Each month we feature inspirational women who've made it to the other side of career change. Learn how they did it and take away usable tips from their professional journeys!
Meet Maria Brito, entrepreneur, CEO and author of two books. Maria understands career reinvention. She left her corporate law career for the fine arts industry, developing more than one hundred private and corporate art collections and curating contemporary art shows nationally and internationally. Read on to learn How She Did It!
What's your personal mantra, mission, or manifesto? If you want to rule the world, use your creativity to do so.
What inspired you to launch your current career/launch your business? Being a miserable corporate attorney and running away in the opposite direction doing something that was so meaningful to me and where I get to be creative every day.
What is unique about pivoting in midlife? Challenges & opportunities? I was 33 when I opened my company and I had already been practicing law for 9 years, so I had a solid level of experience even if the experience wasn't in the art world.
But it is definitely a plus to have had so many years of training that allowed me to be detail-oriented and careful with my contracts (and my words and promises).
The challenge is that I had to learn how to be the CEO while at the same time learning the ins and outs of a completely different industry.
What’s one intention you have for your work this year?
I want my book to lead the way and provide people with a blueprint on how to come up with ideas of value that are relevant for today and that generate money. I want to be able to encourage people to make shifts and leave miserable jobs behind. Without creativity, there is no progress.
What are you most passionate about right now? See above!
What does a typical day look like for you? Nothing is ever too typical but I do maintain a strict morning routine of super early workouts, meditation, prayer. That gives me structure. The rest of the day can be gallery-hopping with clients, visiting artists' studios, writing, consulting for clients...
What’s the one thing that has advanced your career in the last year? The power of community and connections.
Who’s your “tribe” when it comes to professional inspiration or support? My family.
Favorite book, app or podcast? The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
You’re granted an extra hour in the day, how do you spend it? Sleeping, hands down.
The advice I wish I had given to my 20-year-old self is… To be kinder to myself.
The advice that I want to give to my 75-year-old self is... Always look forward, then the best is yet to come!
Your theme song that played every time you walked in a room would be? New York by Sinatra
Best career advice for other women? Do what your heart desires. Go after that.
When did you feel you got “you” back? When I quit the job at the law firm.
What’s up next? Launching my book is quite an undertaking, it really is. I'm excited for people to have it!