Luiza Trajano facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Luiza Trajano
Trajano in 2013
Born	Luiza Helena Trajano Inácio (1948-10-09) 9 October 1948 (age 76) Franca, São Paulo, Brazil
Alma mater	Faculdade de Direito de Franca (School of Law of Franca)
Occupation	Chair, Magazine Luiza
Spouse(s)	Erasmo Fernandes Rodrigues (died 2009)
Children	3

Luiza Helena Trajano Inácio Rodrigues, born on October 9, 1948, is a very successful Brazilian businesswoman. She is the leader of a big retail company called Magazine Luiza and other related businesses. In 2020, Forbes magazine said she was the richest woman in Brazil. Luiza Trajano also helps important organizations like UNICEF Brazil and UNFPA Brazil. In 2021, TIME magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. She is also a supporter of women's rights.

About Luiza Trajano's Life

Luiza Trajano was born in Franca, a city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. She studied law and graduated in 1972. Her parents owned a store in Franca called Magazine Luiza. Luiza worked in many different parts of the business. She worked in sales, buying, and management. In 1991, she became the company's director-superintendent.

Growing Magazine Luiza

Under Luiza Trajano's leadership, Magazine Luiza grew a lot. It became a chain of over 1,000 stores. These stores are in 18 different states across Brazil. The company now has more than 18 million customers. It also has 27,000 employees. Magazine Luiza also became a publicly traded company. This means its shares can be bought and sold on the stock market.

Her Role in Brazilian Politics

During the 2018 presidential election in Brazil, Luiza Trajano hosted a question-and-answer event. Several candidates attended this event. The candidate who eventually won, Jair Bolsonaro, did not come. He later posted on Twitter asking, "Who's Luiza Trajano anyway?" Reports suggested he was upset about being left out.

Supporting Women's Rights

Luiza Trajano is the leader of a group called Grupo Mulheres do Brasil (Women of Brazil). This organization was started in 2013. It was founded by 40 Brazilian women entrepreneurs. The group works to promote equal rights for everyone. They focus on work, safety, health, and education. More than 48,000 women in 14 countries are part of this group.

Actions Against Domestic Violence

In 2017, a sad event happened that deeply affected Luiza Trajano. A manager at a Magazine Luiza store was harmed by her husband. This made Luiza speak out about domestic violence. She also took action within her company. About half of Magazine Luiza's employees are women.

Luiza Trajano created a special hotline for workers. This hotline helps employees who are experiencing domestic violence. The company offers counseling and legal help. They also look for new job locations for affected employees. The company also alerts the authorities when needed. Magazine Luiza also asked companies they work with to hire at least 2% of women who have experienced abuse. This helps these women become financially independent. This independence can be a big step towards leaving an abusive situation. Luiza Trajano said, "I have asked my friends to report, instead of turning a blind eye." She also added that women have made great progress. However, they still need to fight for things like equal pay. She believes violence is something that cannot be tolerated.

Views on Women in Leadership

Luiza Trajano supports having a set number of women on company boards. These are called quotas. She believes that without quotas, it would take 100 years for boards in Brazil to have 20% or 30% women. She looks up to her aunt, who founded Magazine Luiza, and her late mother for inspiration.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion

In September 2020, Magazine Luiza announced a new trainee program for 2021. This program would only be open to black candidates. Luiza Trajano said this was an important step. It would help make their company more diverse. The program also removed requirements for English skills and past work experience.

Facing Challenges for Equality

This announcement caused some debate. Some people did not agree with it. For example, a government leader said he would complain to the Public Prosecutor's Office. He called it 'racism.' Luiza Trajano responded by saying, "Our colour-blind programs never worked." She knew people might sue them. But she said, "We'll keep on track. We will fight and we won't give up that easily."

In 2019, Luiza Trajano had said that racial inequality is still a very serious issue. She noted there was only one Black female leader of a major Brazilian company. She said their goal was to have more Black women and men in important positions. On September 21, 2020, she said the criticism of the trainee program was expected. But it was "not as aggressive" as she thought. She added, "We did not intend to change Brazil, only our company." She respects different opinions. She also said it is not easy for people to understand systemic racism and sexism. She was happy to "break the taboo."

Awards and Recognition

Luiza Trajano was chosen as the Person of the Year in 2020. This award was given by the Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce.

See also

In Spanish: Luiza Trajano para niños