RENATA SPALLICCI: THE WOMAN WHO TURNS PASSION INTO LEGACY
- Matheus Hooks/ Editor-In-Chief
- 31 minutes ago
- 9 min read
‘BRASIL’ EDITION COVER - JUNE 2026 ISSUE
There are people who build successful careers. Others build legacies. Renata Spallicci belongs to the latter group.
Executive Vice President of Apsen Farmacêutica, best-selling author, entrepreneur, former bodybuilding athlete, and currently Queen of the Drum Section of Império de Casa Verde, Renata represents a new generation of leaders who challenge conventions and prove that it is possible to occupy different spaces without ever losing sight of one's essence.
With more than two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, her journey has been marked by a rare combination of strategic vision, human sensitivity, and the ability to transform challenges into opportunities. As a member of the third generation of the family that founded Apsen, she understood from an early age that inheriting a company meant far more than assuming a position. It meant embracing a responsibility.
It was precisely this vision that guided her professional journey. Over the years, she sought to gain a deep understanding of the business by working across different areas of the company and actively contributing to the development of a sustainable growth model. One of the most remarkable milestones of this journey took place between 2015 and 2020, when the company doubled in size, establishing itself as one of the leading references in Brazil’s pharmaceutical industry.
But for Renata, numbers tell only part of the story.
Her greatest source of pride lies in helping build a strong organizational culture capable of supporting the company’s growth without compromising its values, identity, or essence. In her view, extraordinary results happen when people, purpose, and strategy move forward together.
This vision is directly reflected in her leadership style.
Renata believes that no company achieves outstanding results without the right people. That is why she has made trust, autonomy, and human development fundamental pillars of her management approach. More than building highly capable teams, she strives to create passionate ones — teams that are able to find meaning and purpose in their professional journeys.
The inspiration behind this leadership philosophy is reflected in one of her most well-known books, Success Is the Result of Passionate Teams. In the book, she shares a lesson she has carried with her since her youth: the importance of connecting dreams.
For Renata, people give their very best when they can see that their personal goals can grow alongside the goals of the organization. It is from this connection between individual purpose and collective purpose that teams capable of creating meaningful transformation are born.
But limiting Renata Spallicci to the corporate world would be overlooking the richness of her journey.
Literature occupies an important place in her life. As the author of four books, she found in writing a way to expand her impact and share experiences capable of inspiring others. Her works explore themes such as leadership, management, organizational culture, and human development, always through a practical approach that is deeply connected to human relationships.
Sport also played a fundamental role in shaping her journey. As a former bodybuilding athlete, she learned that discipline, consistency, and resilience are built daily — long before any achievement becomes visible to the public.
More recently, samba has brought a new dimension to her path.
Crowned Queen of the Drum Section of Império de Casa Verde, Renata embraced a challenge that goes far beyond the sparkle of the parade. Her arrival at the samba school represents her participation in a collective project that unites tradition, culture, community, and social transformation.
She believes in the power of Carnival as a tool for inclusion, belonging, and human development. For this reason, she intends to use her role to strengthen initiatives related to health, quality of life, and the creation of opportunities for the community.
Her connection to the samba school has gained even deeper meaning through the theme that celebrates rural culture and pays tribute to Jaguariúna, a city that holds great affection for Renata and where she experienced meaningful moments in her personal journey.
All of this plurality makes her a singular figure in the Brazilian landscape.
Executive, writer, athlete, entrepreneur, and samba dancer — instead of choosing just one path, Renata decided to occupy all the spaces that resonate with her essence.
This mindset is also reflected in her advocacy for female leadership.
Although she recognizes the progress women have achieved over the past decades, she believes there are still important barriers to overcome. For Renata, the future of female leadership depends on building environments where women can fully express their potential in an authentic way, without having to adapt to models that do not reflect who they truly are.
More than opening doors for herself, she believes in the responsibility of creating pathways for other women. Because, in her view, when a woman grows alone, it is an achievement. When she helps other women grow, it becomes transformation.
Looking at everything she has built so far, Renata does not measure her journey by the positions she has held, the books she has published, or the titles she has earned.
Her greatest goal is to leave a positive impact on people’s lives.
To inspire talent. Develop leaders. Create opportunities. Connect dreams.
Perhaps this is precisely why her story goes beyond the boundaries of the corporate world and becomes something greater.
A story about purpose.
A story about impact.
A story about legacy.
Read the full interview with Renata below:
You have built a remarkable career in the pharmaceutical industry. What was the most important decision that led you to the leadership position you hold today?
The most important decision was understanding, very early on, the responsibility that came with the privilege of being part of the third generation of a family-owned company.
From a young age, I understood that my role was not simply to continue the business founded by my family, but to help ensure its sustainability and longevity for future generations.
Because of this, I built my path by deeply learning the business, working across different areas, and working side by side with my father, Renato Spallicci, who has always been a major reference for me as a leader and entrepreneur.
One of the most remarkable moments of my career was the growth cycle we led between 2015 and 2020, when Apsen doubled in size. But what I am most proud of is not the growth itself. It is the fact that we were able to grow while preserving what brought us here in the first place.
During that period, we placed enormous focus on strengthening our corporate culture, evolving governance, and preparing the company for future challenges. My focus has always been ensuring that culture keeps pace with the speed of growth.
