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Wilma Ramony de Souza has worked for Jpmorgan offices for 14 years in Brazil, New York and London.
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She was the 30 -year -old executive director and withdrawn for burnout, but not only blames the bank.
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De Souza and her mentor have found out how to improve her husband’s dominant space.
This essay is based on a conversation with 37 -year -old Wilma Ramony de Souza. Business Insider confirmed its employment and roles in JPMorgan. Next, it was edited due to length and clarity. Jpmorgan refused to comment.
Growing up in Maceió, the city of Brazil, I never imagined I would work in one of the world’s most powerful banks. However, after four years, a colleague invited me to join his Jpmorgan at the Brazilian Financial and Capital Markets Association, and I became an analyst at the SMO Paulo branch at the age of 24.
It felt like a dream, and part of me was interested in how I got there, especially since I couldn’t get an internship many years ago. About a year after I joined the bank, my attention was attracted by the woman of a strong presence, colorful style and Spanish accent. I felt this wonderful energy with it, and she eventually included me in my team by doing my first rent. Over the next 12 years, she became my mentor and direct manager, and the unifying forces were one of the most important parts of my career.
People called us the Cowgirls -Du foreigners at the American bank, trying to start a business in the Latin American market.
A photo of De Souza badge from 2012, one year after she joined Jpmorgan.Wilma Ramony de Souza
I worked in male culture
Jpmorgan helped me create my own corporate personality with training, from American business culture to executive to language support to technical skills. Sometimes learning was huge, but I came up with how to apply American technique to Brazilian culture.
My boss and I were deviations, giving a different taste and type of customer relationships to business. We received a lot of support but also a lot of resistance. The first 15 minutes of each conversation were very important because I had to really prove myself.
I was in the middle of the twenties, in a blonde and not even 5’2, so some of the guys of the Trade Service questioned why I was improving. At one point I had a laser eye surgery, but for a while I was wearing glasses to look a little older.
The trips were exciting but it took time
In Brazil, our team worked in investors’ services, so I interacted with many companies and funds – guys would usually choose to go to steak dinners, club and golf games with clients, and I learned to associate with these topics to stay involved. In the early years, the trips were exciting because I went from traveling in Brazil to global trips.
At the time, I usually had a schedule of nine to seven (except at night when I was working until 1 o’clock in the morning), but the trip started to take the toll. My six -year relationship ended because I rarely saw my boyfriend; I missed birthdays and Mother’s Day; I never wanted to go on trips.
The payment was great, but I didn’t have time for hobbies or gym, so on weekends I overdoed sports. Then I would spend money on a spa trying to relax or compensate for acupuncture.
De Souza in the glasses she sometimes wore to look older at the Sao Paulo office.Wilma Ramony de Souza
Success in New York caused addiction
The achievements were like drugs: the more I conquered, the more I wanted.
My boss and I secured big customers, and I didn’t object to fixing things for 1 hour before we opened the bills. All I saw was more opportunities.
On the other hand, the more successful we became, the more attention we received, and some questioned whether we were asking if we were doing too much. Recognition was amazing, but it didn’t leave room for mistakes either.
When 2019 I moved to New York as a vice president, from my comfort zone I moved into the storm’s eye and had to prove myself further as a foreigner. Soon the pandemia struck and I moved to Miami. By the time we returned to the office, I flew from Florida to New York until finally the company said I had to go back to New York full -time or search for something else.
At that time, I started looking for work on the private side of banking and decided to move to London with my significant other. I felt that I betrayed my boss when I told her I was leaving the team, but I didn’t want one day or the life of the CEO I would not like to.
Burning me caught up in London
Before I arrived in London, I felt burning signs: 2022. December I had a mild panic attack in the office, managing the main agreement. Also, my relationship fought and my mother thought I would never come back to the other Christmas.
After this panic attack, I realized that I was starting to lose my health and myself. The bank would always give me more, but my job was to know how much was enough. However, it was difficult to be in a place where the request could be considered a sign of failure.
So I moved to London in 2023, and it was a huge cultural shock. People and weather were cold and society was more closed. It was harder for me to make friends and the job began to feel meaningless. My spark has fallen, I feel nausea at my desk, and depression turned.
I spent a year in therapy, realizing that I no longer work in banking, and for two months, I am collecting courage to resign. There was no planned date, but I just walked in one day and told my boss that I needed to leave. Not only do I blame the leadership or structure in London. I take full responsibility for my part, having so much luggage.
I will rediscover myself
After 2024 November Went for good, I didn’t know what to do with myself. There was no other job, no replacement dream. I spent six months traveling, finding out who I am and what I liked. I was as accustomed to introducing myself as Wilma, who works at Jpmorgan. I didn’t know what Wilma was different.
However, about my 14 years in the bank, I would not change any thing. Obviously, I had my own battles, stress, lost relationships, but the company taught me what it means to challenge myself every day and eventually be great. Now I am mostly living in Miami, I am as CEO and start the consulting company for founders and small businesses – I even delight them to Jpmorgan.
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