Pursuing the American Dream

I left Brazil and came to the United States when I was just 20 years old. People often ask me why I made such a difficult decision—leaving behind my country, family, friends, beloved food, and culture. It was, without a doubt, one of the hardest things I have ever done. My motivation was simple: I lacked opportunities and resources to grow in my home country. Even at a young age, I felt hopeless about my future. That sense of urgency and desire for a better life is what drove me here—to pursue my American dream.

The First Ten Years: Building Foundations and Learning Lessons

During my first decade in the U.S., I faced the monumental task of starting over. I started my own business, learned to speak English, and figured out how to do business in a new country. Growing my real estate office was a journey in itself—it involved learning about marketing, handling rejection, and managing a team of women at the office. I worked hard to earn my licenses, including my title license and general contractor licenses. Over time, I became more confident and found my voice, especially as a woman in business. However, the path was not always easy, I had to make the tough decision to close my business and shift gears. The guilt of failure weighed heavily on me, but I realized that growth often comes from these challenging moments. I knew I had given my best, and that experience made me a better business owner —especially in managing finances and working with employees. Looking back, those first ten years were filled with invaluable lessons. I am a big believer in Gratitude, so it is something that I always practice. I always remember that even if things are not good, they could always be worse.

The Second Ten Years: Embracing Change and Overcoming Barriers

As we moved into the next decade, we recognized that business in Florida was likely to slow down for a while. We shifted our focus to federal contracting and government work, which led us to complete projects in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and the city of Des Moines, before finally landing our first federal contract in the Midwest. That contract was particularly meaningful—it involved restoring the Truman House, the former residence of President Truman in Missouri. A touching moment came near the end, when I saw my father—who was helping me on the project—speaking with the park director. They were both in tears, and at first, I feared something was wrong. Instead, the director was moved by the love and care we put into preserving this landmark. This decade was also about learning to navigate the federal contracting system, bidding on projects, and ultimately completing over 25 federal projects in ten years. I took the lessons I learned early on and committed to mastering everything related to contracts and negotiations.

Federal contracting was harder than I expected, and I encountered resistance as a woman, and as a Latina, in a male-dominated field. I faced skepticism about my abilities, and I learned firsthand how difficult it is for women in construction to get funding. These ten years were about learning to fight back. My experience began to speak for itself, and I refused to back down. It often feels like my life unfolds in ten-year cycles. By 2019, we had one of our best years ever, and I felt more confident than ever. I learned that the only person that can tell you what you are capable of is yourself.

The Third Ten Years: Resilience, Growth, and Giving Back

In 2020, the pandemic affected businesses across America, including ours. Contracts disappeared until the end of the year, but we finally secured a good one before year's end, which allowed us to begin rebuilding and recovering from our losses. One bright spot during that challenging time was graduating from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, which was a tremendous help. We also faced a growing labor shortage in the industry, which had been an issue for several years. After talking with Joe, my partner and best friend, we decided to be proactive instead of complaining. Our solution was to start a school to train entry-level workers for the construction industry. Despite all the chaos, this was a positive step forward. It combined our passion for construction with my passion for helping others grow and thrive. Together, we designed the program, acquired a former elementary school building and land, funded the purchase and renovations, created a learning platform, and launched a marketing campaign to attract new talent—all while continuing to work full-time on our projects. Sleep was a luxury!

My goal was to offer this training at no cost to students, so I applied for government grants, and we are now in our third year of classes. Every time I watch my students graduate, I feel like life has come full circle. I see their newfound confidence, and I realize that, for many, it might be the first time someone has believed in them, given them a chance, and told them they are capable. They have learned more than just skills—they have learned that nobody else should define their abilities.

Advocacy and Empowerment: Women in Construction

For me, these ten years are about merging my work with my passion. I have been a strong advocate for women in business and especially for women in construction. After

witnessing so much disparity and discrimination in the construction industry— even as an owner—and seeing harassment and mistreatment of other women on job sites, I felt compelled to act. That’s why I started the Pink Hardhat Foundation: to cover the costs of additional training for women in construction and provide mentoring, guidance, and resources, whether they are entering the industry or already working in it. I know it will take years to see significant change, but I am committed to trying.

As a woman in construction, I don’t want to work like a man—I want to work as a woman, within my capacity and knowledge, and be respected and safe in my work environment. That should not be too much to ask. I always say: “When women support each other, incredible things happen!

-Perlla D