The Women in Canmaking Association (WICA) recently hosted “If I Were an Aerosol: Releasing Purpose, Power, and Passion into the World,” featuring Alyne Silva, Executive President of the Brazilian Aerosol Association. Alyne shared a practical leadership framework built around the parts of an aerosol can, inviting attendees to examine their strengths, manage pressure, and lead with intention.

Key Takeaways

Your Can: Taking Care of Your Foundation

Alyne compared the structure of an aerosol can to the strength we need in our own lives. Just as the can must be solid enough to hold pressure, we need habits that support our physical and mental well-being. She talked about her daily routine of exercising every day for 28 years and how this consistency helps her feel ready for anything in her work and leadership.

Takeaway: Build routines that keep you grounded. A strong foundation makes you more resilient in high-pressure moments.

Your Content: Owning Your Essence and Direction

The contents of an aerosol represent its purpose. Alyne encouraged members to think about their own inner content and what truly motivates them. She shared how her career shifted when she realized she enjoyed developing people as much as engineering. That clarity helped her set a clear direction and eventually become the first woman president of ABAS in nearly 60 years.

Takeaway: Understanding your motivations helps you make better decisions about your career and leadership.

Pressure as Propellant: Turning Stress into Opportunity

Alyne described one of the biggest challenges she faced early in her role when aerosols in Brazil were suddenly classified as hazardous waste. Instead of treating the crisis as a setback, she approached it as an opportunity to collaborate, learn, and lead change. She told members that pressure can become a propellant when you choose to see it that way.

Takeaway: Stressful moments can move you forward. Reframing pressure can help you find solutions instead of roadblocks.

Your Valve: Protecting Emotional Balance

Just as an aerosol valve controls the flow of the product, leaders need practices that help them stay balanced. Alyne shared simple habits such as reviewing her goals, noting what she is grateful for, and taking small moments to pause before reacting. These routines help her stay calm and focused even during difficult periods.

Takeaway: Emotional balance comes from consistent habits that help you stay steady during high-pressure moments.

Your Spray: The Impact You Leave Behind

The final part of Alyne’s analogy focused on the “spray,” or the impact you leave behind. She highlighted how efforts across ABAS, including new training programs, partnerships, and sustainability work, helped expand the organization’s reach. She reminded members that when your foundation, purpose, energy, and balance are aligned, your impact becomes much stronger.

Takeaway: Your influence grows when your actions and values work together.

Final Thoughts

Alyne Silva’s session offers a practical and memorable way to think about leadership. Her session reminds us that lasting impact begins when we take the time to understand ourselves, embrace our passions, and act with intention.