No episode 106 from AmplificaCast, Eric Klein receives Fernanda VillalobosCEO of Omron Healthcare, for an inspiring conversation about purpose, ethics, and results. With a career marked by discipline, courage, and sensitivity, Fernanda reveals what it truly means to lead with impact in an industry that directly affects human lives.
The executive shares behind-the-scenes insights into her professional journey, demonstrating that leading with impact isn't just about achieving goals, but about understanding the impact each decision has on people and society. Throughout the episode, she reinforces that, especially in Health area, leading with impact requires a rare balance between reason, emotion and responsibility.
What it means to lead with impact
Early in the conversation, Fernanda uses a powerful analogy: "Being a manager is like having the mind of a judge." She explains that leading with impact means knowing how to make decisions that balance what's good for the company, the shareholders, and, most importantly, the collective.
When you're leading with impact, there's no room for rash or individualistic decisions. "In healthcare, everything is sensitive. One mistake can be very costly, and not just financially. Discernment and awareness are required at every step."
This insight sums up the essence of the episode: a true leader is one who understands that impact is responsibility. Leading with impact means acting purposefully, knowing that every decision leaves a mark, positive or negative.
A trajectory built with purpose
With a degree in Communications from USP, Fernanda began her career in advertising agencies but soon transitioned to corporate marketing. Her first major training ground was Nestlé, where she learned the importance of having an "owner's mindset."
"I received a piece of advice that has stuck with me to this day: work as if the business were your own. This shaped my way of thinking and acting."
This mindset has guided her to the highest leadership positions. Today, at the helm of Omron Healthcare, Fernanda is leading in one of the most demanding and complex sectors in the market.
She emphasizes that consistency between words and actions is what sustains any career. "People don't follow those who talk nicely, but those who walk the talk. That's how you build trust and continue to lead with consistent impact."
The balance between leadership, motherhood and purpose
One of the episode's most memorable moments is when Fernanda talks about being a mother of three while building a successful executive career. "There's no such thing as superwoman, but there is organization, discipline, and purpose."
For her, leading with impact also means being an example, both at home and at work. Fernanda believes that true impact isn't just about your position, but also about how you inspire and support those around you.
"When you're leading, you don't strive for perfection, but for consistency. It's possible to grow professionally and care for your family when you have clear values and a support network."
The power of vulnerability and overcoming
In an emotional excerpt, Fernanda shares the most challenging moment of her life: being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia ten years ago.
"I was fine, working normally, and out of the blue I got the news. It was three years of intense treatment. But it was there that I learned what strength and faith are."
She says the period taught her empathy and resilience, essential values for those leading with impact. "I learned that no one is irreplaceable. The impact you make on people is what truly lasts."
His story shows that leading with impact isn't just about business decisions, but also about how you face life with courage and humanity.
Japanese culture and the value of discipline
Fernanda emphasizes that the experience of leading with impact at a Japanese company provided profound learning. At Omron Healthcare, respect, discipline, and a sense of community are non-negotiable principles.
"In Japanese culture, there's a constant pursuit of excellence, but always with empathy and collaboration. Leading with impact in this context means balancing rigor and humanity."
She emphasizes that a leader's role is to create the right environment for people to flourish. "True leaders don't centralize, they orchestrate. And when we orchestrate well, the positive impact multiplies."
Technology and innovation that transform lives
During the episode, Fernanda also discusses Omron's mission to democratize access to medical technologies. The company pioneered the development of home blood pressure monitors and now leads the market with products such as portable electrocardiograms, oximeters, and smart scales with bioimpedance.
Leading with impact in this scenario means promoting autonomy and self-care, empowering people to understand and monitor their own health.
"The real impact happens when technology and empathy work together. When consumers understand their vital signs, they begin to take care of themselves more consciously."
Practical lessons from those who are leading with impact
Among the most striking lessons of the episode, Fernanda reinforces that three virtues sustain any trajectory: responsibility, discipline and curiosity.
"You don't need to know everything, but you should always want to learn. Curiosity keeps your mind active and your heart open."
She also emphasizes that leading with impact requires courage to face difficult conversations, make unpopular decisions, and still maintain empathy. "Leading is serving. And serving is genuinely caring about people."
Do you want to understand in practice what it means to lead with impact?
O episode 106 from AmplificaCast with Fernanda Villalobos is a lesson in what it means to be leading with impact in an industry that touches lives every day.
Check it out now and discover how ethics, purpose, and innovation can work together to develop more human, conscious, and inspiring leaders.
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