Some people seem to have an internal clock that ticks faster than most. They move through the stages of life with remarkable clarity and achieve great things early on. Judging by her career trajectory, Larissa Casassa appears to be one of them. She was leading teams before even completing her university studies. And today, despite her relatively short career, she has already worked on major infrastructure projects—like Line 6 of the São Paulo Metro in Brazil—and made the leap to Australia, even though she was not initially fluent in English. All this has happened thanks to ACCIONA.
This story is a testament to what determination, curiosity and a love of learning can achieve when channelled into a single purpose. Read on to learn how Larissa has turned change and challenge into the cornerstones of her growth.
The drive to learn and work
Larissa began working at an early age to become financially independent and fund her education, but one of the first things she shares in our interview is a piece of advice from her mother: “My mum always used to talk to me and my siblings. She told us we could work, but if our grades dropped, she would make us stop.” Today, Larissa’s parents are proud that all their children have gone on to become engineers or entrepreneurs based around the world.
Back to Larissa—by the age of 18, shortly after starting her studies, she was already working for a company focused on infrastructure maintenance. She recalls long, gruelling days that started at 4:30 a.m. and ended around midnight, fitting university around a demanding work schedule.
And civil engineering was far from the easiest option. She studied at Faculdade Tecnológica Tatuapé, Mogi das Cruzes University, and ultimately completed her degree at the University of São Paulo. Numbers had always been her strength, and while she once considered interior design or architecture, engineering was the clear winner. “I really enjoy working, trying new things and learning as much as I can,” she says.
Even in her first “proper” job, she was already supervising a team of 11 men. After two years, she became a team leader. So by the time she graduated—when most students were only just starting internships—Larissa already had five years of experience under her belt working as a supervisor.
One more step toward starting in the world of engineering
After finishing her degree, Larissa continued to build her career—though not initially in an engineering role. But a passing comment in a family conversation would soon turn her life upside down. “I’ve always been drawn to big infrastructure projects like the metro, bridges or airports. So when I heard that ACCIONA was coming to Brazil to work on Line 6, I was thrilled.”
Her future boss was just about to transfer from the Quito Metro project to lead Brazil’s largest infrastructure undertaking—São Paulo’s Line 6 metro. Although Brazilian, he had spent many years abroad and reached out to contacts in search of local engineers willing to join the project. One of Larissa’s cousins mentioned that she had a relative who was keen to work as an engineer. And so, at the end of 2020, Larissa entered the interview process. “In the end, they offered me a job—but not as an engineer. I started out as a planning technician.”
Before moving into an engineering role, Larissa had to train and grow within the company. “They said they would teach me how to work in planning, which I didn’t have much experience in. At first it was really tough—I had never worked on a metro project or inside a tunnel,” she recalls.
Fortunately, she had strong support. “My boss was like a teacher. I wouldn’t be where I am now if it weren’t for him—and for the way he took the time to guide me through everything. ACCIONA was completely different from other companies in Brazil at the time.”
“The opportunity ACCIONA gave me really changed my life. It’s a company that transforms the lives of the people who work there.”
Soon after, her boss began assigning her engineering tasks. Larissa describes the learning process and how much it gave her. “The opportunity ACCIONA gave me changed my life. It’s a company that transforms the lives of those who work there. When I joined the sector, I learnt not just from my boss but from all my colleagues. They work in a way where, if you do not know something, they teach you. If you have a question, you can ask—and they’ll sit down and explain it to you.”
A space for social and technological innovation
So what did she mean when she said ACCIONA was different? “When I started at ACCIONA, I noticed a lot of women working there—not just as engineers. ACCIONA has done something really special in Brazil: they’ve trained women in trades like welding and construction. That made a big difference for me,” she explains. That perspective has been embodied in initiatives like the segment production factory for Line 6, which is 70% staffed by women.
“ACCIONA has done something really good in Brazil by training women in trades like welding and construction. That made a big impact on me.”
“I’ve had women as my managers,” she says. “Reaching that kind of role is tough for us as women, but seeing it happen inside the company gives you hope—you think, one day, that could be me.” But the differences she noticed were not limited to gender representation. “I started using software I had never even heard of before. I saw lots of new surveying technologies being brought in from ACCIONA’s Madrid office to Brazil. And then there were all the engineering challenges on site—especially the tunnelling. ACCIONA invests in technologies you don’t see in other companies.” She was later promoted to supervisor, and eventually to engineer.
iXPA: A gateway to a global company
One term that often comes up when speaking with young ACCIONA talent is iXPA—the International Xperiential Programme in Project Administration. It’s a collaboration with the Technical University of Madrid aimed at training the company’s future leaders. Larissa is no exception—she too was given the opportunity to participate and grow through the experience. It came about a little over two years after joining the company, when she saw a post about the programme on LinkedIn.
