They told her compliance was a dead-end career. They told her she’d never make it in the United States, that landing an internship with a U.S. government agency was impossible, and that passing the New York bar exam was a long shot.
Cláudia Massaia proved them wrong—every single time.
In this inspiring episode of Great Women in Compliance, host Sarah Hadden sits down with the Brazilian-born attorney and compliance professional whose remarkable journey is a master class in persistence, self-belief, and the power of simply refusing to take no for an answer.
From launching her career amid Brazil’s historic Operation Car Wash corruption scandal to earning dual master’s degrees, securing permanent U.S. residency, and becoming a New York-licensed attorney, Cláudia shares the setbacks, sacrifices, and occasional spectacular failures that shaped her success.
Along the way, Sarah and Cláudia explore how corporate compliance has evolved, why being a trusted business partner beats being the “department of no,” and what American executives misunderstand about doing business in Brazil.
But the biggest takeaway is personal: Bet on yourself. Invest in your future. And don’t let someone else’s definition of what’s possible become your own.
As Cláudia reminds us, discipline and consistency will take you further than intensity ever could.
A joyful, candid, and energizing conversation for anyone who’s ever been told, “You can’t do that.”
Connect with Cláudia on LinkedIn and subscribe to Great Women in Compliance wherever you listen to podcasts.