When you ask about Ana Cristina Branco at the Clube Atlético Mineiro, one of the most supported professional soccer clubs in Brazil, nobody knows who she is. If you add the fact that she’s a soccer reporter, then people smile and say “Kika!”
Kika has been an avid soccer fan since her childhood, born into a family of fans who supported various teams. She inherited her devotion to Clube Atlético Mineiro, colloquially known as “Rooster (Galo),” from her father. This love for soccer created a strong familial connection between Kika, her father, and her brother. Kika says, “there are countless stories of travels, of doing crazy things to see the team, and my father always insisted that my brother and I were part of those moments with him. Going to Rooster games was our favorite thing. We entered the field, bought uniforms, and lived this passion intensely.” In addition to family connection, Kika recognizes that playing soccer is beneficial for her emotional and physical well-being. It makes her feel relaxed, helps her forget about problems, and boosts her self-esteem, motivating her to face life’s challenges.
When thinking about what career she wanted to pursue, Kika looked first to her strengths. A talkative and creative person, journalism seemed to be a natural fit. She started her career as a journalist in 2015 on a daily live soccer show. From there, she was invited to work in one of the main stadiums in Brazil—the stadium that hosted the world cup, the Mineiräo Stadium—as a reporter for her favorite team—Rooster.
At her core, Kika is an ardent fan. She was responsible for the creation of Own TV, a channel broadcast from the stadium that connects fans, players, and sponsors. “It’s something I do with great dedication and with great pleasure,” Kika explains. “I’m always wanting to give ideas, contribute, understand how to make the channel grow even more, and how to get closer to our fans. Seeing the fans’ passion up close is motivating, and being able to give voice to the athlete is very gratifying. It is a mission of great responsibility, which I carry out with great care.”
Kika is also heavily involved in project development and initiatives for Clube Atlético Mineiro. One of the main projects she created was Goleada do Bem, an initiative that generated more than $1 million for social projects involving sports in her city. Another initiative she launched, Lance de Ouro (The Golden Bid), aims to provide financial support to the club through the sale of equipment and signed memorabilia. She also previously created the initiative, Goals for Good, where Clube Atlético Mineiro’s team auctioned similar sports items, once including a goal net from a game with Germany that sold for more than $200,000, which Kika and her colleagues donated to four organizations in Brazil.
Even with all her success, Kika knew there was more to learn and do. Participating in the 2019 Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP) and being mentored by Julie Eddleman, a former director on Google’s Global Client and Agency Solutions team, helped Kika to understand how to use her tools and skills to empower others. The GSMP showed her the importance of mentoring other women and creating opportunities for the next generation. Before the GSMP, Kika didn’t have any female role models. Now, she an enormous community of women who bring inspiration into her life. They help her open her mind and motivate her to give back to the world. She learned to put ideas into practice. “It was a gift,” Kika says. “It’s not only about ourselves, it’s about others. Empowering others doesn’t mean that you are losing your power.”
Upon returning home from the GSMP, Kika put her newfound confidence and knowledge to use. Despite being in a field dominated by men, Kika has been able to obtain the approval of the Atletico (Soccer Club) board and presidency for a series of initiatives aimed at women. Kika’s vision is to create opportunities for girls in soccer so that they won’t have to grow up feeling inferior to boys. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, Kika had to postpone her campaign, but she continues to work on each step, knowing that she is on the right path. Kika is living her dream as the voice of the team she adores, and is conquering her own space as a role model for Brazil’s girls. She knows she is beginning to make big changes in her community.