Today, we are living a new cycle and a new challenge: preparing Apsen to double in size once again. And I continue to believe that sustainable growth happens when we are able to balance results, people, culture, and long-term vision.
More than occupying a leadership position, I see my mission as helping build the future of a company that, after 57 years of history, continues to dream big without losing its essence.
In an increasingly competitive market, what are the pillars that support your approach to leading people and teams?
I believe everything starts with people.
Throughout my journey, I have learned that a company may have a brilliant strategy, well-structured processes, and ambitious goals, but none of it happens without the right people.
That is why one of the pillars of my leadership is surrounding myself with professionals who share values, purpose, and a genuine desire to build something meaningful. Competence is essential, but attitude, character, and cultural alignment make all the difference in the long run.
The second pillar is trust. I believe in giving autonomy, developing talent, and creating an environment where people feel safe to contribute, innovate, learn, and grow.
But there is a third pillar that is perhaps the most special to me: passion.
In my second book, Success Is the Result of Passionate Teams, I share a lesson I learned very early from my father, Renato Spallicci, which became one of the foundations of my leadership style: connecting dreams.
People do not give their best only for a goal or financial result. They give their best when they see meaning in what they do.
That is why I have always sought to connect Apsen’s dream with the individual dreams of each employee. When a person realizes they can grow, develop, and achieve their own goals while contributing to something bigger, engagement stops being an obligation and becomes a choice.
It is from this combination of the right people, trust, and passion that teams capable of building extraordinary results are born.
Beyond the corporate world, you also stand out in literature, sports, and samba. How do these different experiences contribute to your vision of success?
Each of these experiences has taught me a different dimension of life.
Sport taught me discipline, consistency, and resilience. I learned that extraordinary results are built through the small choices we make every day.
Literature taught me the power of influence and storytelling. Writing is a way of sharing lessons, provoking reflection, and expanding impact. My books were born from the desire to transform lived experiences into knowledge that can help others in their own journeys.
And samba taught me something very valuable: no one builds anything great alone. Carnival is one of the greatest expressions of collective work that exists. It teaches us about belonging, respect, passion, and community building.
Today, my definition of success is very different from the one I had at the beginning of my career. Success is not only what we achieve for ourselves. It is how many people we can inspire, develop, and bring along with us on the journey.
As Queen of the Drum Section of Império de Casa Verde, what inspires you most about Carnival culture and energy?
What inspires me most at this moment is that my arrival at Império de Casa Verde represents much more than a title or a crown.
I am joining a project. A Carnival project built by many hands, bringing together people who are already part of the school’s history with professionals who are arriving now to contribute new ideas, new experiences, and new perspectives.
There is something very beautiful about being able to balance tradition and renewal — preserving the culture, values, and identity of the school while, at the same time, building new paths together. And that is exactly what we are doing.
Of course, my role as Queen of the Drum Section is to stand alongside our bateria, support Mestre Zoinho, his board, and the drummers, representing this passionate community with great respect and dedication. But what inspires me the most is the opportunity to contribute in an even broader way.
I have always believed that Carnival has enormous potential for social transformation. That is why I want to stay close to the community, supporting initiatives related to health, quality of life, human development, and opportunity creation. This is work that deeply resonates with me and aligns with both my professional and personal journey.
I was welcomed with extraordinary warmth by the Império community, experienced an emotional coronation, and I am truly in love with this new chapter.
And I must confess that this year’s theme also touched me in a very special way. Speaking about rural culture, valuing our roots and traditions, and honoring Jaguariúna — a city I deeply cherish and where I experienced very meaningful moments connected to the country music universe — made this connection even stronger.
For all these reasons, I see my arrival at Império not just as a Carnival moment, but as the opportunity to be part of something much greater — a project built with passion, purpose, and a collective dream of taking the school even further.
Do you believe women still face specific challenges in reaching leadership positions? What has changed, and what still needs to evolve?
We have undoubtedly made great progress. Today we see more women occupying prominent positions, leading companies, businesses, and important social movements.
But there are still significant challenges. Many women continue to face different standards, harsher judgment, and the constant need to prove their competence.
I believe the next major evolution will not only be about increasing the number of women in leadership positions, but about creating environments where they can lead authentically, without having to fit into models that do not represent who they are.
Diversity is not just a social agenda. It is a competitive advantage. More diverse companies make better decisions, innovate more, and generate greater value for society.
I also believe that those of us who reach leadership positions have the responsibility to open doors, create opportunities, and support other women in their journeys. When a woman grows alone, it is an achievement. When she brings other women along, it becomes transformation.
Looking at everything you have already achieved, what legacy do you want to build through your personal and professional journey?
If there is one thing I would like to remain after me, it is the ability to inspire people to believe in their own potential.
I want to be remembered not for the positions I held, the books I wrote, or the titles I earned, but for the lives I helped transform.
I deeply believe that true success is not about what we accumulate. It is about the impact we leave behind.
If I can help more people find their purpose, develop their talents, and build a meaningful life, then I will have fulfilled my mission.
Because, in the end, legacy is not what we build for ourselves. It is what we leave in people, the opportunities we create, and the dreams we help bring to life.
This is the idea that has guided my life for many years and that continues to be summed up in the phrase I carry with me:
Seek your purpose. Leave your legacy.
