Ana Teixeira: From the Automotive Industry to Values-Driven Ventures

Ana Teixeira spent nearly two decades building a successful career in the automotive industry, rising into leadership roles in both Brazil and Germany. In 2023, after completing her EMBA, she made a decisive shift, to focus her energies on building something rooted in kindness, equity, and impact.

Her career began with a foundation in industrial engineering and evolved through roles in product development, sales, and marketing. In Brazil, she found meaning in small, human connections, listening to dealership salespeople or mentoring socially vulnerable youth as they take their first steps into the corporate world. One moment stands out: a salesperson told her he hoped to sell enough to afford a new pair of shoes. This was a turning point. She remembers thinking, I have many shoes, and he only has one bad pair. “The first thought was not about my bonus,” she said. “It was: how do I support this person?” That empathy ended up benefiting the business as well. When she started the position, the team was last in market share rankings. When she left, they were number one.

She contrasts her experiences in Brazil, where small actions could transform lives, with Germany, where social programs offer a stronger safety net. One of her most meaningful contributions in Brazil was supporting a Rotary program that provided job training to socially vulnerable youth, helping them build stable, professional futures.

Ana emphasizes the importance of transparency, openness, and respect in leadership, especially when addressing employees’ fears about job security. Her goal is to make people feel safe, supported, and empowered. “If you can give them a clear picture of how they fit into the business,” she said, “I believe that is the best way to move forward.”

She is now applying these lessons to a new chapter. Together with two friends, Ana is prototyping a board game designed to encourage dialogue, empathy, and kind communication. The idea began with the team’s shared values, respect for nature, people, and ethical economics. Instead of optimizing solely for revenue, they aim to design a product that shares profits with artists and promotes a new model of doing business.

Her insights are grounded in experience, but forward-looking. She is experimenting, thoughtfully and with purpose, to build something better.

“I want to be remembered as someone who created social impact.”

Ana Teixeira is a strategist, builder, and leader who integrates empathy into every layer of her work. Her values-driven entrepreneurship is about reshaping how we do business. Keep an eye out for more interviews.