Beatriz Reis: In Conversation
Listening to Portuguese women, all March long
Beatriz Reis believes in speaking up and acting on it.
She is an External Affairs Officer at the World Bank Group, where she supports the program of events for the Annual and Spring Meetings, bringing together central bank governors, finance and development ministers, private sector leaders, civil society representatives, and academics to discuss global economic and development issues. She also contributes to corporate advocacy initiatives and high-level engagements.
With a background in community relations, strategic communications, and event management, Beatriz previously led the World Bank’s corporate volunteer program and played a key role in its corporate social responsibility initiatives. Before joining the World Bank, she worked in content management at Europol and earned a master’s degree in Knowledge Management, specializing in Marketing Intelligence, from NOVA University Lisbon.
In conversation with us, she shares why trusting your instincts and advocating for yourself can shape your path more than you think.
Read her full interview below.
What professional achievement are you most proud of, or a moment where you felt you advanced opportunities for women in your field?
I work in Communications at an international development institution, a field that is, in fact, predominantly women. For that reason, I don't feel I have somehow advanced opportunities for women in my immediate field, but I have made a point of seeking out opportunities beyond my day-to-day role by joining initiatives, networks, or spaces where I could connect with other women and support those who are just starting out in their careers.
I have been a part of clubs that aim to promote women’s equality at the World Bank (my current employer), was selected as my department’s inclusion and belonging champion and, the one that I’m proud of the most, volunteered for two years in the steering committee the Bank’s Youth Summit, the largest annual gathering of youth hosted by the World Bank Group. Throughout the summit, we open the Bank's doors to young women and men who want to one day work in international development, giving them resources, contacts, and experiences that they would otherwise never have. I want to believe that, through it, I have helped give other women the hope of entering their field and helped equip them with some important tools to do so.
What is one piece of advice you would give to women at your career stage?Speak up and Act up! Opportunities rarely come to those who stay quiet, so you need to trust your instincts, believe in your capabilities, and advocate for yourself. I recently got a promotion to a new role at a higher-level team and position. The reason I was even considered as a candidate in the first place was because, months before, I put myself out there — I openly told that team's leader that I wanted to assist them for a while, just to sharpen my skills. And when the time came for a position to open, my interest was already known and I had proven my abilities. It may seem scary at first to make requests or put yourself forward, but age doesn't necessarily prove worth. If you know you can do it — make sure others know it too.
Is there a book, tool, or resource that has helped you and that you're recommend other women explore this month?
I don't think there is a better resource than finding an older, experienced female mentor to help guide you along the way. Being able to trust someone who has walked the same path as you, gone through the same struggles, and can give you advice on how to navigate a world that is inherently harder for women is a beautiful thing. My recommendation is to reach out to someone you have been admiring for a while, someone you probably work with or are close to, and whose career path you envy, and just ask her for 15 minutes of her time once in a while. Sometimes a small conversation can go a long way and give you the advice of a lifetime (on a broader level, if you want to read an actual book that touches upon women and their place in a world largely built for men, I would recommend Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez. It will show you biases you never thought of and make you realize how half of the world's population has been systematically ignored – and how much we still have to do to fight it!).