458:. In this capacity, Foster functioned as both the Executive Secretary of the Federal Government Program for Mobilizing Brazil's Oil and Gas Industry (PROMINP), and the Interministerial Coordinator for the National Program for Biodiesel Production and Use. She continued serving in these roles for two years, after which she return to Petrobras. As colleagues, Foster and Rousseff continued to research, network with individuals and organizations, and cultivate international partnerships in an effort to develop foreign investment opportunities to increase and enhance the profitability of Brazil's oil industry and Petrobras, as the country's state-controlled oil company.
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offshore operations, maintaining profitability, while balancing costs with a low price point of domestic sales, and importing refined products from overseas. Additional concerns center around meeting demands, while not only meeting expectations, but increasing supply to an estimated 4.5 million barrels a day, from 2.3 million. Successfully meeting these goals require leadership to address any possible equipment bottlenecks, resulting in decreased cycle time and deliver. Challenges also include the development of new cutting-edge drilling technologies, while maintaining corporate environmental regulatory standards, which safeguard against spills at offshore fields.
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Director of
Investor Relations. She simultaneously served as the Executive Manager of Petrochemicals and Fertilizers, which was affiliated with the Downstream Management of Petrobras. In May 2006, Foster began serving as the President of Petrobras Distribuidora SA, with responsibilities as the Financial Director of the company. In September 2007, she was named as a member and officer of the Executive Board and Gas and Energy. In 2010, she became the first woman to serve in a management role in the company, when she was elected to the executive board of gas and energy.
44:
566:. The following year, she was named Executive of the Year by the Institute of Brazilian Finance Executives. In 2009, she was the recipient of the Tiradentes Medal, presented by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro. In 2011, she was made a Knight Commander of the Admiralty Order of Merit, and in 2012, she received the Inconfidência Medal, the highest decoration conferred by the Government of the State of
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often collected recyclable trash that had been dumped in the streets. During this time, her neighbors were immigrants from
Portugal, who would occasionally call on Foster for assistance. In exchange for extra money, she would often help them with reading and writing letters and acclimating to the Brazilian culture.
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in childhood and faced difficulties in life. I have always worked to help support my mother and my children and pay for my studies. Willpower is everything for me. I was never afraid of work." She never knew if she would be able to continue going to school. In order to pay for her school books, she
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In response to the scrutiny, Petrobras representatives denied any wrongdoing. None of the transactions involving Foster's husband took place before she had been appointed as CEO of the company. Additionally, none of the contracts involved the oversight of Foster in her leadership capacity with the
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as an intern in 1978, utilizing her master's degree in chemical engineering. She was hired as a chemical engineer in 1981 and went on to serve in managerial roles in the Gas and Energy
Business Unit and at the Leopoldo Miguez de Mello Research and Development Center, as well as the Transportadora
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Despite the deflection and discrediting of scrutiny by the media, public confidence in the company have waned, resulting in a loss in shares of over 30 percent in 2012. Concerns with the company's viability continue, focusing on a wide range of issues including delivery and procurement delays in
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In
January 2003, Foster was appointed to serve as the Secretary of Oil, Natural Gas, and Renewable Fuels at the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy. During this time, she also began serving as the President of Petrobras Química SA (Petroquisa), a role which accompanied her appointment as the
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In responding to public and shareholder concerns, Foster has acknowledged the challenges that accompany a female executive in a company with over 82,000 employees, in an industry dominated by men. As the first woman in the world to head a major oil-and-gas company, she doesn't shy away from a
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neighborhood, with her husband, British-born, Colin Foster, and her two adult children. Foster's home apartment is boxed in by large seemingly ominous apartment buildings, and surrounded by the hillside favelas. In spite of her ability to afford luxuries that would reflect her standing in the
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On the day that Foster was named as the new head of
Petrobras in January 2012, stockholder shares in the company spiked, gaining nearly four percent. By April 2012, Foster's personal and professional integrity came under fire, when the Brazilian press began aggressively questioning business
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company, previous to replacing José Sérgio
Gabrielli as CEO. Petrobras also denied the claims that the company led by Foster's husband entered into transactions worth several hundred thousand dollars, but stated that only small purchases were made, worth considerably less.
