What is it about stories?

The human story has always fascinated me. We share so much in common, yet each of us carries a completely different narrative — who we are at our core when we are being truly vulnerable and authentic with ourselves is something I think about often. Only until we are really able to see it in ourselves can we see it in others. I’ve worked with people’s stories for a long time, and I’ve found that most people deeply want to be heard, but few know how to really listen. I believe we’re in a global crisis of communication, and storytelling — especially when it’s received with care — is one way through it.

In my late thirties, a series of life events pulled me inward and asked me to look closely at my own origin story — who I am, where I come from, my birth story, my parents, and generations before me. It took nearly a decade of reflection, and eventually, I set all those pieces aside to ask: from all of that, who am I now, and who am I becoming? To take an active role in shaping your own story is powerful. It’s like the phoenix rising from ash — a myth that’s lasted through time for a reason.

While I’ve spent much of my career in real estate and property management, what’s always captivated me is the story of space — the way people move in and out of homes, how transitions carry emotion, memory, and meaning. I’ve been part of writing groups and storytelling projects for years, and I’ve found that when I share this lens, it resonates. Stories are how I make sense of my experience, how I connect with others, and how I try to create space for them to do the same.

Can you speak to your experience?

I grew up in my family’s real estate business — and it was truly hands-on. I watched homes get stripped to the studs and rebuilt while we lived in them. There were always tools and materials around, makeshift scaffolding outside my window, and buckets in the hallway catching roof leaks. My father is an immigrant and he built his business from the ground up, re-making spaces based on what people needed. That constant navigation of physical space — and the emotional weight spaces can carry — shaped me from an early age. I’ve always understood what it means to move through transitions, especially when space holds memory.

My father also passed down a fierce work ethic and a hunger for learning. I’ve paired that drive with both formal education and first-hand gleaning of skills. Growing up in a multilingual home made me sensitive to the nuances of language. Studying linguistics deepened that awareness, and through years of living and working across cultural and professional landscapes, I began to see how many conflicts — especially in the workplace — stem from poor communication.

I have this really long life experience around real estate, coupled with many years of deep exploratory work in marketing, communications, and conflict resolution. My work has spanned multiple business re-organizations, re-brands and other related transitions.

Depending on the project, I lean into different aspects of my skill set — but everything I do is rooted in helping people move through change with clarity, care, and intention.

Do you work alone or with a team?

It depends on the project, but when there is a need for more than what I can provide on my own and it’s relevant, I rely on a network of talented people that I’ve collaborated with for a long time — people who are specialists in training, mediation, media and technology, interior design and other tangential services. I have cultivated a group of people who share the same passion and drive that I do and I’ve known them all for a really long time. The goal is to be one stop on the client’s journey.

What is the significance behind the name Sereia?

The name Sereia holds a lot of meaning for me. The word means mermaid in Portuguese and the historical symbolism that mermaids have around human transformation and ‘finding one’s voice’ felt meaningful as I developed my independent work - both on a personal level and symbolically for my clients as well. Sereia is also my given apelido — or nickname — in capoeira, which is a Brazilian martial art that I have practiced for over two decades now.

But here is a small case study: In terms of landing on the name for my own public-facing story, I was actually in the middle of my own personal rebrand at the time. I was sitting with a dear friend who has known me for many years inside and outside of capoeira. I was sitting with her brainstorming a re-conceptualization of my business in order to really encapsulate all that I do, and she said, “It’s all you. You’re so talented and you’re able to help people in this really specific way that is so special. It’s you. It’s Sereia.” So that’s the moment where the name stuck.

What might a new client expect?

It really depends what each project calls for, but when someone reaches out, the first thing we do is spend time talking. I want to hear their story and understand what is their primary objective. Often there’s an objective that needs to be developed and that is where we start. When someone takes the initiative to reach out, it’s an important moment so I want to be sure I take the time necessary to really see the whole picture. How I work with each client is very unique to each situation, but from initial contact, we lay out a plan that will work to provide the best service.

Where are you located?

I live in the Pacific Northwest and hold a real estate license under RE/MAX Equity Group in the State of Oregon, but for consulting, marketing and story crafting projects, I can serve clients pretty much anywhere.

Do you have references?

I am honored to have some really wonderful references from people who have both retired as heads of large organizations as well as solo practitioners and people I’ve worked with across many industries. I am happy to provide these as requested.