Brazilian Author Helen Stall Turns a New Beginning in the U.S. Into a Story of Purpose
Brainz Magazine Exclusive Interview
For Brazilian author and mentor Helen Stall, starting over was never the destination. It was the beginning of a more purposeful journey. Drawing on her background in communications and personal development, she shares how a new chapter in the United States inspired her bilingual book, "Do Recomeço ao Propósito", and shaped her vision of empowering others through reinvention, self-leadership, and meaningful change.
Helen Stall, Author of Do Recomeço ao Propósito
Helen, what inspired you to begin a new chapter of your life in the United States?
Moving to the United States represented much more than a geographical change. It was a conscious decision to reinvent myself and explore new possibilities after a period of profound personal transformation.
I had built a life and professional career in Brazil, but I reached a point where I understood that my future did not have to be defined by my past.
Coming to America gave me the opportunity to look at my life from a different perspective, invest in personal development, and reconnect with the professional interests and dreams I wanted to pursue.
For me, reinvention is not about becoming someone else. It is about rediscovering who you are and having the courage to create a new direction. What was the most important thing you discovered about yourself during this process?
The most important discovery was realizing that my identity was never defined by what I had lost, but by who I was capable of becoming.
For many years, I had built my life around responsibilities, relationships, and professional achievements. When so much of that changed, I had to rediscover myself beyond the roles I had occupied.
Moving to the United States brought new challenges, especially the language barrier, cultural differences, and the experience of rebuilding my independence in an unfamiliar country.
Through this process, I discovered a strength that I had not fully recognized before. I learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to move forward despite it.
Most importantly, I understood that starting over does not mean abandoning who we are. It means reconnecting with our essence and allowing ourselves to grow.
Your professional background is in communications. How has that influenced your new direction as an author and mentor?
Communication has always been central to my life. I studied Social Communication in Brazil, and expressing ideas, connecting with people, and building relationships have always been among my greatest strengths.
Throughout my journey, I came to understand that our voices can be powerful instruments of transformation.
Today, I want to use mine with greater intention: through my book, mentoring, and my plans to develop an international speaking career.
I believe that sharing experiences and knowledge can open meaningful conversations about autonomy, confidence, leadership, and personal growth. Was there a particular moment during the writing process when you realized how much you had grown?
Yes. There was a moment when I realized I could revisit some of the most difficult chapters of my life without feeling that they defined my present or my future.
Writing "Do Recomeço ao Propósito" or in English is "From a New Beginning to Purpose" required me to look honestly at my experiences, including moments of loss, uncertainty, and profound personal transformation.
At first, writing was a way of organizing memories and understanding everything I had experienced. But gradually, something changed.
I stopped looking at my story only through the lens of what had happened to me and began recognizing everything I had learned along the way.
That was when I understood how much I had grown.
The book became more than a personal account. It became a way of transforming my experiences into a message that could encourage other people to believe in new possibilities.
What inspired you to write your book, "Do Recomeço ao Propósito"?
I decided to write this book because I didn’t want my most difficult experiences to have been in vain.
I wanted my story to reach people who may be facing uncertainty or significant changes in their own lives and remind them that a new beginning is always possible.
Writing became a way of transforming personal experience into something meaningful.
The title, "Do Recomeço ao Propósito" reflects that journey. Starting over was the first step, but I eventually realized that rebuilding my life was not enough. I wanted to give that new chapter a deeper purpose.
My book is about that transition: from simply beginning again to discovering what makes that new beginning meaningful.
How have Brazil and the United States shaped your understanding of identity, belonging, and personal growth?
Brazil is where my roots, my family, and much of my personal and professional history were built. It is an essential part of my identity.
The United States, on the other hand, has become a place of rediscovery, independence, and new perspectives.
Arriving in a country where I was still learning the language challenged me in ways I had never experienced before. Even simple daily situations required patience, courage, and adaptability.
Living between these two cultures taught me that belonging is not determined exclusively by geography. It is also something we develop within ourselves.
I have learned to appreciate my Brazilian roots while embracing the opportunities to grow in a different environment.
Today, I see my experience across both countries as a bridge between cultures, perspectives, and people. It has strengthened my desire to connect with women who are rebuilding their lives, wherever they may be.
Why did you decide to publish your book in both Portuguese and English?
I wanted the message of my book to travel beyond geographical and cultural boundaries.
Portuguese connects me to my roots, my family, and the country where my story began. English allows me to communicate with a much broader international readership.
Although our backgrounds and circumstances may differ, the desire for autonomy, belonging, personal growth, and meaningful change is something many people share.
Publishing in both languages is an important step toward connecting with readers in Brazil, the United States, Europe, and beyond.
Is there a particular lesson or insight from your studies that has fundamentally changed the way you approach life or leadership?
One of the most meaningful lessons I have learned is that personal growth begins with the way we interpret our experiences and the possibilities we believe are available to us.
Through my studies in positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, leadership through Harvard’s online education platform, and spirituality, health, and healing through Augusta University, I began connecting academic knowledge with experiences I had lived personally.
Positive psychology, particularly the work of Martin Seligman, helped me better understand the importance of resilience, meaning, and the role of our mindset in personal development.
My leadership studies also reinforced an important perspective: leadership begins with the ability to take responsibility for our choices, adapt to uncertainty, and act according to our values.
These lessons have influenced not only how I approach my own life but also how I hope to support others.
For me, education is not simply about accumulating certificates. It is about expanding our understanding, challenging limiting beliefs, and applying knowledge in ways that create meaningful change.
How has education and personal development influenced your transformation?
I believe personal development is an ongoing process. My background in communications gave me a strong foundation, but entering a new stage of life encouraged me to continue learning.
I pursued additional education through online courses in Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, Leadership through Harvard’s edX platform, and Spirituality, Health, and Healing through Augusta University.
These complementary learning experiences expanded my perspective on human development and strengthened my interest in understanding how people can rebuild their confidence, develop autonomy, and discover new possibilities with purpose.
For me, education is not simply about acquiring credentials. It is about expanding the way we think, lead, communicate, and contribute. What is the one change you hope to inspire in the people who hear your story?
Above all, I want people to recognize that their past does not have to determine the limits of their future.
I know what it means to experience profound changes, to question your own abilities, and to face the uncertainty of beginning again.
But I also know that a new chapter can bring opportunities for growth, self-discovery, and a renewed sense of purpose.
As I expand my work as an author, mentor, and speaker, my goal is to encourage people, especially women, to reconnect with their potential, strengthen their independence, and take meaningful steps toward the lives they want to build.
I do not believe that transformation happens overnight or that every challenge has a simple solution. Real change requires awareness, commitment, and consistent action.
If my story inspires even one person to believe that a different future is possible and to take the first step toward it, then sharing my journey will have been worthwhile.
What is your vision for the future, and what message would you like to share with an international audience?
My vision is to expand my work as an author and mentor while developing opportunities to speak to audiences in Brazil, the United States, and Europe.
I want to contribute to conversations about reinvention, self-leadership, personal autonomy, and purpose.
One message I deeply believe in is that we should never allow one difficult chapter to define our entire story.
We cannot always choose what happens to us, but we can gradually rediscover our ability to make choices about what comes next.
Sometimes, the most meaningful transformation begins when we give ourselves permission to start again.
A new beginning becomes even more powerful when it is guided by purpose.
To learn more about Helen Stall, her inspiring journey of reinvention, and her upcoming book "Do Recomeço ao Propósito", follow her on Instagram.
