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Driven by a desire to explore the world, Liliane wanted to study abroad, broaden her horizons, and tap into her creativity. Although she enjoyed her job, numbers and stability weren’t what she was seeking at the time. She decided to explore other paths.

“I already knew I wanted to study abroad, but back then it was financially challenging. On top of that, you had to pass an exam to get into a foreign university and pursue an MBA — something almost nonexistent in Brazil at the time. Even so, I was determined. I was accepted to a university in England — a country I had lived in before and wanted to return to. I went after gaining some years of consulting and auditing experience, not right after graduation,” she recalls.

Filled with optimism during Brazil’s redemocratization and living in post-Margaret Thatcher England, Liliane eventually returned home. While conducting market research for Arthur Andersen, she learned of an opening for a marketing manager position at a Multiplan shopping mall.

That marketing manager role was the starting point of her journey to becoming a CEO. At the time, she was stepping into an industry where she would go on to build a strong and lasting career.

“It was a major turning point. I entered a sector that connects all the dots — a shopping center is like a small city,” she explains.

From manager, Liliane rose to superintendent, solidifying her name and reputation in retail real estate. After major results, company changes, and industry shifts, she began actively participating in M&A deals, which led her to work for a pension fund from the Province of Quebec.

“I transitioned from operations to the development area, which was responsible for creating new shopping centers. This included greenfield projects, renovations, expansions, mixed-use developments, and even furniture design. I learned a lot from the Canadian experience — their planned cities and urban centers are created from structured urban planning. I always say that during those years, I developed an urbanist’s mindset,” she says.

After a stint at brMalls before its merger with Aliansce Sonae, Liliane was invited to join Carrefour Property. By then, she already had 22 years of experience in the shopping center sector and was familiar with the company’s structure.

Easygoing, dressed in comfortable clothes, and often working in sneakers, she initially worried about joining what she thought might be a more rigid and traditional environment.

“The more I said I wasn’t interested, the more they insisted: ‘You’re the person we need.’ Little by little, I started to see the possibilities. Carrefour has been in Brazil for 50 years and has a strong asset-holding profile — so you can imagine the size of our land bank. In the end, I said yes, and I’ve been here for four years now,” she says.

Since then, there hasn’t been a single boring day — only challenges, innovations, and opportunities.

Like many CEOs, Liliane believes it’s impossible to fully separate personal and professional life. Even so, she avoids excessive formality, approaching everything with lightness and passion.

“I believe the great wisdom is to balance things: to do everything with passion, but knowing we always have to deliver our best. We have a huge social responsibility — especially in the role I hold, within a group of 135,000 people. You can imagine the size of that responsibility. That’s why it’s essential to always strive for the best possible outcome,” she says.

Liliane describes herself as a zen person who seeks balance through responsibilities, physical exercise, and meditation.

“Life is wonderful, and we have to enjoy it. At the same time, we have a huge responsibility to this country: to work and give back as much as we can, because many people are in need. We are privileged — and that only increases our duty to contribute,” she concludes.