Perpétua Malta

What’s your life philosophy? Everything happens for a reason and one day, it will all make perfect sense.

Describe yourself in one sentence. Determined, hard-working, passionate, caring and very family orientated.

What scares you?

Alzheimer’s, for personal reasons. Seeing someone you love slowly vanish from your life is the worst feeling ever.

What makes you happy?

Spending time with my loved ones. If I can travel at the same time, that would be the icing on the cake.

Best way to spend the weekend?

Chilling on Friday night, spending time with my niece, lunch with an ocean view and dinner with family and friends.

Early bird or night owl? Early bird, for sure.

If you could have the answer to any question, what would you ask? Is there life after death?

What would you cook for a dinner party? For me, it would always be a takeaway.

Favourite time of the year?

Summer – relaxing in the family house on the beach.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

All kinds of chocolate.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I’d love to be 10 cm taller.

What is on your bucket list? Early retirement, with sufficient health, energy and money to travel the world.

What skill would you like to master? Become a better swimmer.

Describe your current job.

I am the Global Sales Director of Portuguese visual communications manufacturer Bi-silque, responsible for our sales and customer service departments globally.

Most difficult work experience?

Working full time for five years while attending university in the evening.

If you weren’t doing your present job, what would you like to be doing instead?

Be a volunteer teaching children in underdeveloped countries and trying to make a difference in the world.

Worst moment or period in your career?

COVID-19, definitely. The early days were bad, especially the month when our factory in Portugal had to shut down due to a sanitary siege in our location.

If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be? Have more women involved in our sector. Although I acknowledge that there has been a big change since I joined 22 years ago.

What is the best way to stay motivated and complete goals?

Even if you can’t accomplish your goals all the time, go home at the end of every day with a feeling of having done your best.

Your favourite ‘office product’?

My PC.