With women making up the vast majority of career services professionals worldwide, their influence on how we define and pursue career success has never been more visible. This Women's Month, we sat down with four remarkable women from top business schools across Europe to hear their perspectives on careers, guidance, and what it truly means to succeed. In our #WomenCareerLeaders series, we hear from Antonieta Silva, Alumni Director at Porto Business School in Portugal.

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What is the best part of your job?

"From the alumni perspective, we see careers as lifelong journeys, not something that ends at graduation. The best part of my job is keeping our alumni engaged and connected with Porto Business School over time. I really value being able to nurture that relationship and create a sense of closeness, so that even years after graduation alumni still feel that Porto Business School is their school — part of their professional and personal journey."

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What is one trait that all career advisors must have?

"I would say it is curiosity. Careers today are no longer linear and people's paths are constantly evolving. So anyone supporting others in their career journey needs to stay curious about people's motivations, their changing ambitions, and the opportunities emerging in the world. Curiosity helps you ask better questions and open new perspectives."

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How are women reshaping the way we think about career guidance and career success today?

"I think women are helping to broaden the definition of career success. Today success is not just about position or status, but it's also about purpose, impact, and the ability to grow through different stages of life — because during our life we think about this differently. So many women leaders bring a more inclusive and collaborative perspective to career development, encouraging people to see careers as journeys rather than fixed paths."

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Describe your impact on a student's career journey in just one word.

Connection.

"Through alumni communities, students and graduates gain access to people, to experience, to opportunities that can shape their careers in ways that probably they would never expect. So the word I would say is connection."

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Thank you to Chhaya Devarkhyani, Antonieta Silva, Maria João Santos, and Anne-Sophie Berthelot for sharing their insights, their stories, and their passion for the work they do every day. #WomenCareerLeaders

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