The inspiring story of Marcia Moraes, Human Resources Manager, Verallia Brazil
Marcia’s story with Verallia began before she was born. Born in the company’s Workers’ Village in São Paulo – Brazil, where her father worked as industrial manager, she grew up experiencing company festive celebrations, Christmas gifts from Santa Claus, and witnessing her father’s unwavering dedication up close. The company was more than a workplace – it was truly part of her family’s everyday life. And being part of a company that shapes glass for thousands of customers worldwide made that family feel even more meaningful. When she started university in 1987, looking for opportunities, would she follow her father’s footsteps or forge her own path?
The turning point came when an internship opportunity arose at Verallia. Motivated by her father’s inspiring example and driven by challenges, Marcia discovered her true calling. She realized she could contribute to something greater – reimagining glass, this unique and sustainable material, to shape a better future. Starting in the payroll sector where activities were mostly manual, she embraced every new technology and modernization project with genuine passion, participating in countless implementations.
Marcia faced every challenge with remarkable courage and adaptability. From supervisor to Business Partner in a manufacturing unit with 700 people, she found her deepest passion: being close to people and helping them fully develop in the glass métier. She experienced memorable moments – line implementations, furnace closings, site modernizations. In 2016, came her most demanding test: participating in the emotional Água Branca unit phase-out while simultaneously establishing a new unit in rural Minas Gerais. She worked tirelessly to gain local community trust and led two world-benchmark furnace deployments despite significant difficulties.
Over 38 years, Marcia transformed from the young girl born in the Workers’ Village to a respected strategic leader shaping Verallia’s evolution. When she thought the big changes were behind, life surprised her again in 2023: the extraordinary opportunity to structure the Glass Academy for Latin America. Returning to São Paulo, she worked intensely with the most experienced professionals to create this meaningful legacy project for future generations, to ensure the next generation continues to innovate in how glass is produced, reused and recycled. Today, Marcia embodies Verallia’s belief that meaningful work and human connection can drive innovation and sustainability. Her journey proves that when you lead with heart and believe in people’s transformative power, you don’t just build careers – you build sustainable futures and reimagine glass itself.