“Doing the iXPA was really tough for me because the classes were in English, but it was a fantastic opportunity to learn more and get to know the company better. The course was all about personal growth—to prepare us to become project leaders in the future,” she reflects.
“(iXPA) was an incredible chance to speak with directors from other countries while attending the classes.”
“I thrive on challenges—the harder, the better—because it’s through overcoming obstacles that we grow. That’s how we become better professionals and better people. So for me, it was incredible,” she adds.
As well as developing her leadership skills, the programme opened a window to the wider world—not just through contact with students from countries like Australia and Spain, but also by gaining insight into ACCIONA’s international operations. “We studied real projects that ACCIONA has in lots of different countries. We also had the chance to speak to directors from around the world, which was amazing to experience while we were still attending classes.”
One course, three positions in one year
While completing the one-year programme, Larissa also had the chance to work in different areas of the company. “I really enjoyed planning, but my boss told me it would be a good idea to get to know other parts of the business. So I moved into tunnel production. At first, I didn’t want to change roles, but when I did, it was amazing to do something totally different.”
“The more challenges and changes you have in your career, the more you learn—and the better you understand how everything fits together.”.
But tunnel production was just another step in her learning journey. “After six months, I moved again—this time into geotechnics. And once again, it was all new. I learnt so much from working with new tools, new software, new managers, and a new team.” She adds with infectious energy: “It was brilliant—because the more challenges you face in your career, the more changes you experience, the more you learn and the better you understand how everything fits together.”
And the learning journey was far from over. Because after completing the course, she was offered an even more dramatic change—not just of department, but of continent.
Off to the land of the kangaroos
Larissa finished the iXPA programme mid-year and was soon approached about an international opportunity. “At first, I had no plans to move abroad. I’ve always liked being close to my family in Brazil. All my relatives live there, and I didn’t want to be far from them.”
Still, the prospect of discovering something new proved too tempting—and by August, she was already in interviews. “When the opportunity to move to Australia came up, I decided to go for it,” she remembers.
But another factor nearly stopped her. We have already mentioned how proud Larissa’s parents are of her success—but when it came time to move, things were complicated. “When ACCIONA asked me to go to Australia, I almost said no—because we had just found out that my mum had cancer. I told them I didn’t want to leave the country, that I wanted to stay close to her.”
“My mum told me (Australia) was a great opportunity—not something that comes around every day.”
She recalls the pivotal conversation: “I remember her saying, ‘I’m so proud of you. This is a huge opportunity—not everyone gets to work in another country. Of course I’d love to have you here, but I know this is what’s best for your career. You’ll learn a new language and grow so much. And don’t worry—I’ve got the rest of the family here with me.’” The decision was clear: it was time to change continents—and sectors.
From infrastructure to energy
“I came to work on a massive energy transmission project—more than 230 kilometres long.” But the challenge was not just about the new sector. “It’s my first time working in energy, and I have to speak English—which isn’t even my second language,” she laughs, referring to the Spanish in which this interview takes place.
“Everyone here has been really patient with me. I think it’s because the company is so multicultural—people come from everywhere and those differences are respected.” And she tells us that she spends her work day with Indians, Iranians, Germans, French and Brazilians. “I think, if we put them all together, we speak more than sixteen different languages.”
Now based in Sydney, she works three hours away from the project site. “Right now, I’m handling the documentation side of things. We have to make sure the massive pylons can cross highways safely,” she says. “I think I’ll have to relocate later this year, but I’m not sure exactly when.”
She also tells us about a programme for local women along the route of the high-voltage line. “ACCIONA ran a short training course for some local women—Australian women—and now some of them are working with us. A few even work directly on my team.”
“I think if you counted us all, we probably speak more than sixteen different languages on the team”.
And what about exploring more of the country? “Australia is a huge, beautiful place. I’d love to travel around if I get the chance. But I’m really enjoying life in Sydney. I’ve made good friends, I’ve got a great job—and I play football like any good Brazilian,” she says with a smile. And yes—she supports Corinthians.
We have only been speaking for an hour, but it feels like Larissa has lived an entire career of experiences, changes and growth. As we wrap up, she leaves us with a final reflection: “When I talk to my mum and dad, I always tell them—I’m living the best moment of my life.”
And the journey has only just begun.
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