Meet Orbia’s people with purpose.
Across businesses, functions and locations, our people bring different backgrounds, knowledge and perspectives to common challenges—from expanding access to water and food to building the materials, systems and connections that support everyday life. Their stories showcase what it means to grow, contribute and make a difference as part of a global community united by by the purpose to advance life around the world.
Our CEO’s perspective on purpose.
 |
For Orbia CEO Sameer Bharadwaj, purpose is personal. In this story, he shares what drew him to Orbia, how our purpose shapes the company’s work and where he sees Orbia people advancing life around the world every day. |
See the stories—and see yourself here.
At Orbia, purpose comes to life through our people: in the responsibility they take, the choices they make and the commitment they bring to work that matters for our businesses and the world.
Being brave. Aiming high. Opening doors.
Patrícia Napolitano
Marketing Director Mexico,
Central America & Geos LatAm
Orbia Building & Infrastructure (Wavin)
We at Orbia are glad to be part of a truly global enterprise. My own life and work illustrate how that plays out every day. I am Brazilian and a native Portuguese speaker, living in the U.S. with my Brazilian family. My responsibilities for Orbia Building & Infrastructure (Wavin) in marketing cover most of Latin America. That means my professional footprint includes Spanish and Portuguese-language areas, plus English for colleagues in other regions. I am proud to operate effectively in such a multicultural context.
Like so many of us working in global, matrixed teams, my day starts early. By 6:30 a.m., I’m up and making my first coffee (I’m Brazilian, after all!). We learned during the pandemic that self-care, quiet time and introspection are essential to our well-being, so I practice yoga and meditate for a few minutes to ground myself. Then things really get going with breakfast at home and feeding our dogs. My husband and I take turns walking them during the week.
My default location is work-from-home, but bi-monthly, I meet in person with my team. Like most of us, I need to be in front of the computer a lot, but I make sure I get up and walk outside a few times a day, breathe fresh air and be in touch with nature. I tend to connect with my European colleagues during the morning and my Latin American colleagues in the afternoon. We’re managing short- and long-term marketing projects with a lot of moving parts.
Typical of Latin cultures, dinner is a family ritual for us and includes our children when they’re home. My husband’s Italian background means he handles most of the cooking, and I do the clean-up. We all love sports, so after mealtimes, games from the NFL, NBA, soccer, and tennis matches are usually running on TV.
My sense of fulfillment at work is highlighted by two quite different endeavors. A core Wavin service in Latin America is providing outreach to plumbers, who otherwise don’t receive specialized training or certification. Facilitating these programs helps elevate the profession, enhance the plumbers’ quality of life and ensure water security for communities. Also, I try to be a role model for women and their allies in the workplace and for my stepdaughter and nieces. Due to the political situation in Brazil at the time, my mother declined the opportunity for university study and that limited her life choices. I carry that legacy with me, on my own career path, and as I guide women coming up the ladder.
“I am passionate about always having space for women’s voices to be heard. With an atmosphere of openness and respect, we get the diversity of people and opinions that result in much more innovation, creativity and better solutions.”
Patrícia is based in the U.S. in Jacksonville, Florida, and joined Orbia in 2008 in Brazil.
Fit to go the distance and beyond.
Improving performance is a goal that pervades my life, professionally as a chemical engineer, and as a passionate runner. I see the same commitment driving so many people here at the Orbia Polymer Solutions (Alphagary) Compound Plant in Altamira, Mexico. Our location on the eastern shores of the Gulf of Mexico is a big advantage for our work in the chemical industry, with access to key raw materials and nearby port installations.
My typical day starts at the gym or the park for a run, as early as 5:00 a.m. Depending on my goals, boxing or swimming may complement the workout. My wife and I have two golden retrievers, so we make sure they have a good walk. These routines set us up for success to do our best each day.
As a plant manager with responsibility for about 100 Orbia employees, I work on-site and the rich interactions I have with my colleagues are the best part of my job. The plant is a 45-minute drive from home, and I use my commute to collect my thoughts while listening to Mexican cumbia, pop or Electronic music.
My first action is a walk-through, checking the compound facility and greeting the operators at their workstations (around 25 people per shift). When I reach my office, I connect with my local team to review the day’s priorities and ensure that production goes smoothly and safely. Throughout the day I participate in numerous live and remote meetings, many related to my role as business process owner in our technology and process transformation program.
In the early afternoon, I break for lunch in the building’s cafeteria, where I can exchange updates with colleagues. The new shift comes in at 3:00 p.m. when I touch base with the lead supervisor and department heads to check if everything should commence as planned or if adjustments are needed. The rest of the day, I constantly monitor plant operations in consultation with leaders in all key areas like quality, maintenance and shipping, to manage the site proactively.
My workday ends around 5:00 p.m., usually followed by more fitness activities to improve my performance as a marathon runner. Then I head home to prepare dinner with my wife, unwind and recharge for another full day ahead!
“I believe that with hard work, hope and commitment we can achieve goals that begin as lofty dreams. Many important achievements in my life originated this way, with positive impact for my loved ones and in the workplace.”
Luis joined Orbia in 2014 and is based in Altamira, Mexico.
Luis Pinedo
Plant Manager
Orbia Polymer Solutions (Alphagary)
Living up to my potential: At work, in school and for my community.
Every day is full to the brim with activity. That’s how it is when career and studies overlap. I seem to always be doing something, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Learning in the classroom and the real world is a powerful combination. It requires balance to manage and to make the most of each experience.
As an HR Analyst with Orbia Precision Agriculture (Netafim) in Brazil, I toggle between working in our office and in the field. Although Ribeirão Preto is a big city, vast rural areas with farms big and small are quite near, so I can see the benefits of Netafim’s drip irrigation firsthand.
My typical day begins early at 6:30 a.m., doing all the usual things to get ready, grabbing a quick breakfast and I’m out the door. I'm currently using Uber to get to the office, but I hope to get a car by the end of the year. My laptop is on by 7:30 a.m., dealing with payroll, benefits and recruitment, principally for our logistics, production and agricultural workforce. I often get a change of surroundings, being practical with handling candidates’ interviews. Those can happen at our office, remotely via a WhatsApp video chat or by visiting farms in person.
Somewhere in there I take an hour for lunch, multitasking with doing homework. Depending on the project, I’m in contact with Orbia colleagues all over the world. That added dimension is so cool for me, just starting out in my career. I’m studying Spanish in addition to business, so my horizon expands beyond this huge country of Brazil.
Work ends around 5:00 p.m., and then I have to stay focused and be efficient with my time. I Uber back home, eat quickly and by 6:30 p.m., I’m in class at the University of São Paulo (USP), a 20-minute walk away. Classes can run as late as 10:30 p.m. Wednesday evenings are free to enjoy a movie with my boyfriend and to join my co-workers for a game of beach volleyball (Yay!).
I’m aware that many people don’t have the opportunities I have, so I try to give back. It started a few years ago, when I became a vegetarian, shrinking my carbon footprint. Through Netafim, we help farmers produce more from less, doing our bit to preserve the forest. I also go to my hometown often on weekends and help at homes for the elderly to fill the gaps in our healthcare system.
“Right now, my cup is full, as I finish my university degree while already starting my career. It’s a tough balancing act, but it will be worth it in the long run.”
Bárbara joined Orbia in 2021 and is based in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
Bárbara Arruda
HR Analyst
Orbia Precision Agriculture (Netafim)
Explore more stories of people with purpose.
For information regarding Orbia’s commitment to privacy, please see our Candidate Privacy Statement.