02/04/2026
From Brazil to the U.S., Fernanda’s mobility journey has been a catalyst for growth. By stepping into a new country, a new role, and new challenges, she expanded her perspective, strengthened her resilience, and deepened her impact at Sika. Her story shows how international mobility can shape careers far beyond borders.
My name is Fernanda, and three years ago, I took an important step in my career by relocating from Brazil to the United States. Today, I am based at the Sika Corporation office in Madison Heights, Michigan, after previously working at Sika Automotive in Osasco, São Paulo. Looking back, this move has been one of the most defining professional experiences of my journey at Sika.From early on in my career, I was motivated by the international nature of our company. What truly encouraged me to pursue a mobility opportunity was seeing how closely connected our regions are and how strongly global collaboration is embedded in the way we work. The possibility to gain international experience while continuing to grow within Sika made this move a natural next step. Mobility allowed me to combine my curiosity for working in a different environment with a clear professional development path.
One of the most impactful aspects of my relocation was transitioning into a new role. While I worked in R&D in Brazil, my move to the U.S. also meant stepping into a hybrid role in technical sales. This change broadened my understanding of the business and gave me valuable exposure to different perspectives, customer needs, and decision-making processes. Experiencing how cultural and regional differences influence the way we collaborate and do business has strengthened my professional skill set and made me a more versatile contributor.Of course, moving abroad always comes with challenges, but Sika’s support and the openness of colleagues made the transition smoother than I had anticipated. Over time, I was able to build strong professional relationships and a reliable network, both personally and at work. These connections have been essential in helping me grow, adapt, and feel fully integrated into my role and the organization.
For colleagues who are considering an international assignment but feel uncertain, my advice is simple: growth rarely happens inside a comfort zone. An international move challenges you professionally, expands your perspective, and accelerates learning in ways that are hard to achieve otherwise. Mobility is not just about changing locations. It is about developing new capabilities, strengthening resilience, and opening doors to long-term career opportunities within Sika.
If I had to describe my mobility experience in just three words, they would be: Growth, Challenge, Resilience.
