Our pink world has many other colors...

I met VTEX in early 2018 through social media. At the time, a friend who worked at the company’s headquarters in Rio posted unbelievable Instagram stories: happy hours with pizza and draft beer on Fridays, breakfast at work and an incredible office. However, what caught my attention most were the people. I could see from the photos that VTEX was different from other traditional companies – it welcomed diversity. There, everyone could be who they were. Including my friend, who is a lesbian.

It is staggering that this is a differentiator still today, but the truth is that it sparked my interest in the company. Knowing that I could behave naturally, without hiding who I am or my relationship, was one of the reasons that led me to search for open positions at VTEX. 

In July 2018, I was hired as an International Financial Analyst. I remember feeling comfortable to talk openly about my personal life since the interviews – I had just moved into an apartment with my girlfriend. At VTEX, I have never been treated differently for being gay. For some, it may seem obvious that this is how things should be, but for a person who spent ten years in the closet, this was a completely new and lighter world.

Since then, a lot has happened. I saw Obama on VTEX Day, Rio’s office tripling in size, an investment of USD 140 million led by Softbank and my professional career evolve. Today, I lead an incredible team of 20 people. And it’s only been a few months since I realized the responsibility I have in that position.

I am not referring to my daily duties, but to being a lesbian, female leader in the financial department of a Brazilian multinational company.

I believe that my presence in this space represents hope for other members of the LGBTQIA+ community who do not imagine – as I did not – that they can have such a normal life.

A quick Google search shows numerous studies that prove the benefits of diversity for companies, such as better results in innovation, turnover and even in economic terms.

VTEX’s financial department has 44 employees, 57% of whom are women and 9% members of the LGBTQIA+ community. In a sector traditionally dominated by heterosexual men, we managed to assemble a diverse team in which there is not only representativeness, but also proportionality.
In these two aspects, we reflect the Brazilian society very closely, and I am very proud to be part of that.

VTEX celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and we continue to evolve in terms of diversity and inclusion also in other aspects, such as race and people with disabilities.

If you want to be part of this transformation, come and join our team!

We value people who have the ambition to become reference voices in the ecommerce market, seek to build for the community, and are bold and disruptive.

If you identify with our values, take a look here.

Written by Fernanda Stussi