In this edition of MeetTheSpeaker, we meet Alba Oliveira, Head of Business Support & Services Management, with an international career in the Oil & Gas sector.
At WXI Summit 2025, she took us beyond gender stereotypes in leadership, showing how authenticity and vision can redefine the rules of the game.
Your career path spans law, compliance and internal controls, business development and international negotiations. How have these diverse experiences shaped your leadership style?
My career path allowed me to gain a foundational understanding of the need for a new paradigm of leadership, as these professional areas forced the integration of two seemingly separate realms: the Strategic Rigor required for the Law, Compliance, and Internal Controls role, where precision, strategy, risk management, and assertive decision-making are the key drivers; and the Human Connection required in Business Development and Negotiations as such areas demand high emotional intelligence, active listening, and the ability to build trust and consensus through collaboration.
My leadership style is the direct result of this synthesis. I learned that leading effectively beyond gender stereotypes means recognizing that these are not contradictory skills, but complementary strengths. The manager who is both strategically decisive and deeply empathetic is the leader best equipped to navigate complex global challenges.
One of the main challenges women faces is being perceived as “too soft” or “too aggressive.” How can leaders break free from these labels?
The pervasive double-bind bias is the systemic paradox that my entire talk seeks to address. Calibrating your behavior to satisfy an outdated stereotype is unsustainable. Thus, the solution is to embrace the courage to lead with our whole self and refuse to be defined by such restrictive boxes. Breaking free requires us to root our actions in clear, consistent purpose and integrity, allowing our assertiveness to be seen as conviction and our empathy as a strength, not a weakness. But above all, we must view the double-bind not as a limitation, but as an opportunity, as the pressure it creates forces us to become highly resilient and innovative, ultimately forging a new, more effective way of leading that proves the old stereotypes wrong.
What does “authentic leadership” mean to you, and how do you practice it in your day-to-day role?
To me authentic leadership means having the courage to lead with my whole, complete self, not the version of myself expected or assumed by others that conforms to the historical “Think Manager, Think Male” stereotype. And for me, this translates into consciously and intentionally embracing my “feminine presence”, recognizing that qualities like empathy, collaboration, and a holistic perspective of life and business are strategic advantages, not weaknesses to be masked or hidden.
I practice this daily by ensuring my team see me seamlessly integrate strategic decisiveness with deep collaboration, e.g. if I make a “hard” decision, it’s informed by “soft” input and transparent communication. Also, I strive to be a transformational leader who motivates my team and others that I work with through empowerment, shared vision, and active listening. I consciously and intentionally work to validate and encourage the diverse voices, advocating daily that success comes from authenticity.
Looking ahead, what advice would you give to young women aiming to lead in male-dominated industries?
My advice is centered on agency, courage, and collective support.
Always be your best and most complete version of yourself. Recognize that your greatest strength lies in embracing a full spectrum of human qualities – your empathy and your assertiveness must coexist. Refuse to choose. This courage to be complete is what challenges the old paradigm.
Actively cultivate your “self-as-leader” identity from day one; do not wait for permission or a title. Lead where you are, with what you have. Furthermore, don’t see the double-bind as a limitation, but as an opportunity for immense growth and resilience. By leading as your complete, authentic self, you are not just surviving the system; you are actively rewriting the playbook for every person who follows.
Don’t be afraid to actively support and encourage other women and people with diverse voices. Raise your voice in their defense when needed, even when it is uncomfortable. Our collective support is an act of self-strengthening, turning individual ambition into shared, resilient power.
If you want to discover more about the new paradigm of leadership, join the WXI community to rewatch this speech and all the talks from WXI Summit 2025!
