I’m Giovana, born and raised in the countryside of São Paulo, in a community that taught me a lot about how the world truly works. My mother worked as a cleaner and in telemarketing throughout my childhood and early adolescence, and today she dedicates her time to caring for my younger sister, who was born when I was 14 and has Down syndrome. My father works in a musical instrument store — and he’s a great musician. I also have an older brother who blessed me with two beautiful nieces.
From a young age, I’ve always needed to work to help at home and achieve my goals. I worked as a babysitter and in telemarketing while preparing for college entrance exams. During college, I had the opportunity to intern for a few months at a travel agency, which gave me valuable learning and experience in the market. Later, I secured an internship in the nonprofit sector, where I found my true passion. I spent two years as an Operations Intern at the Maria Cecília Souto Vidigal Foundation, supporting different areas such as Legal, HR, and the Project Management Office, contributing to internal processes and learning firsthand how the sector and operations work.
Today, I work as an Operations Assistant at LALA, where I continue to deepen my knowledge and strengthen my commitment to social impact. Working to help people and transform society is something that deeply moves me. Since I was young, I have participated in volunteer work — from organizing food drives for organizations that support low-income families to visiting nursing homes, preschools, and charities. I’m currently a volunteer tutor at CASD, the popular preparatory course for ITA (Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica) in São José dos Campos — where I was once a student myself — helping low-income students prepare for college and achieve their dreams, just as I did.
I’m also an alumna of the Aspire Leadership Program, created by professors from Harvard and Insper, which provided me with significant personal and professional growth. During my teenage years, I was part of the Youth Pastoral, where I helped other young people better understand social issues and their role in building a fairer community. That experience was essential in developing my leadership skills and further connecting me with my vocation to serve and positively transform the lives of those around me.
