In the fourth episode of the 'Voices that Inspire' podcast, Isabel Vaz, CEO of Luz Saúde, reflected on more than three decades of leadership at one of Portugal’s largest private healthcare groups, advocating a leadership approach rooted in purpose, resilience and teamwork.

Speaking with Maria João Simões, Isabel Vaz looked back on the early days of the Luz Saúde project, which she took on in her early thirties, and highlighted the importance of having a clear vision, consistent values and aligned teams in order to build a sustainable organisation over time. 'Leadership is about serving', she said, stressing that leadership should not be seen as an exercise of power, but rather as the ability to mobilise people around a common goal.

The CEO also addressed some of the group’s most challenging moments, namely the crisis linked to the collapse of Banco Espírito Santo and the Covid-19 pandemic. Reflecting on those periods, she emphasised the importance of transparency, communication and trust within the team in overcoming highly uncertain situations.

During the conversation, Isabel Vaz also spoke about the influence of her father, a doctor, on her view of the healthcare sector, arguing that 'if we focus on people, we always win'. The Luz Saúde leader underlined the importance of teamwork in medicine and the need to prepare professionals capable of responding to the challenges of an increasingly ageing population.

At the end of the episode, she left a message for younger generations: 'At 30, you cannot be afraid of anything', encouraging young people to pursue what they genuinely enjoy doing, with ambition, courage and a strong sense of purpose.