EN 
PT_BR 
Monalisa Gomes, president of Fronius do Brasil, is the guest on the podcast Sun Talk. She commented on her story of overcoming and the challenges of running a multinational company.
Monalisa tells a little about her life story and how she started her professional career.
I came from a simple and humble family in the city of São Paulo. Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I lived in the suburbs and studied at a public school. At 19, I had the great challenge of becoming a single mother and this helped me mature and grow very quickly. I've worked in stores, commerce, in a billing company and in my mother's sewing workshop.
Amidst so many difficulties and limited financial resources, I managed to graduate in accounting. In my family I am the first person to have a higher education. In my last year of college I was invited to work at Fronius in the accounting area. I have been with the company since 2006 and it has always been my dream to work for a multinational.
What was the experience of being a mother and balancing college and work like?
It was quite challenging. There have been cases of spending the day with my daughter in the hospital and having to go to college at night to take a test. But these are things that made me mature, that made me look at people in a more human way. It brought me experience, resilience, a compassionate look at some situations that today I am very proud of what I learned.
I think I was also lucky to have always had good people by my side who helped me along the way. I have always been very persistent and never gave up because of a no. I always sought to understand that reason and drew strength from wherever I could to overcome my challenges. I tell my daughter that she was the biggest driver of my career, of me being who I am today, because she made me step on the ground very early.
You mentioned that you were one of the few who went to college in your family. Did they see you as an example?
Yes. It's very cool. I have aunts, for example, who, after getting much older, went back to college. Before they were seamstresses and now they are teachers and nurses. They went to get training. My cousins too. I have some who went to work in the same area as me. My family then always looked to me for a reference. This gave me more strength and responsibility. It was encouraging because I looked and saw that there were people who were inspired by me.
You are now president of Fronius do Brasil. How has this experience been?
Fronius, at the end of 2016, invited me to assume the presidency here in Brazil. Until then, this post was occupied by an Austrian man. I had the great challenge of being the first Brazilian to lead the company in Brazil, being a woman and black. Sometimes you hear a sexist comment. For example: wow, you are so young and beautiful and you are already a director. I take these comments as a joke, I don't diminish myself, but I also don't let it force me and grow. I studied hard, I'm smart and I deliver the work.
Sometimes people don't do this out of spite. It's just that it's already so embedded in society that we still don't realize how sexist and conservative it is. They think that women's positions are linked to women's basic functions. I see that they use jargon, that there is prejudice, but I always try to position myself in an assertive and coherent way without losing my elegance and femininity.
It is very difficult to be recognized as a woman, but the way we deal with it will bring a different result. I don't shake myself because I know who I am. I am greater than adversity. If I wear high heels or shoes, whoever sits in my chair will have to do the same work.
What was your biggest challenge within Fronius?
It was to position Fronius in the group and in the solar market. The company started in 2012, still very small in the sector. When I took over, out of 30 subsidiaries we were the 26th. For me, the biggest success story was understanding the market and looking at the three business units (welding technology, battery chargers and solar energy) and preparing a capable team. Today, we are the group's third largest subsidiary. We passed the United States and are only behind Germany and Australia. My biggest case then was to position Fronius as a reference, in relation to products, services, structure and organization. My pride is seeing where the company is today and one day reaching the top position in the group.
What message do you have for professionals who are just starting out in the solar energy sector or in another area?
First of all: vulnerability. Accept that we are not super women. We cannot compare ourselves and want better. We need to do our best and learn from adversity. I believe that excellence comes through effort, dedication and not letting yourself get discouraged. Difficulties are there for everyone. We have to believe in the strength that women have.
We have a sixth sense and this makes all the difference when leading a business and practicing our profession. It is important to always look with wisdom, resilience, patience and build a path always based on ethics, professionalism and positioning. For me, a smile and lightness are essential. This opens doors and allows the path to be smoother for us to have discernment and make the best decisions.
