Vânia Bezerra, director of Social Commitment at the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital in São Paulo, carries a trajectory that defies the odds. With a degree in Public Relations, she is not what is usually considered a "standard student" at FGV. From humble origins, the daughter of a maid and a mechanic, Vânia broke the cycle of poverty in her family through education. His story is a living example of how knowledge can transform lives.

"I usually say that education is the greatest act of rebellion against any system," says Vânia. And this rebellion led her to be the first in her family to attend university and, later, to achieve a master's degree. In her career, which began as a receptionist at the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital itself, she held several positions until she took over the directorship. However, it was during this journey that he felt the need to seek consistency in his training. "I was already in a high position, but I wanted this consistency," he explains.

Career decision

The choice for FGV EAESP was motivated by the prestige of the institution and the renown of the professors. In the course, she had contact with great names in the area of public health, such as Ana Maria Malik and Gonzalo Vecina Neto, in addition to many others. The decision to attend the Professional Master's Degree in Management for Competitiveness, in the line of Health Management, came not only because of the quality of the faculty, but also because of the practical character and adapted to their routine of commitments. The pandemic brought an additional challenge: completing the course while working in a hospital in the midst of a global health crisis.

"I took a health course during a health crisis," reflects Vânia. What could have been an insurmountable obstacle turned into an opportunity to apply, in real time, the knowledge acquired. "I used the knowledge of the classroom in what I was developing at work," she says. The practical experience became the theme of her master's degree, which focused on governance and leadership, crucial areas for her during the fight against the pandemic.

Applied research

One of the most remarkable moments of her academic journey was when, in the middle of the course, she applied a survey on burnout and mental health, knowledge acquired in the classroom, directly with the employees of her team at the hospital. The survey not only brought valuable inputs to the management of the team during the crisis, but also allowed the implementation of support initiatives, such as meetings to decompress the stress of the pandemic. This type of practice is an example of how the master's degree at FGV EAESP combines theory and practice, offering students tools applicable in everyday life.

"I shared with my classmates the palliative care guide that Sírio-Libanês was developing with the Ministry of Health," says Vânia, highlighting how the learning in the master's degree was continuously transferred among colleagues who worked in related areas. In addition, the course awakened in her a new look at governance: "The leader is only alone when there is no strong and structured governance". For Vânia, understanding the methodological rigor of a research and acquiring a critical vocabulary were transformative for her development as a manager.

Despite the challenges of distance learning, Vânia points out that the pandemic context allowed her to study, alongside other health professionals, essential topics, such as leadership in times of crisis. "I was in the act of crisis," he recalls. At the same time, the exchange of experiences with colleagues from different sectors broadened his understanding of how the pandemic impacted various categories of workers. In the Professional Master's Degree in Management for Competitiveness, students participate in Common Core classes, which bring together all eight lines of research in the program, as well as specific disciplines for each area of study. This structure promotes a rich exchange of knowledge between different sectors, expanding the strategic vision of students, while specific classes ensure a more in-depth technical training, preparing them in a solid and specialized way to face the challenges of the market.

A successful trajectory

Education, for Vânia, goes beyond the classroom. It is a means of breaking down barriers and conquering historically inaccessible spaces. Today, she is the only person in many environments to carry with her a trajectory of the periphery, but that does not prevent her from dreaming bigger. His next step? The Professional Doctorate at FGV. "If a girl like me, who came from the periphery, can get a doctorate, so can other girls," she says, hopeful that her example will inspire other women to follow the same path.

Vânia Bezerra's story is not only about professional success, but about resilience, overcoming and the belief in the transformative power of education. FGV EAESP, with its Professional Master's Degree in Management for Competitiveness, played a key role in this journey, proving that applied knowledge is the key to success in times of crisis. For Vânia, each new step is a personal victory, but also a collective victory for all women and girls who, like her, dream of breaking cycles and occupying leadership spaces.

To learn more about the program, click here.