Belo Horizonte, Brazil
September 4th to 7th, 2025
The 4th edition of the LOLA Brazil Retreat took place in the capital of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, bringing together 21 national leaders and directors from across the country – from North to South. The following states were represented: Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Pará, Amazonas, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo.
We were also honored by the presence of LOLA’s president, Nena Whitfield, further strengthening our movement in Brazil.
Thursday, September 4th, 2025
The retreat was held at The One Business Center and started on the afternoon with opening remarks from LOLA Brazil’s president, Letícia Barros, followed by an inspiring talk on leadership from Belo Horizonte City Councilwoman and LOLA Associate, Marcela Trópia.
After Marcela’s talk, each participant had 3 minutes for the “How I Found Liberty” activity, sharing their stories and getting to know each other a little better. To close the first evening, we had a welcome dinner led by Nena, celebrating the unity and strength of our leadership.
Friday, September 5th, 2025
The retreat kicked off with LOLA Brazil’s National Board presentation and its General Assembly, skillfully led by Débora Tano, Legal Director of LOLA Brazil. The assembly set the tone for a day of connection and inspiration, starting with the “Exchange and Connections” activity, where leaders showcased Brazil’s rich cultural diversity and shared symbolic gifts representing their chapters or states.
The morning continued with an inspiring keynote by Marina Rezende, President of IFL – Instituto de Formação de Lideranças (Institute for Leadership Training), on Connections that Transform: Positioning, Relationships, and Networking, highlighting the power of meaningful connections in leadership.
In the afternoon, Nancey Tsai, a LOLA Board member who traveled all the way from the United States, led a session on Leading Thought: Self-Empowerment, offering tools and insights to strengthen personal leadership. This was followed by an official photo session, giving each leader professional portraits to use in their advocacy and leadership initiatives.
The day’s most exciting moment came with the Elevator Pitch Contest, led by Vanny Moraes, Director of Merchandising of LOLA Brazil. In alignment with the retreat’s theme of Brazil’s independence, leaders had 60 seconds to persuade the audience to fight for independence. Geisiele Mello, leader of LOLA Itapetininga, captivated everyone and won the contest, closing the day on a high note filled with energy, creativity, and empowerment.
Saturday, September 6th, 2025
Participants moved to the City Council of Belo Horizonte for a day full of leadership, learning, and connection. The morning began with the special peer-to-peer session “From Leader to Leader,” facilitated by Camilla Teixeira, LOLA Brazil chapters director, where leaders openly shared their challenges, achievements, and lessons learned, creating a space for genuine exchange and inspiration.
Following this, Izabela Patriota, Director of Fundraising for LOLA Brazil, led the “Inside LOLA” session, diving into the organization’s structure, key positions, and opportunities for engagement, helping participants better understand how to navigate and contribute to LOLA’s impact. The day continued with an insightful session on Public Policy and Liberalism with Councilwoman and LOLA Associate Fernanda Altoé, exploring strategies for leadership and civic engagement in Brazil.
In the afternoon, participants practiced donor communication during the Letter Writing activity with Izabela Patriota, applying practical tools to engage supporters and mobilize resources.
The day concluded with a closing ceremony and certificate presentation, honoring the dedication and accomplishments of all leaders.
During the ceremony, the outstanding LOLA Brazil chapters were recognized, with the top three being LOLA Pará, LOLA Rio Grande do Norte, and LOLA Rio de Janeiro. Sara Ganime, leader of LOLA Rio de Janeiro, was acknowledged as the Leader of the Year for her exceptional work.
The retreat officially wrapped up with a celebratory dinner and a public happy hour, welcoming guests from LOLA Minas Gerais and partner organizations, fostering community, networking, and the shared spirit of leadership that defined the entire event.
Sunday, September 7th, 2025
The retreat ended with a cultural tour of Belo Horizonte, visiting Mercado Municipal, Mercado Novo, and the Circuito da Liberdade, experiencing the rich flavors and traditions of Minas Gerais.
The event was a powerful blend of leadership, learning, and cultural exchange, leaving participants inspired and ready to continue making an impact across Brazil.
Thank you to our sponsors and donors!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors and partners for making the 2025 LOLA Brazil Leadership Retreat possible. Your commitment to empowering women leaders and strengthening the liberty movement across Brazil was essential to the success of this transformative event.
This retreat united top leaders from across the country for four days of training, strategy, and connection — equipping them with the skills and confidence to expand their impact in their communities. None of this would have been possible without your generous support.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Nancey Tsai, Instituto Liberal, Ilisp, Livres, Maurício Bento, Instituto Libertários Cristãos, Boletim da Liberdade, Instituto Livres pra Escolher, Mises Brasil, and Instituto Atlantos.
Together, we are building a stronger, freer Brazil. ✨