Female Leadership: Balancing Purpose, Family, and Career

No episode 106 from AmplificaCast, Eric Klein receives Fernanda VillalobosCEO of Omron Healthcare, for an inspiring conversation about the power of female leadership.

The executive shares her career spanning over 25 years in the market, demonstrating how discipline, purpose, and empathy form the foundation of a solid career, even when faced with the challenges of being a woman, mother, and leader in a sector as demanding as healthcare.

Fernanda represents a generation of women who are leading with purpose, without sacrificing their authenticity and the values ​​that make them unique. Her story reveals what it truly means to exercise female leadership with impact and balance.

Building a Purposeful Leader

From the beginning of the conversation, Fernanda made it clear that her career has been guided by solid values. With a degree in Communications from USP, she began her career in advertising but soon realized that her true path lay in corporate marketing.

At Nestlé, he had the opportunity to learn about strategy, execution and, most importantly, a sense of ownership, a lesson he still carries with him today.

"I received a piece of advice that I've never forgotten: work as if the business were your own. That mindset has shaped my entire career."

For Fernanda, female leadership isn't about competing for space, but about transforming the workplace. She believes women bring a sensitivity that complements rationality, combining the analytical with the human side, a combination that makes leadership more balanced, empathetic, and effective.

The balance between motherhood and leadership

One of the episode's most striking moments is Fernanda's account of how she built her career while raising a family. A mother of three, she shares the challenges of balancing motherhood and leadership, and emphasizes that, despite the difficulties, it's possible.

“I don’t believe in superwoman, I believe in organization, discipline and a support network,” she says.

For Fernanda, female leadership isn't about trying to do everything alone, but about recognizing that asking for help is part of the process. She emphasizes that her husband's support, always present and involved in raising their children, was crucial for her professional growth while remaining present in her family life.

This balance, according to her, was essential for her to build a solid career path, maintaining harmony between career and motherhood.

Overcoming and resilience as hallmarks of female leadership

Fernanda's journey is also marked by an episode of overcoming adversity that redefines the concept of strength. At 36, she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and had to interrupt her career to focus on treatment.

Fernanda recalls that the three-year treatment period was challenging, but also deeply transformative, as it taught her what really matters in life: health, time, and love, which for her are truly precious assets.

This experience completely changed her worldview and leadership, making her understand that no one is irreplaceable. Companies continue, but the true legacy lies in the people we are able to impact along the way.

Fernanda's story reflects the true meaning of female leadership: the ability to reinvent oneself, to transform pain into purpose, and to move forward with courage.

The role of empathy in leadership

Throughout the episode, Fernanda reinforces that the success of female leadership is not in imposing oneself, but in creating genuine connections.

"Leadership is about people. It's about understanding what others need, listening carefully, and making decisions that make sense for the collective."

She shares that, over the years, she has developed the habit of having monthly conversations with the entire company, something that strengthens the sense of belonging and trust. 

For Fernanda, empathy is one of the greatest feminine strengths. According to her, it's not a weakness; it's strategic sensitivity. It's what allows us to see beyond the obvious.

Female leadership in corporate culture

Working in companies with diverse cultures has given Fernanda a broad perspective on management. She emphasizes that, in all these experiences, the human element is what truly makes the difference.

In Japanese culture, there's a constant pursuit of excellence, always guided by respect and balance. Working at a company with these values ​​made her realize that female leadership can flourish in any environment, as long as discipline and authenticity are present.

She also believes that organizations that value diversity of thought, gender, and generations are naturally more innovative and sustainable, as diverse teams tend to create more creative solutions, driven by respect and mutual admiration.

New generations and the legacy of female leadership

When talking about her children and young professionals, Fernanda shows enthusiasm and optimism.

"I love being around younger people. They have energy, curiosity, and courage. And we, with more experience, can help channel all of that into growth."

She believes that the future of female leadership lies in the ability to inspire and develop new leaders, paving the way, providing visibility, and sharing learnings. This will ensure that we have more and more women in strategic positions.

Do you want to understand in practice the power of female leadership?

O episode 106 from AmplificaCast with Fernanda Villalobos It is a true lesson in purpose, resilience and strategic sensitivity.

Watch now and discover how female leadership can transform companies, balance results, and inspire new generations to achieve success with authenticity and purpose.