495:, reported that a company controlled by Foster's husband, over a time span of three years, successfully negotiated business contracts to supply Petrobras with electronic equipment, resulting in financial gains in excess of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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country's social, political, and professional circles, she chooses to travel by taxi, rather than own a car. She is easily recognized and popular with local drivers, who always greet her with a smile, in an effort to get her business.
358:, pollution, and diseases, along with high mortality rates remain widespread in the poorer favela communities. The conditions in Complexo do Alemão necessitated consistent occupation and monitoring by Brazilian security forces.
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Foster credits her success and motivation to excel to the support she has received from her mother, yet characterizes her childhood as "happy, joyful but very difficult". In an interview with
480:, who had served as the head of the company for seven years. She was also named a Member of the Executive Board and Member of the Board of Directors of Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras.
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as the
President of Brazil. At this time, Rousseff was named the head of the board of directors of Petrobras, serving for seven years during the administration of da Silva.
513:, Foster said, " have to be prepared to go to work in these companies, have to enter into the market. The market is ready ... for talent, competence and education."
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439:, who in October 2010, would be elected to serve as the first female President of Brazil. In 1998, Rousseff was a relatively unknown energy official, serving in
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When da Silva appointed
Rousseff to serve as Brazil's energy minister, Rousseff appointed Foster as one of her top aides in the national capital of
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On 9 February 2012, Foster was elected to serve as a member of the
Petrobras Board of Directors and after a nomination by Brazilian President
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She has been at the center of corruption accusations at
Petrobras. Petrobras said in a statement on its website that Foster was out as CEO.
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in southern Brazil. Foster and Rousseff developed a lifelong professional relationship, based in their mutual support of the leftist
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794:[From waste picker to President, Grace Foster came to be 'one of the 100 most influential people in the world']. BBC Brasil
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In 1998, Foster was working for a Petrobras unit that was involved importing natural gas from Bolivia. During this time, she met
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list of the most influential people in the world. In 2014, she was recognized as the 16th most powerful woman in the world by
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challenge, but even welcomes it to a certain degree. Speaking in an interview with the Brazilian financial newspaper,
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307:. She was the first woman in the world to head a major oil-and-gas company. In April 2012, she was listed on the
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was extremely poverty stricken and ridden with crime. Overpopulation, drug trafficking, unsanitary conditions,
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Despite her national prominence and wealth, Foster continues to live in an apartment in Rio de Janeiro's
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in southeastern Brazil. By the time she was two years old, Foster's family moved from Caratinga to a
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792:"De catadora a presidente, Graça Foster chegou a ser 'uma das 100 pessoas mais influentes do mundo'"
744:"BBC Brasil - Notícias - Graça Foster será 1ª 'intrusa' em clube até hoje exclusivamente masculino"
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transactions that had taken place between Foster's husband and Petrobras. In 2010, the newspaper,
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in 2013 as "the Most Powerful Woman in Business" (outside the U.S.) for the second year in a row.
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IBP (Brazilian Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Institute) – President of the Board of Directors
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677:"Maria das Gracas Silva Foster - 2012 Time 100: The Most Influential People in the World"
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1076:"Maria Das Graças Silva Foster: Executive Profile & Biography - Businessweek"
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717:"Jornal do Brasil - Economia - Maria das Graças Foster é "rígida e competente""
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869:"Brazil's Petrobras Taps Maria das Graças Silva Foster as First Female CEO"
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Petrobras Transporte SA (TRANSPETRO) – President of the Board of Directors
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403:. In 1979, she began postgraduate studies, earning a master's degree in
367:, she said, "I lived in the Complexo do Alemão for 12 years, lived with
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363:
630:"Filiada ao PT, "Dama de Ferro" do petróleo tem até estrelas tatuadas"
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Petrobras Biocombustível SA (PBIO) – Member of the Board of Directors
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913:"Women Take the Reins of Power as Brazil's Energy Industry Expands"
815:"Maria das Gracas Silva Foster Talks Business, Shows A Softer Side"
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Maria das Graças (née Silva) Foster was born on 26 August 1953, in
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Petrobras Gás SA (GASPETRO) – President of the Board of Directors
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SA – Former Board Member and Member of Compensation Committee
303:, Brazil's state-controlled oil company, which is located in
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community, outside of Rio de Janeiro. The area, known as
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27:Brazilian business executive and chemical engineer
990:"Curriculum Vitae, Maria das Graça Silva Foster"
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779:Most Powerful Women: The International Power 50
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842:. Latin Trade. 30 July 2012. Archived from
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69:13 February 2012 – 4 February 2015
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942:"Brazil's Petrobras: Tarred by corruption"
540:– Vice President of the Board of Directors
287:; born 26 August 1953), commonly known as
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558:In April 2007, Foster was honored by the
538:Companhia Brasileira de Petroleo Ipiranga
291:, is a Brazilian business executive and
790:Júlia Dias Carneiro (4 February 2015).
