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Viewed as Orange Business Services’ “poster child” for a team player, Emilia Lagoa is leaving behind quite a legacy. Hailing from Portugal, her hard work exceeded expectations, as Lagoa was always willing to put forth maximum effort at work day in and day out. She worked her way up from being a cook/maid when she first emigrated to the US to being a buyer for an international telecom company, reminding people that it is not about where you started.
“She is like ‘Six Million Dollar’ Woman having to overcome: life, starting anew in a different country, having to raise a grandchild while doing the day-to-day corporate grind – all the while dealing with multiple medical ‘issues,’” good friend and work colleague Jamie Hunt said. “She is a symbol of strength and perseverance for any human (woman or man). And through all of the ups and downs, she maintained a positive and uplifting sense of humor.”
Lagoa has not ever let anyone or anything bring her down. She is a model of consistency and positivity… along with being the most caring person in the room. When you ask any number of her coworkers, they will tell you Lagoa’s heart is always in the right place. And that she is passionate and has a super strong work ethic.
Stepping right in and helping with a lot of care in her heart is just part of Lagoa’s DNA. She has been doing that ever since she helped raise her brother when her mom got sick, and ever since the day she started at Orange she has treated all her colleagues like family. She has been a role model to them and a true motherly figure, and the way her coworkers talk about her really emphasizes this.
“Her work ethic is above and beyond reproach,” Hunt said. “I feel like sometimes I’m answering to my mother. She’ll ask me, ‘Have you seen this? Have you done this?’ She’s not my manager, but it is that motherly instinct. She’ll work from like 5 am to like 12 or 1 am. There’s a maternal instinct that drives her.”
Now that Lagoa has retired, there are some huge shoes to fill. The amount of work that she put in each and every day is something that, at the time may have been taken for granted, but it is not anymore. Everyone she worked with realizes just how much extra time and effort she put into the job.
“Emilia is always ready to help and there is no time for her when she starts her workday and when she finishes,” colleague Mario Matar said. “Most of the time, she would start early around 5:30 am (or earlier sometimes) and she would finish very late in the day. She is a fun person to work with and a caring person too. She will be missed!”
The crazy part is, the drive in Lagoa never seemed to bring a sense of tiredness or unhappiness to her face. No matter how little sleep she got the night before, she always came into work the next day with a smile on her face, ready to hit the ground running.
Lagoa had a way of helping make meetings way less excruciating and stressful too. She had been the great instigator of conversation, and she gave her colleagues hope that one day they will have a face-to-face meeting in Cancún.
There are plenty of other things that have made Lagoa such a great coworker too. She has a great sense of humor, and she also has a way of connecting with people on a more personal level. She really helped mesh the personal life with the work life, making her colleagues feel open and honest with each other all the time.
Lagoa has felt so connected to her colleagues over the years that, during a work trip last year, she and her colleague that shared a room were hitting a travel bong together. Talk about feeling comfortable around one another!
There are so many other memorable moments Lagoa’s colleagues have shared with her as well, and the memories are some of the things that will be missed the most about working with her.
“My fondest memories of Emilia relate to her genuine caring for those around her – be they family, friends or colleagues,” colleague Tim Ecton said. “She never started a conversation with a ‘work’ item. It was always, ‘How are you’ or, ‘How is the family.’”
“My fondest memory is meeting Emilia for the first time at the Oak Hill site in 2006 for the seven-step training by Etienne De Tapol,” colleague Aicha Janan said. “I was transferred from the France Telecom side of the house to Equant. Emilia was so welcoming to me and, over the years, Emilia never changed the warm and kind person that she is. I will miss her good humor during the All Hands and her teaming attitude. Enjoy the next chapter in your life surrounded by your loved ones.”
When the best memories involve reminding people how caring and compassionate you are, you are doing something right. That is what helps set Lagoa apart from the field, and it is why she will be missed beyond measure at Orange.
“There are so many things I will miss. For example, jumping in to help out; her way of working and getting things done; putting in the time, even on weekends if needed, et cetera,” colleague Antonella Frank said. “But what I will miss the most are our ‘venting’ sessions. No matter what we were facing, we helped each other off the ledge, made it less stressful, and encouraged each other to pick back up and carry on. But above all, where there is Emilia, there is always laughter and fun!!”
Lagoa helped make the workplace feel less like a workplace. She helped the people around her enjoy coming to work every day, and her presence is certainly something that will be missed for a whole long time.
But now that she is retiring, Lagoa gets to really take time for herself and enjoy life for all it has to offer. She will surely spend a whole lot more time with family, as well as friends outside the workplace.
“Emilia will not be checking email, doing projects, or debating Granite GRID locations anymore,” Hunt said. “However, she will be traveling with her grandson, James, and drinking mojitos in her personal float with a big ol’ flamingo float sweeping around the pool.”
Lagoa will be living it up with a smile on her face and a drink in her hand. She will be missed by her Orange family, but her sons and grandson will certainly be happy to have her around a lot more often.
“Emilia, despite it being only five years since we met, I am having the same feeling when a beloved family member leaves for a long journey,” colleague Cristiano Carneiro said. “It will be difficult to find someone else after you leave to discuss, debate, challenge, and sometimes make fun in our own way the complex quote requests we receive. Our sourcing calls definitely won’t be the same anymore without you!
“I wish you from my heart all the best and I hope our path crosses again soon. Preferably in Cancún.”
Lagoa’s impact will not soon be forgotten, and her Orange colleagues certainly hope to not lose touch with her.
“Always, always keep your chin up and find the time for you and what makes you shine! I know it’s against your nature, but the new motto in life is ‘Emilia first!!’ And of course, start saving for our Cancún trip, you know we are going together.” – Antonella
“Emilia,
“I can’t help but reflect on the incredible journey we’ve shared. Your support, guidance, and unwavering dedication have not only been a driving force in our team’s success, but have also left a lasting impression on my heart.
“I will miss our daily collaborations, the laughter we shared, and the camaraderie that made our work environment special. Your unique skills and contributions have made a significant impact, and I’m grateful for the time we’ve spent working together.
“May your future endeavors be filled with joy, growth, and continued success. Thank you for being an exceptional colleague and friend. You’ll be missed.” – Magued Dawood
