February 2018 FORUM

MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
February 2018
In 1982, I founded the Great Start Super
Secretary Club, where we reached as many
as seventy members, most of whom work for
CEOs of multinational companies. One of the
projects of this Club was Social Welfare, since
I encouraged the members to speak to their
respective companies regarding donations
which we could then take to orphanages,
homes for the elderly, and even favelas. Kibon,
Anderson Clayton, Henkel, Sanbra, Cargill and
others were generous in their donations for our
project. The movement grew, and very soon
we were joined by the American Society and
International Newcomers, and we all ended up
helping an orphanage known as Carinho de Pai.
Al Shattuck and Eric Street represented AmSoc
and also received donations which were taken
to the orphanage.
As Victor and I visited the Carinho de Pai home
at least twice a week, we ended up becoming
parents once again, at the age of sixty and fortyfive
respectively. Unfortunately, Vic passed away
in 1995, but I decided to carry on with my work
helping companies and secretaries (now known
as administrative professionals) not only with
recruitment but also with workshops, coaching,
outplacement, etc. For more information, I have
two websites: www.greatstartinbrazil.com and
www.greatstart.com.br.
I was brought up in a multicultural family of
Jewish background and Anglophile philosophy.
My father taught me the importance of
keeping my good name, never giving up,
and always doing my best. This was also
deeply ingrained in my mind at the English
school where I graduated after receiving the
Certificate of Education Entrance Examination
to the University of London. Unfortunately, I
could not continue my studies, and at the age
of seventeen started to work. From then on, I
was responsible for looking after my parents
and making sure I could give the best education
to my children.
My parents taught me how rewarding life can
be if one learns to give freely and help every
humble neighbor. I suppose this is why I still
enjoy working in spite of the fact that Brazil has
gone through several crises. I still keep going!
Money is not all to me. I take pleasure in more
humanitarian achievements, and look back
on my life in Brazil as highly rewarding in
many other ways. I am also thankful to my
last boss at Y&R, John Paré, who, when he
heard of my project as a dream for creating
temporary offices, told me “Astrid, go ahead.
If anyone can make a success of this business,
it's you. Y&R owes a lot to you for your help,
especially offering to guarantee us in rentals
and media for our clients.”
The same little house I offered to guarantee
Y&R is now the offices of Great Start, where
clients such as Renault, Mastercard, and
many others, quietly came to meet my
candidates and select their right-arms to
help them start-up in Brazil. I also receive
secretaries day or night, weekday or
weekends, to listen to their stories, and offer
coaching and support when needed.
I guess I am most known for finding and placing
the right person for the right job, within days.
This makes me very proud to be in Brazil and
offer this sort of assistance, which I am not yet
ready to give up! §
Great Start's Praça da República office in 1974
Nominate a member
Do you know an AmSoc member who
has an excellent story to tell about how
they've made a difference in our greater
community? Nominate someone else, or
nominate yourself!
Our Managing Editor would love to hear
from you and publish your story. Send an
email to forum@amsoc.com.br with the
positive impact you've made in São Paulo
(and Brazil!) and look to be featured in an
upcoming FORUM issue!
The American Society of São Paulo FORUM Newsletter
15