Leonarda’s journey: from specialist to trainer
Leonarda, you have been working in health and safety at Leadec in Brazil since 2019. How do you manage to support 175 colleagues at 18 sites today?
Leonarda: It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s doable. I plan my time very carefully and organize my schedule according to business needs. It’s about setting priorities and responding quickly to requests. If I organize it well, I manage to deal with all requests and site visits that come up in a month.
How would you describe your own development at Leadec? What has been motivating?
Working in a team that has always had my back has been crucial for me on my development journey at Leadec. They have been there to help me when I needed it and have motivated me to learn from the daily challenges. I believe my success is strongly linked to this HSE team—and it motivates me to keep doing my best.
What or who has supported you along the way?
At the beginning, the responsible HR Business Partner saw something in me and gave me the chance to prove myself. He believed that I would play a key role in a relevant position. That opened doors for me that I hadn’t seen before. I got involved and took part in internal training courses that helped me to develop further—for example in terms of my public speaking skills. Externally, the HSE team enabled me to gain a qualification as a trainer. The support of the safety manager at the time, who was always on hand to help the entire team and me, was particularly valuable. This relationship gave me the confidence to become even more precise and confident in my work.
Do you have any tips for young professionals at Leadec who are just starting their career?
Oh yes, definitely! Trust the process, don’t be afraid and don’t try to rush things. Everything comes in its own time. The goals you pursue must be in line with your own life path. What I dream for my future depends not only on me and when I want it, but also on always doing your best. Be ready when the right moment comes. Think big, dream big and be professional—then you'll be ready when the time comes.