Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to BRUNA VALENTE. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi BRUNA, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
We are all different. And we are all people. I’m a first generation immigrant woman, and cancer survivor. And in my journey so far, I see more and more that the real growth, the lightbulb moments, the sparks happen when we learn how to connect beyond our differences. I’ve worked in industrial manufacturing and construction where I was the only woman walking the job sites, and have been to oncology hospitals where I was the youngest in the room. I’ve found that I gain so much – wisdom, perspective, appreciation – when I am open to engage and connect with people who are different. It all comes down to trust. Trusting that if I have the privilege of being in a place where no one looks like me, it’s because I am meant to be there. I already belong there, so I embrace it.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I create products to nourish the skin and help people connect with the wilderness within. It all started with a personal wellness journey when I was healing from cancer four years ago, while also pregnant with my second baby boy. This journey led me to explore what it meant to be well, and took me to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil—the place where I grew up. There, I immersed myself in the beauty of the unique ingredients growing there, as well as the people behind them.
Drawing from years of experience in corporate marketing and product development, along with my newfound interest in studying natural skincare formulation, I founded Terrain. Our products are skin nourishment for the face and body – face oils and lotion bars – made in small batches with ingredients sourced directly from the rainforest, which have potent effects in treating the skin. Our packaging is fully recyclable or compostable. Our lotion bars come in naturally golden packaging handcrafted by Brazilian artisans, made from a golden plant that only grows in a specific region of Brazil. Beyond nourishing the skin, it’s our privilege to uplift communities and protect forests.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Resilient Surrender – Personally, it’s about my faith journey of choosing, over and over, to surrender to God’s big plan rather than my own. Over the last few years, this approach has led me to growth beyond what I could have dreamed. Oddly, I feel more confident, empowered, and content than when I was constantly striving.
Curiosity – This has led me to do many very uncomfortable things, like traveling to the Amazon and leaving my corporate career to create space to ‘explore,’ or simply wanting to connect deeper with people and being curious about their stories. Leaning into things that spark my interest, like plant-based skin nourishment, even when it didn’t make sense at the time, has always paid off because it helps me feel more connected and happy.
Whether you are a fellow startup entrepreneur, a seasoned professional, a stay-at-home parent, retired, or at the start of your career, I believe these two things apply to anyone who wants to walk through life with a sense of purpose and belonging.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We just celebrated our first year in business with Terrain. As we expand, I am interested in connecting with like-hearted retailers like boutiques, spas and salons (with physical locations or online) who are looking to carry unique skin nourishment products. If you are with or know ones that you think would be a good fit, we would love to connect through our website or Instagram. We also love collaborating with other brands with things like community appreciation giveaways, gift boxes and corporate gifting. It’s all about building our community and being in the right places where people can feel like they’ve found something special when they experience Terrain.
Contact Info:
- Website: terrainbrazil.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrain.brazil/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brunavalenteterrain/
Image Credits
Belén Fleming – https://www.beluphotography.com
