Mariana Dandhara

How did you pick your career? Did you know all along?

As a young child, all I knew was that I wanted to go to Law School. I wanted to help people who were exploited to get their basic rights. I wanted to make things right. That was the reason to choose the paths of a Law student and intern. In terms of being an english/violin teacher, I didn't know this was going to happen at all! Life led me to it and I embraced it with all my heart. I was invited to be an english teacher and I said yes to this very door that was being opened to me. Meanwhile, some students asked me to teach them violin and it turned out to me amazing.

When you were a student, did you do anything outside of school to build skills or get knowledge that has helped your career?

I have always been a big an of reading and watching movies, this was a great help to my professionalization! Because of that, I used to take some online courses on the matters I was keen on, search for new books and topics people my age weren't talking about and I shared a lot of experiences with people who have achieved what I was aiming for.

What is the one piece of career advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?

Life isn't a race towards the end. You can still be successful at the age of 80, if you will. Do things with love and do the things you enjoy, but remember: if it is taking more than giving you, whether it is emotionally or financially, take a break and honour yourself.

What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?

Don't choose a career that will make you suffer from doing its basics demands. That was an advice given by my english about 10 years ago and that I will never forget. She worked around 16 hours a day, but she always had a smile on her face, she would bring us cookies and would give the most amazing lesson of our week. Regardless of how much effort she was putting into her life, to stay awake and pay her bills, she loved doing it. That made me understand that you have to find PLEASURE in everything, otherwise it won't be sustainable.

How did you start building your network?

Talking to people is the key to building a network. You have to be seen to be remembered. But most of all, when you are seen, you have to be remarkable. I used to talk to those who were powerful in the context I was trying to get in and captivate them with my joy and interest on the topic. If this approach was professional, meaning I worked for that person, I would the best I could to get an amazing result. This way, people were pleased by my effort, sympathy and good job.

In layperson terms, what do you actually do at work?

I review law proccesses that investigate labour abuse and then coordenate what should be done next in order to solve that problem. This is done via official documents signed by my supervisor and the enterprises have to do what was required. I also sue firms that refuse to adjust their management of workers.

When did you get your first Big Break? How did you get it? How did it go?

I was unhappy at my previous job as an english teacher and I got the opportunity to take a test to become a Law Intern. I haven't had the subjects required yet, so I studied all by myself and was approved in 3rd place. It completely changed my life, I was aware of what I could achieve and what I could do to people. It shaped all of my future choices, such as quitting that teacher job and opening my own business as well.

What is it like when your job gets tough?

It is quite stressing, I must say. Sometimes it is frustrating to overwork and not have your job recognized or seeing that other people don't take their jobs as serious as you do. Usually those people are going to be your supervisors. When my job gets tough I just do the minimum to do everything there is to be done, I do it slower and I work on how to make me feel better. Your work environment will almost never change, that change must be inside of us. So, when things get hard, I take a break by slowing my pace down and reminding me why I am good at what I do and why I deserve to be there.

What is the biggest challenge you had to overcome to get to where you are now professionally? How did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge so far was to decided to get off a vicious circle of exploitation. Stockolm Syndrome, you may have heard of it. For years I was unhappy with my employers but I didn't have the courage to quit. The biggest challenge was to finally choose myself first! If I hadn't had that courage, I would still be miserable and I wouldn't have grown professionally. I became an enterpreneur at the age of 20! Thanks to that hard decision. I overcame it by talking to a support group of friends, who eagerly analysed all the pros and cons of that decision and by thinking of who I was and who I wanted to become.

Did anyone ever oppose your career plans when you were young or push you in a direction you did not want to go?

Well, I would be lying if I said "No". At first I had this dream of becoming a movie director, but my parents said I couldn't do that for a living (I'm still doing that, I have plenty of years to live). However, they were really supportive when I wanted to be a professional musician. So I would say that it depends on the idea of how much money you can get from that job. Parents are always worried about how you are going to make it. As I chose to be a law student, which we all know that is overrated, it was little bit lighter on me. But my dream was to go to a big college in another state and I wasn't allowed to.