Lais Pontes Greene is the Founder and President of The Pontes Group, a leading public relations, and marketing agency. She was honored by Forbes Magazine as a 30 under 30 and, in over eight of being in business, has evolved from a small fashion PR agency into a respected leader in the marketing world. Lais has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Fox Business, and more.
Favorite quote: “Someone once told me not to bite off more than I could chew. I said I rather choke on greatness than nibble on mediocrity” – Unknown
Fun fact: I speak English, Portuguese, Spanish, and am currently learning Italian with my oldest son. We have a way to go but are enjoying this shared hobby!
How do you unwind after a long day of work? After work, I wind down with my two sons. The time between when I stop working for the day and their bedtime is very precious to me.
What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them? When I first launched my business, I was in my early 20’s and felt a need to prove myself because of that. To be taken seriously, I knew I had to work harder than anyone else. I did two things that helped. I quickly worked to open a second office, and I also took advantage of every media opportunity. This gave me credibility and visibility, allowing me to scale and grow.
What has been the most monumental moment of your career thus far? Being selected as a Forbes 30 under 30 was a pivotal moment in my career. In a way it cemented the fact that I was on the right path and allowed myself to grow both personally and professionally.
Who are your role models? My mom is my role model. She has always fought so hard for her education and career, showing me that with hard work anything is possible. We came from humble beginnings and have come so far. It truly is inspiring and provides me great motivation.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten? Find mentors. Getting insight from someone who has been there before allows you to avoid costly business decisions, look at things from a fresh perspective, and just have that access to many years of experiences you may not have yet had. As a young entrepreneur, this was so key to my growth.
What advice would you give a young woman at the start of her career? Never stop learning. Having a curious mind will enable self-growth and allow you to always be the best version of yourself.
How does being a woman has impacted your career? Being a woman didn’t really affect my career until I became a mother. Then it was a balancing act of still serving my clients in the way they deserve while also being a present parent. It takes a lot of commitment, delegating in work and home life, and accept that perfection might not always happen.
