Vera Buzanello

The Brazil-based Buzanello ensures her team—which includes more than 30 employees based throughout Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Miami—has a spirit of inclusiveness, regardless of their location. “The most important aspect of mentoring is to provide the tools, the freedom and the opportunity so the members of your team feel enabled,” she says.

What’s the most important aspect of mentoring?

The most important aspect of mentoring is to provide the tools, the freedom and the opportunity so the members of your team feel enabled to think and act for themselves; to become self-sufficient. Leadership to me is about providing autonomy and guidance but also empowerment.

What/who inspires you at work? What/who inspires you outside the office?

At work, I’m inspired most by the team spirit that permeates in everyday situations, colleagues coming together as a family to rise to the challenge of our day-to-day responsibilities. Another thing that inspires me is the joy that people feel working for Discovery. It is very humbling to see the happiness and gusto the Discovery employees apply to their day-to-day work. On a personal level, what inspires me the most is my family; they are the ones who help maintain a balance in my life and keep things in perspective.

Best trick for maintaining the personal-professional life balance?

The key to this is to dedicate real quality time to my family. When I am with them, I am really there — no phones, no laptops, I am there with them. For me this is critical. I want to be sure my family knows and more importantly feels my presence in their lives. My job entails a lot of travel and sometimes long hours at the office. So when I am with them I make sure we are spending quality time together. Being with them, focusing on them, allows me to maintain balance in my life.