The Stock Exchange was Alexandra Brandão's beach. But she established herself as a leader in talent

If someone had told her in 2000 that she would become Global Director of Human Resources for the Santander Group, "she would have thought it was completely impossible". "I was finishing my degree, I was 21 years old and I dreamed of working in financial markets, with shares, capital, derivatives... an atypical profile. But it would never have crossed my mind to work in the Human Resources area." Alexandra Brandão, who has a degree in management from Universidade Nova SBE and an International MBA from Deusto Business School (Spain) and Adolfo Ibáñez Business School (Chile), admits, however, that she fell in love with this area during the "journey". And so often it is like that, the path that imposes itself and makes a future happen that is achieved through an ambition greater than ourselves.

In a conversation led by the Young Advisor of the Portuguese Diaspora Council , Maria Cristiana Monteiro, Product Director at UBS, in Switzerland, the now member of the Board of the Portuguese Diaspora Council and the Alfredo da Costa Foundation talks about the lessons she has learned throughout her 25-year international career and the decisions that have shaped her trajectory. But she also reflects on the role of curiosity and courage in building a career outside the traditional mold and the importance of continuous learning, diversity of experiences and the need to create space in companies for conversations about individual development and ambitions.

With a close look at female leadership and the silent obstacles that still persist, Alexandra Brandão personalizes yet another success story of Portuguese people around the world, which you can listen to on the Luso Lab podcast , from the Diaspora Council, and which is now available on the usual channels, with other topics covered, such as the influence of Artificial Intelligence in today's world, its challenges and opportunities.

Back in Portugal and with an informed and very personal perspective on the immense value of Portuguese talent beyond borders, the executive explains why she believes that "AI can function as a superpower" for us, people, and challenges young people about the relevance of working in large organizations, which act as "innovation hubs ".

The episode is available on the Portuguese Diaspora Council's YouTube , Spotify and Apple Podcasts .