Top Executive Women – a reflection for men and women!

I'm 60 years old. I graduated in veterinary medicine (UNESP) in 1982. I worked for a veterinary clinic, I also studied Public Health at University of São Paulo (USP), and I was an effective veterinarian at SEMAB abbreviation in Portuguese for (Secretariat of Supply of São Paulo city). Along taking the civil service examination and being hired by SEMAB, due to a total lack of money I decided to change my work field and got a position as a biller in a small industry in SP, the salary was the minimum wage. I had never been in an industry and was very impressed. Soon I was moved to Technical Sales, and afterwards, I was invited by the multinational Richard Klinger to be a commercial representative. That was in 1985 and I believe I was the first woman to work in external sales with industrial valves here in Brazil. Concomitantly, I was called by SEMAB and took two jobs for 7 years, which did not stop me from achieving excellent sales results, and being promoted to national sales manager, and soon, Sales Manager for Latin America. Evidently, I asked to be resigned from my position as a veterinarian at SEMAB, which greatly upset my family at that time.

In 2010, I started to work at Bray as a National Sales Manager, taking over the General Management position in 2013. At Bray group, which has numerous subsidiaries around the world, I am the only woman to hold this top position – which is General Manager for my country.

Although I was raised in a very small countryside village of São Paulo state, and educated in a family with a very traditional view of the feminine role at that time, I exceeded all standards and managed to follow a very rewarding and happy professional path. All the countless difficulties and obstacles that I went through, were somehow overcome, ending up helping me to manage a company in this volatile and insecure world in a balanced and I can say, very successful way.

Today, when there is so much discussion about the role of women in management positions, how to help them, how to do it, how to get it, etc., here are some of my tips based on my own experience, if I could modestly contribute something. It is important to note that I do not like the idea of "distributing" management positions to women, but rather the "achievement" of management positions by women:

1-   Choose a good company to work for. If you don't have experience, don't worry about the size of the company, but choose a serious one.

2-   Be prepared, be prepared and be prepared: no company will avoid putting you in a high position, simply because you are a woman. If you are the best option, you will inevitably go up.

3-   How to prepare yourself? Understand your area, understand other areas of the company, study if you can and speak one or more languages, other than your native language. Do not forget that your native language must be at least acceptable. Be better than everyone.

4-   What else? Deliver excellent results: companies need people who know how to work well and obtain excellent results. The merit is not killing yourself from working but having the best results!

5-   Emotional balance: this is very important. Nervous crises, weeping, unbalanced discussions with team member etc., will only take you away from high positions.

6-   Behavior: nobody is perfect, but coherent behavior, ethical principles, etc., it is a must!

7-  Responsibility: grab it, don't run from it. Did more responsibility come than a salary increase? No problem, later you will achieve the desired increase. Show that you can!

8-   Work environment: love the company and take care of it as if it were yours. Respect your colleagues and be kind and polite. Do not get involved with gossip or talking to the point of disrupting your work and people’s work.

9-   Family: very important! You don't have to be single but run away from anyone who is jealous or who is very possessive and demanding. The family has a great influence on women’s life, who are often limited by this. I got married twice and had a son, who I raised very well, even though I was more out there than at home. Today he is an excellent medical student, he does not give me any work and is very proud to have me as his mother.

10-  Higher positions require more skills, memory, responsibilities, performance, etc. They are for anyone who wants and has the capacity; it is not an obligation to want.

I conclude this text with a special note: everything is in your hands!

Be happy, regardless of any position you hold!

Dalva Mello