If you had to name the most beautiful city in the world, what would you say?

I may be a little biased, but I’d say Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-–which is where I was born and raised. If you’ve never visited, you should. You’ll be amazed by the landscape, the forests, the mountains, and the beautiful beaches.

But this natural beauty isn’t the only beautiful thing about Rio: it’s also a land of opportunity. There, I had some of the best moments in my life, achieved my first professional and personal goals, learned from outstanding leaders and professionals, and had the chance to work for companies of all different sizes and in diverse industries.

Rio is also where I developed foundational skills that still help me to this day, especially those related to planning and implementing administrative and financial controls that drive process efficiency and profitability. And, when I helped co-found an e-commerce business, I even became an entrepreneur while living there!

From the top of the Corcovado Mountain, Marcia takes in the beautiful landscape of Rio de Janeiro.

If you can’t tell, I love my country and my city; but working on this e-commerce business helped me rediscover the love for travel that my family instilled in me from a young age.

Through this business, I started to feel a strong desire to see more of what the world could offer. After visiting many countries, I realized that despite their central similarities, humans can be so different in really interesting and meaningful ways. That realization helped me understand that I wanted to actually live abroad and immerse myself in different cultures, languages, and ways of life.

That’s what led me to Chicago three years ago, and it's what has led me to the South Bend - Elkhart Region this year: as I finished my second degree in the States, I wanted to seek out opportunities that would surround me with individuals from all different places who work toward the same goals—and that’s what I found in enFocus.

Sure, I may be planting my roots in this community for the next couple of years instead of traveling the world—but enFocus is unique because, even on a local level, it exemplifies the spirit I hoped to gain through my travels.

I’m eager to face new challenges while working on diverse projects and alongside such a diverse team—and I can’t wait to play a role in creating an even brighter future for the South Bend - Elkhart Region.