Choosing Joy in the Valleys of Business & Loss | Luis Guilherme Di Ciero Fernandes
Luis Guilherme Di Ciero Fernandes
Managing Director for the South American branch of Alexander Hughes
Welcome to a special written series adapted from the Anchoring Hope podcast, hosted by David Mansilla. In this space, we seek to shine a light on the incredible testimonies of marketplace leaders, ultimate glorifying our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, we are diving deep into the life and faith of Luis Guilherme Di Ciero Fernandes. Based in São Paulo, Brazil, Luis is a mechanical engineer turned corporate finance executive, who now serves as the Managing Director for the South American branch of Alexander Hughes, a premier French executive search firm. But beyond his impressive corporate titles, Luis is a man of deep Catholic faith, a devoted family man, and a leader who lives out the Gospel daily by choosing joy in all circumstances.
Here is his journey—a story of passion, professional transformation, profound personal resilience, and the undeniable guiding hand of God.
Driven by Passion, Guided by a Hidden Legacy
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." — Proverbs 3:5-6
From the moment I could grasp the thrill of the automotive world, I knew exactly where my future lay: engineering. My childhood dream was to work at GM, the creators of my aspiration—the Corvette. That dream became a reality, and I found myself immersed in a fast-paced environment, contributing to projects across LatAm. Every challenge, every innovation fueled my passion, making those years unforgettable. For nearly a decade, I traveled the world, launching car models in Russia, procuring parts in Germany, and soaking in the automotive culture.
Yet, God often uses our secular passions to build our character for a grander design. While I loved the work, the grueling corporate politics and the sheer waste of resources within mega-corporations began to weigh on my spirit. I am a productivity freak; I like to see things work honestly and efficiently. I realized that while cars were my passion, they didn't have to be my labor.
That is when the Lord revealed a hidden legacy inherited from my father. Growing up, he was an auditor for PWC for over 30 years. I used to look at his finance career as the dullest thing in the world. But God has a sense of humor and a perfect plan. I had inherited his knack for numbers, cost management, and strategy.
After 8 exhilarating years in the automotive industry, I was offered an opportunity by Linde Gas to step into the world of finance as a Business Controller. They were specifically looking for an engineer with a keen eye for cost reduction who wanted to make a shift to finance. It was a position you would never find posted on LinkedIn. My engineering background made the transition surprisingly exciting. Suddenly, I was responsible for 26 plants across 8 countries, streamlining operations, optimizing investments, and driving best practices. It was the perfect blend of precision engineering and financial acumen.
Navigating Corporate Waters with Faith and Fellowship
As my career in finance progressed, I began to see that business isn't just about spreadsheets and numbers; it is entirely about relationships and integrity. In finance, especially when dealing with compliance and governance, it is easy to become isolated. You don't make many friends when your job is to find what people are doing wrong. But I resolved not to be a CFO known only for saying "no." I wanted to use finance to find the right path to "yes" — a path where everyone wins.
Then came another pivotal moment, thanks to Albert Tuteleers, a mentor and true game-changer in my career. Albert was a Belgian executive search consultant who originally interviewed me for a role at Fresenius Medical Care. I got the job, navigating the complex world of pharma, healthcare, and clinics. But more importantly, Albert and I became deeply bonded in friendship, sharing golf games and family gatherings over the years.
Eventually, when Fresenius relocated its operations to Rio, it wasn’t the right time for my family to move. Trusting in God's timing, I stepped into another exciting chapter at Pitney Bowes, serving as the CFO for LATAM, diving deep into the tech-driven world of capital equipment and printing solutions.
Throughout those 15 years in finance, I learned that if you honor God in your marketplace conduct, He provides the ultimate security. I operated on a golden corporate rule taught to me by a high-level executive decades ago: "Truth has no memory." If you never lie, you never have to exhaust yourself remembering what you said. Honesty and moral values aren't just religious concepts; they are the bedrock of sustainable leadership.
The Boldest Chapter: From Numbers to Human Souls
In 2017, the Lord shifted my path in a way I never could have engineered myself. My longtime friend and mentor, Albert, came to me. At 78 years old, he was ready to retire to Portugal. He didn't ask me a question or make a formal offer. He simply looked at me and said, "Here is my client portfolio. You're going to take care of it. Alexander Hughes wants to open an office in Brazil, and you have two days to set up your company. Goodbye."
