Sebrae Business Woman Award celebrates the art of entrepreneurship in Maranhão

Art, entrepreneurship and recognition set the tone for the state Sebrae Business Woman Award ceremony, held on Sunday (16), during the Entrepreneur's Fair, at Multicenter Negócios e Eventos, in São Luís. In the Darcy Ribeiro auditorium, lights, music, costumes and characters transformed the event into an exhibition dedicated to the stories of women entrepreneurs in Maranhão. Winners and finalists of the 2026 Sebrae Business Woman Award celebrate, on stage, the recognition of the trajectories of women entrepreneurs in Maranhão. Sebrae/Disclosure On stage, the characters François Farcê and Maria led the audience through the “Art of Entrepreneurship”, a scenic narrative where the five award categories were staged from the perspective of different artistic movements. Expressionism The Microentrepreneur category was associated with Expressionism, a movement marked by the expression of emotions, identities and different ways of seeing the world. In entrepreneurship, the relationship appears in the way each woman puts her story, talent and identity into what she creates. The big winner in the category was Adriana Ramos, from São Luís, with Diôfit, a business specializing in healthy sweets. Upon receiving the award, she shared the recognition with the people who are part of her journey and highlighted the importance of starting, even when resources are still small. "For women who dream of becoming entrepreneurs, my message is: start with what you have, with what you can do. Even small, even at home. When we believe in what we do, we are able to grow and contribute to the lives of other people", she stated. Second place in the category went to Francisca Edjane Marques Barbosa, from Bacabal/Lago da Pedra, and third, to Denise Garcez dos Anjos, from São Luís. The nominees in the Microentrepreneur category, Adriana Ramos, from São Luís; Francisca Edjane Marques Barbosa, from Bacabal/Lago da Pedra; and Denise Garcez dos Anjos, from São Luís. Sebrae/Disclosure Modernism Modernism represented Small Businesses. Just as the artistic movement broke standards and opened up space for new forms of creation, entrepreneurship also requires the ability to transform to meet new challenges and opportunities. First place went to Ana Paula de Lima Araújo Grolli, from São Luís. At the head of Sabor da Ilha, a jam company produced with regional fruits from Maranhão, Ana Paula is part of an entrepreneurial story that began with her mother. The company has been on the market for 24 years, and she took over the business in 2021. "It's a feeling of gratitude and an honor to receive this award. I dedicate a lot to my mother, a great entrepreneur who preceded me in the company and who also deserved to be here. Sebrae was my birthplace in entrepreneurship. I have a degree in physiotherapy and, when I left the health sector, it was Sebrae that helped me follow this path", stated Ana Paula. Next, Simone dos Santos Coelho, from Estreito, won second place, and Laís Caldas Ruas, from São Luís, third. The nominees in the Small Business category, Ana Paula de Lima Araújo Grolli, from São Luís; Simone dos Santos Coelho Goas, from Estreito; and Laís Caldas Ruas, from São Luís. Sebrae/Disclosure Impressionism For the Rural Producer and Artisan category, the inspiration came from Impressionism and its relationship with nature, light and colors. The proposal spoke to businesses that are born from the ability to transform elements available in the territory, whether in rural production or handicrafts. The winner was Claudete Pereira de Oliveira, from São Luís, with Sítio Aconchego da Gorda, a business that carries in its name the identity of a trajectory now recognized by the award. “For me, this recognition is important because it shows that all the work and care we put into Sítio Aconchego da Gorda are paying off.” Second place went to Luzineide Andrade Fernandes, from Santa Inês/Vitória do Mearim, and third to Luciana Neres Moreira, from Açailândia/São Pedro da Água Branca. The nominees in the Rural Producer and Artisan category, Claudete Pereira de Oliveira, from São Luís; Luzineide Andrade Fernandes, from Santa Inês/Vitória do Mearim; and Luciana Neres Moreira, from Açailândia/São Pedro da Água Branca, during the Sebrae ceremony/Disclosure of Contemporary Art Science and Technology gained Contemporary Art as a reference, marked by experimentation and new ways of looking at already known issues. On stage, the connection appeared in a question: what if we did it differently? It is from this movement that innovation is also born, when a problem finds a new solution possibility. The winner was Carol Frota, from São Luís, founder of Sintropia Cosméticos, a natural cosmetics brand that uses active ingredients from Maranhão biomes and agroforestry ingredients. "For me, it is a very important recognition, because it shows that science and technology are also carried out outside the university, through an entrepreneurship perspective. At Sintropia Cosméticos, we innovate by working with natural assets from the biomes of Maranhão and with agroforestry assets, using nature and the best it has to offer." Ivanilde Cordeiro Pacheco, from São Luís, in second place, and Fernanda Porto Figueredo, from Açailândia, in third, were also recognized. The nominees in the Science and Technology category, Ana Frota, from São Luís; Ivanilde Cordeiro Pacheco, from São Luís; and Fernanda Porto Figueredo, from Açailândia, with the paintings received at the awards. Sebrae/Futurism Disclosure The awards ceremony ended with the International Business category, represented by Futurism, a movement linked to speed, displacement and transformation. The category recognizes companies that expand borders and take products and businesses from Maranhão to other markets. Urçula Herenio Quadro, from Imperatriz, was the only nominee in the category and received recognition from the award. The entrepreneur works with leather exports and, at the ceremony, was represented by Márcia Martins, g