including taking us to church and encouraging experiences such as Scouting.

At the same time, my mother was preparing us for another dimension of life. At home, she taught me practical skills, including how to cook and care for a household, while also showing me through her own example that being a woman placed no limits on what I could accomplish. From her, I learned about leadership, business, independence, resilience, and the ability to provide and create opportunities. She showed me that a woman could nurture a family while also being strong, capable, ambitious, and independent.

Looking back, I see how intentional and complementary their roles were. One was not more important than the other. Together, they created a balance between education and life skills, discipline and independence, faith and ambition, family responsibility and leadership. That balance had a profound influence on the woman I became.

I am, in many ways, a reflection of what my parents invested in me, their values, expectations, confidence, and support, including during moments of failure. Of course, my own character, determination, faith, and desire to succeed have shaped my journey. I have made choices, taken risks, worked hard, and learned from challenges. But I recognize that my ability to do those things was nurtured by the environment in which I grew up. My parents gave me the foundation; throughout my life, I have tried to build upon it.

The best career advice I have ever received is, first, to believe in yourself. Believe that you are capable. Believe that you can achieve your dreams and accomplish the goals you set for yourself. Sometimes, the first person who needs to believe in your potential is you.

More recently, I have also learned the importance of focusing on yourself and your goals. Learn to establish boundaries. Learn to say no when necessary. Not every opportunity, request, or expectation needs to become your responsibility. Be intentional about where you invest your time and energy, and do not be afraid to prioritize yourself and what you are working toward.

My motto in life is simple: I believe. So my advice to young women would begin with exactly that: believe.

Believe in your dreams. Believe that you are capable. Do not focus too much on your age, your challenges, or what you do not have. Instead, focus on what you are capable of doing and what you want to achieve, and go for it. Pursue your dreams. Life is not always easy, and challenges will come, but if you remain committed to yourself and to your dreams, you can find a way forward.

I would also say: embrace the journey. We often become so focused on the final result that we forget to appreciate everything that happens along the way. Enjoy the process, the learning, the opportunities, the relationships you build, and even the failures. Every experience can teach you something.

For example, one of my goals is to earn my PhD, but I do not want the degree to be the only thing that matters. I am embracing the journey that is taking me there the conferences, the presentations, learning how to conduct research, the friendships and support systems I have built, and even those days when I am tired and do not feel like doing anything. All of it is part of the process and part of who I am becoming.

And do not assume that you must have everything before you begin. Sometimes we tell ourselves, “I cannot do this because I do not have enough money, enough resources, or the right opportunity.” Resources matter, but they are not the whole story. Your willingness to begin, your commitment, and what you are prepared to invest in your dream also matter.

So my advice is simple: dream, believe, and go for it.

This is a challenging question because some of the biggest challenges in my field are also the reason I decided to pursue my PhD in Special Education.

My particular interest is in children with disabilities, especially in early childhood education, because I believe inclusion needs to begin from the very beginning. One of the greatest challenges is ensuring that children with disabilities can access early childhood education and successfully transition into the broader education system. More broadly, persons with disabilities still face significant barriers to accessing education and fully participating in society.

Another major challenge is stigma and discrimination. In many communities, persons with disabilities continue to experience exclusion, isolation, and negative perceptions about disability. Changing those attitudes is just as important as creating access to services. Inclusion is not only about being present in a school or community; it is also about being respected, valued, and given meaningful opportunities to participate.

At the same time, I see important opportunities. In Mozambique, we now have legislation protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, and the country has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These are important foundations for advancing inclusion. The challenge is that there is still a gap between policies and what happens in practice.

I see that gap not only as a challenge, but also as an opportunity for research, advocacy, education, and community engagement. Through research and the skills I am developing, I hope to contribute recommendations, share knowledge, and demonstrate practical ways in which inclusion can work. Change may happen gradually and through small steps, but I believe those steps can change the narrative and create more inclusive communities.

Honesty is one of the most important values to me, both professionally and personally, because I believe honesty is the foundation of trust. I value people who are willing to be honest with me, even when what they have to say may be difficult for me to hear. I would rather hear an uncomfortable truth than be surrounded by people who are not genuine. Honesty also creates opportunities for growth. When someone is honest with me, I can reflect, learn, and improve, and I believe I should be willing to offer that same honesty to others.

Empathy is equally important to me. Before judging someone, I try to understand what that person may be experiencing and what might be behind their actions. We do not always know what another person is carrying, and trying to see a situation from their perspective can completely change the way we respond.

Communication is another value I consider essential. I am a strong communicator, and I believe people cannot understand our goals, needs, or expectations if we do not communicate them. People cannot guess what we want; we have to be willing to express ourselves and also listen to others.

I also value transparency, which, for me, is closely connected to honesty and trust. I believe in being clear about who I am, what I stand for, and how I approach things. That does not mean refusing to change or grow. On the contrary, being transparent creates a foundation from which growth can happen.

Finally, I deeply value teamwork. I am a person who genuinely enjoys being around people, learning from them, and working with them. I believe an individual can accomplish a great deal alone, but working with others can expand what is possible. When people bring their different strengths, experiences, and perspectives together, the impact can be much greater.