I was stunned. I told him, "Albert, what are you doing to me? I'm an engineer and a finance guy. I don't even like people! Why do you think I can do this?"
Albert smiled and said, "I know you. I’ve watched how you treat your clients and your employees. You are much more capable than you think. You’re going to love it."
Taking that leap of faith was the boldest chapter of my journey. Since 2017, we have built a thriving executive search practice across South America. This human-centered role has been an absolute revelation. It turns out, I do love people. God took my analytical expertise and blended it beautifully with the art of understanding human potential.
Now, instead of analyzing machinery or spreadsheets, I interview seven executives a day, looking past their corporate armor to unlock their true, God-given competence.
The Leadership Style of Christ: Joy as a Counter-Cultural Choice
The world tells leaders to be ruthless, defensive, and suspicious. But Jesus invites us to a entirely different standard. My leadership style in executive search is built on an intentional, counter-cultural choice: Unconditional trust and radical joy.
When a candidate sits across from me—often someone who has just lost a job, feeling down, defeated, or desperate—the very first question I ask them is: "Out of your whole career, what position did you love the most?"
At first, they are caught off guard. But as they search their memories, a smile breaks across their face. It’s like the flip of a switch. They stop dwelling on their immediate failure and remember that they are competent, valuable, and uniquely gifted.
As Christians, we are explicitly commanded in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances." Joy is not an emotion that depends on a perfect day; it is a decision anchored in Christ.
My philosophy with people is simple: 99% of people are intrinsically good. I choose to start every relationship with 100% trust, rather than making people earn it. It is a much happier, much more fulfilling way to live and lead. Good people attract good people. Out of the thousands of executives I interview every year, almost all of them become true, lifelong friends. We have even started a monthly gathering called the Brotherhood of Knowledge to share our struggles, exchange notes, and spread wisdom to the world. Competence, dedication, and faith will always outlast the dark, cynical trends of this world.
Anchored in Hope Through Life’s Deepest Valleys
It is easy to speak of joy when you are driving your dream car or running a successful business. But true, saving faith is forged in the darkest valleys of human existence.
During our conversation, David shared a devastating story of a past guest who lost an infant child. Tears welled in my eyes as I responded with two words that instantly bonded our hearts: "Me too."
Years ago, my wife and I lost our infant son when he was just 19 days old. It was an agonizing, traumatic experience that tested the very fabric of our family. When a tragedy like that strikes, you have two choices : You can become bitter, angry, and turn away from God, or you can surrender to His sovereignty.
We chose to believe that our little boy is an angel in heaven, looking over our shoulders and encouraging us to walk the right path. Christ tells us, "Let the little children come to me." (Matthew 19:14). Knowing my son is safely in the arms of eternity changes how I view this brief, material world. We get so addicted to our earthly possessions, forgetting that this life is just a tiny fraction of our eternal existence.
God has been incredibly kind to me. On my 40th birthday, my wonderful wife surprised me with a 1976 Corvette—the exact model year I was born. It sits as a beautiful reminder of a childhood passion that God never forgot. Today, when I’m not embracing vintage car culture, you’ll find me hitting the tennis court, enjoying a fine wine, or cherishing every single moment with my three surviving, wonderful children.
Life truly is 95% beautiful blessings, but humans tend to hyper-focus on the 5% that brings sadness or trouble. My prayer for you today is that you let go of the 5%. Trust that your problems will resolve under God's watchful eye. Approach the world with hope, love unconditionally, and remember that no matter how dark the headlines seem, love and truth have already won the ultimate victory.
If you’d like to connect, share a story, or discuss your own career journey, look me up on LinkedIn under Luis Guilherme Di Ciero Fernandes. As a personal rule of fellowship: I never say no to a cup of coffee. God bless you!
Author: Jovilyn Abella
“Truth has no memory. If you never lie, you’re not—you’re never going to remember the lie that you told. So much easier to tell the truth. Don’t lie because it’s harder to find, to remember who you lied to and what kind of lie you told.”
