Ana Oliveira’s Post

Putting yourself out there is scary, but it’s the only way to grow. It still surprises me when people come to me for advice. I have 10+ years’ comms experience, but sometimes I still feel like the young girl who was about to start her first Brussels internship. Confidence is a set of muscles that all of us - myself included - need to flex. Rodica Avornic, Eloisa Viloria, and all the good folks at Carbon Gap: I hope I helped you flex your LinkedIn thought leadership confidence muscle today. You certainly gave a good workout to my public speaking confidence one :) (And thanks for loving all my pop culture GIFs)

If your work is directly or partially related to waste, agriculture, or energy, be sure to attend the Conference on Methane on 17 October! It's a hybrid event, so you can even participate from the comfort of your own home.

Life happens, but if you have already registered, you won't need to do it again. We hope to see you on 3 December :)

Calling all the web/digital designers in my network - this one is for you! 😉

"So what were you doing today at lunchtime, Ana?" 👇

Find a workplace that trusts you and lets you thrive on your terms. I've followed many LinkedIn discussions this week on Amazon's (disastrous) decision to return to a 5-days-in-the-office policy. My one takeaway? I'm so lucky to work in a trusting and wellbeing-minded organisation. At Zero Waste Europe, we do incredibly serious work—nothing less than fighting for the future of people and the planet. And despite the seriousness and urgency of our work, we're seen as human beings. We have different needs, contexts, working rhythms, and a life outside work that sometimes affects office hours. ↳ We believe in balance, trust, mutual respect, and real connections. ↳ We all still have moments when we say, "This needs to happen in person". ↳ We know that some work is better done in the quietness of your own home. ↳ We all need flexibility to meet our family needs (whether we have 3 kids or are child-free). ↳ We have people who are at their best in the early morning while others shine in the evening. ↳ We don't need to see our colleagues sitting in front of us 24/7 to know they're doing their work (and doing it well). Because of all this, we're often our best selves when we're together for longer periods—like on our Team Retreat (reel below)! Real connection and trust are impact's best friends. Nurture them by trusting your team.

One more time and louder for those at the back!

🎧 [PODCAST SUGGESTION] - What crossroads have you faced in your journey? Let's be honest: we all have them, whether we're fresh out of university or have 20+ years of experience in our field. My friend Bogdan Pavel invited me to talk about a crossroads moment in my life. I chose one right at the beginning of my time in Brussels. It's likely familiar to many of you: pursuing your dream field versus settling for the one that pays the bills but you don't enjoy it. Besides that core moment, we also chatted about: - Why we need to normalise failure. - How I came to work for Zero Waste Europe. - Why we must get rid of the stigma of therapy. - My professional inspirations and role models (shout out if you hear your name or that of someone you know). - Why Communications people in Brussels (and everywhere) must own their passion and expertise. Communications folks: this one is for you 💚 For any other folks, this one is also for you because podcasts are fun (and why not?). Thanks again, Bogdan, for the lovely chat - and kudos for the beautiful podcast series you have been building 😁 🎧 Give it a listen below 👇

Dear LinkedIn circle, I'm back from my holidays down under! Feel free to hit me with your best insights 😄