In 2026, global trade is moving faster than ever, influenced by frequent regulatory changes and digital supply chains. In this environment, even a small disruption can ripple through multiple markets. This is the reality Ester Ferreira works in every day as Founder and CEO of Teres Comex S/A.
Ester’s approach is noticeably different. While many leaders operate in constant urgency, she is measured and deliberate. She often quotes, “In a fast-moving industry, decisive leadership combined with strategic thinking and calm under pressure makes all the difference.” This mindset allows her to respond to complexity without adding to it.
She did not enter the world of entrepreneurship simply to add another name to the directory of logistics firms. What she realized was that as the world became more digital, it was also becoming more impersonal. Many clients understood their products well but felt exposed when it came to the fine print of imports, exports, and compliance. They didn’t just need a middleman; they needed an advocate who would represent their interests as if they were her own.
This was her turning point. She set out to build a brand that worked alongside clients as a strategic partner. By tailoring strategies to real operational needs, Ester has turned the complexities of trade into a blueprint for sustainable success.
The Heritage Behind the Leader
To learn how Ester leads today, you have to look at her roots. Her definition of success has undergone an in-depth evolution over the years. Truth be told, she doesn’t gauge victory by titles or the size of a contract anymore. Instead, she looks back at a childhood built on the shoulders of strong women who faced life with dignity and grit.
Raised in a simple home, Ester considers her current path as a way to celebrate her predecessors. “Success, for me, is not just about results, but about honoring where I started and the values that brought me here,” she shares. A foundation of solidity that makes her such a formidable force in the high-stakes world of trade.
She often reflects on the idea that we are a product of our environment. For Ester, that environment was a masterclass in work ethic. “We become the average of the five people we spend the most time with,” Ester highlights, “I was surrounded by strength, discipline, and determination.” This wasn’t just theory. It was her reality. Even now, seeing her parents continue to work with purpose long past the age when most people step back serves as a constant reality check. In her words, “Watching my parents continue to work with purpose in their 70s reminds me that commitment has no expiration date.” It keeps her grounded when the pressure of the C-suite starts to mount.
Of course, no one reaches the top entirely on their own. Ester is the first to admit that her husband’s relentless support is the secret ingredient to her balance. Having a partner who truly believes in the vision allows her to face global challenges without losing her personal peace. Taken together, it is clear she has created a version of success that is as much about character as it is about commerce.
The Evolution of a Leader
Every leader eventually hits a wall that forces them to change or fall behind. For Ester, that wall appeared early in her leadership journey at Teres Comex S/A. At first, she found herself fully engrossed in every operational detail, believing that her personal oversight was the only way to ensure quality. It was a classic case of trying to do it all. However, she quickly realized that if she spent all her time in the weeds, she couldn’t see the horizon. This was a hard-earned lesson in the power of letting go.
This challenge became the inflection point that created the leader she is today. She had to learn that true leadership is about building a culture of trust and accountability, rather than being in charge of every step. She changed her focus to giving her team the tools they needed to succeed, letting them know of their role, and stepping away.
This transition from “doer” to “leader” wasn’t just about efficiency. Instead, it was about building a company that could work independently. By trading control for delegation, she strengthened her ability to make strategic decisions with a level of confidence and empathy that has become her hallmark.
The Strategy of Stillness
International trade leaves little room for error. The pressure is constant. For Ester, responding to that pressure has never been about urgency for its own sake, but about being ready before decisions are forced.
Ester believes that internal order and flexibility must combine for effective decision-making. Speed without understanding creates more problems than solving. When faced with challenges, her first course of action is to reduce unnecessary inputs and examine data that she can, such as verifiable information, potential exposure, and the effect on clients.
This steadiness is shaped by a small set of principles she does not compromise on: integrity and accountability. In a heavily regulated field like foreign trade, Ester feels trust is much more than a slogan, and that actions speak louder than words. Her role goes beyond coordinating shipments. It involves maintaining confidence with clients, regulators, and her own team.
By accepting responsibility for outcomes, whether they bring progress or require correction, she has built a culture where her team feels empowered to do the same. The result is a leadership approach that is deliberate and commercially sound, while remaining entirely people-oriented. And that consistency has placed her among “The 10 Most Influential Business Leaders Redefining Success in 2026.”
The Art of Sustainable Leadership
Running a growing firm while keeping an eye on the long view is rarely neat or predictable. From Ester’s perspective, it comes down to discipline, trust, and knowing when to step in and when to step back. She’s convinced that when long-term priorities are well defined, most everyday decisions stop feeling complicated and start feeling obvious.
She relies on structure and clear delegation a lot to keep from getting overwhelmed by everyday tasks. Her team takes care of the day-to-day work. This lets her focus on new trends, changes in the law, and where clients might need help next. But that distance is intended. She keeps a hand in the work to sense when plans need adjusting, keeping strategy tied to how things actually play out on the ground.
This approach is what allows her to maintain balance without forcing it. In an industry that rarely slows down, Ester learned early that constant urgency dulls judgment. She feels that balance isn’t a perk. It’s a practical requirement. It makes space to protect family time, rest, and the routines that help her reset between demanding stretches of work.
