# Flávia Elizalde's transformation journey

> Flávia Elizalde, a Brazilian astrophysicist turned internet entrepreneur, transformed her identity and career during a pandemic pause.
- Title: Flávia Elizalde's transformation journey · valorinternational
- Summary: Flávia Elizalde, a Brazilian astrophysicist turned internet entrepreneur, transformed her identity and career during a pandemic pause.
- Keywords: flavia elizalde, mcafee, internet service provider, gender transition, crossfit, sao paulo, brazil, valorinternational
- Source: valorinternational — https://valorinternational.globo.com/business/news/2026/11/04/the-cataclysmic-force-of-transformation.ghtml
- Published: 2026-11-04T21:00:01.069+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: flavia elizalde, mcafee, internet service provider, gender transition, crossfit, sao paulo, brazil, business, money
## Flávia Elizalde's identity
Flávia Elizalde, a Brazilian astrophysicist, founded Brazil's first internet service provider in the early 1990s.
## Her early career
She earned a physics degree in Porto Alegre and a doctorate in astrophysics from INPE in São José dos Campos.
## Internet service provider
She sold her Volkswagen Gol to fund an internet service provider that broke even in three months.
## Career shift
After selling her company, she worked at iG and Positivo, where she stayed for eight years.
## McAfee leadership
In 2019, she became head of McAfee's Brazilian operations after being chosen from a selection process.
## Gender transition
She began her gender transition during the pandemic, after years of self-discovery and therapy.
## Support from leadership
Her boss supported her transition, saying she 'already performs well but will soar now that she no longer maintains an identity that is not hers'.

> You are my sister at heart. I support you 100%. And one thing is very clear to me: you already perform well, but your performance will soar now that you no longer have to spend energy maintaining an identity that is not yours. It is going to be incredible.
## Transformation impact
Her transition led to deeper connections with colleagues and a more authentic professional identity.
## Key takeaway

Flávia Elizalde, a Brazilian astrophysicist turned internet entrepreneur, transformed her identity and career during a pandemic pause.