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SiG MT 16 S MT THE LIMITLESS POTENTIAL OF AN hen Vision Net welcomed aisa Souza as its new marketing manager on January 1, she hit the ground running and never looked back. "It's been great, but very busy!" she laughs. "As an immigrant and a woman, you hear things about how you won't get a high-quality job in the U.S., but luckily that hasn't been the case for me. I am really grateful to be here in Great Falls and I think it is a great community." Although she'd be the last person to tout her many achievements, aisa is an innovative problem-solver with a proven record of pushing past barriers that would likely stop most people in their tracks. Originally from Brazil, aisa earned one degree in publicity and advertising and a second in business administration and management before she added a MBA in marketing to her credentials. Along the way, she co-founded a business that helped people in her community learn basic computer skills. "e city brought in computer labs, but people weren't using them because they didn't know how," she explains. "My passion is education. Helping them made me feel like I was making a change in the world." e company's efforts have been praised nationally and internationally. In 2017, aisa's love of American culture led her to travel to her aunt's home in Missoula on a student visa. "Knowing English is very important in any country," she says. "So, I decided to learn to improve myself and my job opportunities." She enrolled in a one-year English program in Missoula, but wrapped it up in half that time. Soon aerwards, she met her husband, relocated to Great Falls, and worked internships while she waited for her green card. Vision Net snatched her up at the first opportunity. "I am really impressed with the company," aisa says. "I like technology and thought it would be a great fit. Everybody was really welcoming." She is now responsible for coordinating the company's marketing campaigns, events, and social media management – a fast-paced field where everything is constantly changing. "I read a lot and listen to find out what customers want," aisa says. "If you're open, you can learn incredible things." OPEN MIND W TEXT BY HOLLY MATKIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARA YOUNG INTRODUCING URBAN AFFAIRS

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