By setting these boundaries herself, she encourages her team to do the same. Ester remarks, “Sustainable success comes from sustainable leadership, and that requires taking care of both the business and yourself.” They are connected. In the end, level-headedness and sound judgment remain the most reliable tools any CEO can rely on.
The Proudest Accomplishment
If you ask Ester what she is most proud of at Teres Comex S/A, she won’t talk numbers or S-curves. She points instead to something less visible, but far harder to earn: the firm’s reputation. It is a level of reliability built over time, decision by decision.
Her greatest achievement is that she has created a company known for its technical prowess as well as its highly personalized care. In a domain where global trade often feels like a cold exchange of goods, Ester has left no stone unturned to build a business grounded in openness and enduring partnerships. Relationships here are not rushed; they are nurtured.
Right from the start, Teres Comex S/A was founded on the pillars of efficiency and long-term collaboration. For Ester, the company’s burgeoning progress is certainly a point of pride. Yet what she feels most strongly about is that the firm has maintained the same principles it began with.
She has spent years building efficient systems that enable the team to be nimble, but never at the cost of precision. She underlines, “This reflects my leadership approach combining organization, strategic thinking, and a strong team culture.” To her, building a resilient company that can pivot within the global market is the ultimate reflection of her leadership.
The Must-have Mindset for Success in Global Business
Gone are the days when success in the global arena required just a sharp business sense. Now, it asks for more. It requires a disposition that is ready for anything.
What does Ester think about it? This industry veteran is a firm believer that being versatile is the most essential trait a leader can possess today. Cross-border markets are constantly shifting. One day it’s a new regulation, the next it’s a change in economic conditions. The only way to endure here is to be proactive enough to pivot when necessary.
A leader has to be able to adjust their sails without losing sight of the shore. Beyond technical skills, she emphasizes the need for cultural intelligence. Since worldwide commerce is fundamentally about people, understanding different business customs, communication styles, and market expectations is non-negotiable.
In the world of trade, decisions often involve a juggle of logistics, compliance, and geopolitical factors. Ester feels, besides strategic thinking, the ability to analyze complex risks while staying calm under pressure, which turns a hurdle into a real opportunity.
Staying Ahead of the Global Curve
From the outset, Ester has considered the future of global trade as something already taking shape rather than a distant possibility. Modernizing operations, in her view, is no longer a choice but a shift leaders must actively embrace. Technologies such as automated supply chain planning and electronic documentation are steadily becoming the standard, and companies that delay this transition risk losing their edge.
That said, Ester is clear that technology alone isn’t the differentiator. Just as critical is the increasing complexity of oversight. Cross-border commerce is moving toward tighter scrutiny, clearer reporting, and higher compliance expectations. For leaders, this translates to staying ahead of legal shifts instead of scrambling to respond after the fact.
She also discusses a visible change in what partners value. Sustainability, responsible sourcing, and ethical conduct are no longer just talking points. They increasingly influence which firms businesses choose to associate with. Add to this the reality of shifting trade routes, and the operating environment becomes far less predictable than it once was.
To Ester, the answer lies in stability. Leaders must invest in innovation while developing organizations that can pivot when necessary. The companies that will survive are those that plan with agility, strengthen their long-term partnerships, and stay the course while the scenario changes.
Advising Next Generation
To aspiring leaders, Ester urges a strong start with technical fundamentals. In a field as layered as international commerce, she contends, “credibility comes from knowledge.” A solid grasp of logistics and risk management lays the groundwork for executives to make sound choices and earn the confidence of those around them.
At the same time, she is quick to point out that expertise alone doesn’t carry a business very far. Global trade runs on relationships and those are built slowly, through clear communication and keeping one’s word. Reputation, she mentions, is influenced less by big wins and more by reliability over time.
Ester also encourages future professionals to develop resilience, not the loud, performative kind, but the ability to stay steady when things don’t go as planned. Markets don’t remain still, and that means the pressure of adapting to it is part of the job. What matters is to turn your view of setbacks from obstacles to beneficial wisdom. Above all, Ester emphasizes principle. Influence comes from doing things the right way, even if it’s the hard way. “Making an impact,” she explains, “isn’t just about growing a business. It also implies raising standards and contributing positively to the industry as a whole.”
A Legacy Meant to Last
When Ester reflects on the footprint she hopes to leave behind, the conversation moves well beyond balance sheets or expansion maps. What matters to her is the durability of the foundation. Something that’s built on virtue, resilience, and positive impact. She wants her tenure to be remembered not just for building a successful company, but for the trust, ethical standards, and long-term relationships that made that growth possible.
For Ester, leadership has always been about responsibility, creating opportunities for others, developing people, and building systems that continue to function and evolve even without direct oversight. “Building a company is important, but building character and legacy is essential,” she declares. This belief has quietly shaped the choices she has made over the years.
She also hopes her journey shows future leaders that success in global business does not require skimping on due diligence. Ester believes that a lack of transparency, strategic thinking, and respect for people and partnerships are the practical strengths that make success far-fetched. If the next generation feels encouraged to lead with courage, adaptability, and purpose, she believes that legacy has real meaning.
Ultimately, Ester hopes to leave behind a company culture that empowers people to dream bigger, act with integrity, and contribute to a stronger and more connected global market.