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564:Ministry of Foreign Relations of Brazil
432:Brasileira do Gasoduto Bolivia-Brasil.
525:– President of the Board of Directors
7:
715:Jornal do Brasil (26 January 2012).
409:Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
215:Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
995:. Agencia Petrobras. Archived from
840:"Petrobras' 'Iron Lady' in Charge"
628:Torres, Sergio (28 January 2012).
162:1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
25:
1027:"Stock Quotes & Company News"
953:from the original on 4 March 2023
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580:
1074:Maria Das Graças Silva Foster.
1049:"Maria das Graças Silva Foster"
911:Romero, Simon (10 April 2012).
813:Elise Knutsen (18 April 2012).
179:
675:Walsh, Bryan (18 April 2012).
1:
393:Fluminense Federal University
206:Fluminense Federal University
18:Maria das Graças Silva Foster
1154:Brazilian chemical engineers
1078:. Investing.businessweek.com
395:, graduating in 1978 with a
320:magazine. She was ranked by
768:World's Most Powerful Women
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657:pt:Maria das Graças Foster
411:. In 1999, she earned her
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449:Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
417:Getulio Vargas Foundation
301:Petrobras-Petróleo Brasil
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224:Getúlio Vargas Foundation
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62:
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1159:Brazilian women chemists
423:Professional background
264:Maria das Graças Foster
387:Educational background
121:Maria das Graças Silva
1164:People from Caratinga
746:. BBC. 1 January 1970
471:José Sérgio Gabrielli
635:O Estado de S. Paulo
401:chemical engineering
253:The Iron Lady of Oil
1102:Business positions
560:Order of Rio Branco
405:nuclear engineering
330:Personal background
1002:on 22 October 2013
949:. 10 August 2014.
918:The New York Times
352:Complexo do Alemão
346:, also known as a
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1123:Succeeded by
877:. 24 January 2012
846:on 20 August 2012
554:Honors and awards
517:Board memberships
441:Rio Grande do Sul
397:Bachelor's degree
391:She attended the
369:domestic violence
293:chemical engineer
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1144:1953 births
957:26 February
798:3 September
719:. Jb.com.br
474: [
348:shanty town
250:Other names
87:Preceded by
1138:Categories
1120:2012–2015
574:References
484:Challenges
377:Copacabana
201:Alma mater
127:1953-08-26
1169:Petrobras
1116:Petrobras
1082:24 August
1059:24 August
1033:24 August
1006:24 August
925:24 August
881:24 August
850:24 August
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750:24 August
723:24 August
693:24 August
642:6 January
429:Petrobras
415:from the
407:from the
336:Caratinga
235:Known for
137:Caratinga
65:In office
57:Petrobras
951:Archived
921:. Brazil
456:Brasília
190:Children
143:, Brazil
547:Braskem
364:O Globo
323:Fortune
238:Former
184:
176:
1053:Forbes
819:Forbes
766:Forbes
344:favela
317:Forbes
167:Spouse
159:Height
1000:(PDF)
993:(PDF)
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271:Silva
178:(
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1084:2012
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1008:2012
959:2020
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883:2012
852:2012
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800:2016
752:2012
725:2012
695:2012
682:Time
644:2018
310:Time
117:Born
413:MBA
399:in
312:100
299:of
297:CEO
268:née
242:of
240:CEO
228:MBA
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