top of page

🏆 voice of a new era of leaders

MARÍLIA MACHADO DOS SANTOS

Empowering leadership: Marília on resilience and growth

facebook-icon.png
linkedin-icon.png
twitter-icon.png

General Manager Volkswagen SIVA S.A. | PORSCHE HOLDING GmbH Company

SIVA

Portugal 🇵🇹

inspirational leader
Marília Machado dos Santos
Marília Machado dos Santos

ABOUT MARÍLIA

Marília Machado dos Santos exemplifies resilience and adaptability in the automotive industry, thriving amidst rapid advancements in AI and a male-dominated market. With a foundation in mathematics, team management, and a passion for music, she has cultivated a career marked by innovative leadership and emotional intelligence. Beyond her roles as a Product Manager, Marketing Manager, Commercial Director, and General Manager, Marília is driven by challenges and the pursuit of continuous learning and development. Her journey, built from scratch over 20 years, is a testament to her dynamic approach to leadership, blending strategic thinking with empathy and a deep commitment to her teams and projects.

image.png
SUCCESS IS ABOUT ACHIEVING GOALS, KEEPING YOUR PURPOSE, AND ENGAGING PEOPLE.

Marília Machado dos Santos

MARÍLIA IN A NUTSHELL

General Manager Volkswagen SIVA S.A. | PORSCHE HOLDING GmbH Company

SIVA

area of expertise

Sales / Business Development Portugal 🇵🇹

companies Marília has worked for

leadership

MARÍLIA AS A LEADER

Marília defines success as achieving goals, staying true to one’s purpose, and engaging people along the way. For her, being a role model for her team and her son is a key aspect of success. She emphasizes resilience, focus, work ethic, ambition, and passion as the strengths that helped her overcome challenges, especially in a male-dominated industry. Her philosophy includes embracing mistakes as opportunities for growth, fostering innovation, and being true to oneself.

Leadership is not giving orders or being in charge.

Great leaders are inspiring people influencing and guiding others toward achieving a common goal or vision.

The future of leadership is is about inspiring positive change and leaving a lasting impact on those they lead.

When I think of a leader, I think of I think in qualities such as vision, empathy, integrity, and strategic thinking.

Marília Machado dos Santos
image.png
CHOOSE YOUR DREAMS, BUILD A MEANINGFUL PURPOSE, AND WORK HARD ON IT.

Marília Machado dos Santos

MARÍLIA ON OVERCOMING GENDER BIAS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Marília faced significant obstacles at the beginning of her career, primarily due to gender bias in the automotive industry. Three decades ago, gender equity was virtually nonexistent in big industries like the automotive sector. Marília tackled these challenges with resilience, focus, work ethic, ambition, and passion. Her journey is a testament to her determination and the progress that can be made through unwavering commitment to one's goals.

MARÍLIA ON BALANCING WORK AND LIFE

Marília navigates work-life balance by maintaining a well-organized schedule that includes both professional and personal tasks. She emphasizes the importance of total disconnection from work during weekends to spend time with family and friends, engage in activities like visiting new cities, and enjoy simple pleasures like walking in the garden, playing with her son, reading a good book, or practicing the art of doing nothing. This balanced approach helps her maintain focus and drive in her professional life.

Marília Machado dos Santos
Marília Machado dos Santos
Marília Machado dos Santos
image.png
ALL MY JOURNEY WITH SUCCESS AND FAILURE, WITH VICTORIES AND MISTAKES SHAPE ME AS THE LEADER I AM TODAY.

Marília on becoming a better leader

INTERVIEW

EXPLORE OTHER LEADERS

women in leadership

Afaf AlNajjar

Opportunity Manager

One Studio

📍

Palestine 🇵🇸

One Studio
women in leadership

Lisa Asperger-Kanz

Head of HR

Esterhazy Betriebe AG

📍

Austria 🇦🇹

Esterhazy Betriebe AG
women in leadership

Ana-Maria Simion

Senior Expert HSSE

World Fashion Festival Awards

📍

Romania 🇷🇴

World Fashion Festival Awards
bottom of page