Sonia Leitao: Contributing To Angola's Growth By Empowering Communities & Transforming The Workforce

Entrepreneurship is often seen as a fast track to wealth, but some leaders pursue it to create lasting impact to uplift communities and, in turn, their country. Their goal is to generate jobs, strengthen communities, and equip individuals with the skills to build better lives. By investing in education, workforce development, and local industries, they don’t just grow businesses, they transform societies.

With over 500 close-knit employees, Sonia Leitao and her husband, the founders of L&L Engenharia, are on a mission to drive meaningful change by finding solutions for the betterment of communities and national develop­ment. For Sonia, entrepreneurship was never just about building a business, it was about creating opportunities. At L&L Engenharia, she plays a pivotal role in managing operations while ensuring the company actively contrib­utes to Angola’s progress. Under Sonia’s leadership, the company has focused on skill development, hiring and training local talent, and creating a workforce that is not only capable and self-sufficient but also instrumental in driving industrial growth.

Take us through the formative years of your life including your educational background.

I was born and raised in the capital of Angola, Luanda. All my early education was in state school, followed by secondary education in a Portuguese school in Angola. I grew up witnessing war in the country, which lasted un­til I turned 26. The consequences left the country under­developed, and the education system was not in the best condition. After secondary school, I earned a scholarship from the Brazilian state and moved to Brazil, where I did a Bachelor's degree in Political and Social Sciences, fol­lowed by an honors program. During my studies, I con­ducted research at the Center for Social Studies and con­tributed to university publications.

Take us through your professional journey.

In 2000, I secured my first job at Texaco as an HR officer despite not having formal education in human resourc­es. However, my background in political and social sci­ences helped me adapt, and I developed a passion for HR. This job became my second university, as I learned ex­tensively through hands-on experience. Seeking greater challenges, I joined Barloworld in 2002, establishing and managing its HR department. Over the next decade, I led training programs, implemented organizational develop­ment initiatives, and gained extensive leadership expe­rience.

While working, my husband and I were also building our own company, L&L Engineering. By 2012, as our busi­ness grew, I transitioned fully to support its expansion. Since then, I have been dedicated to strengthening and developing our company.

Introduce us to L&L Engenharia. What roles and responsibilities do you shoulder within the company?

L&L Engenharia, founded in 2000, is a private company specializing in engineering and logistics services. Our portfolio includes projects spanning road infrastruc­ture, office buildings, structural works, warehouses, and earthworks, among others. As part of our diversification strategy, we have expanded our investments into the metalworking industry, agro-industry, food production, real estate, and services for the mining sector.

Over the years, my role at L&L has evolved. Initially, I focused on HR, organizing and structuring the com­pany's human resources functions. In 2013, I became actively involved in one of our major projects, building a food processing factory in another province of Ango­la, called Fazenda 27 Lda. This factory, an investment by L&L, produces juices, tomato-based products, and milk.

"For us, business has never been just about making money, it’s about building something meaningful for our country and people"

My involvement in this project was on the HR side, at the beginning handling recruitment and establishing the company's HR framework. As time passed and our business expanded into multiple projects, my responsi­bilities changed. I took on a greater role in finance, over­seeing investments and financial management. Today, I serve as the Assistant Managing Director, working close­ly with my husband, who is the General Manager.

What major business challenges do you encounter in your role, and how do you overcome them?

One of our biggest challenges in Angola is the lack of skilled labour. Finding qualified professionals is difficult and expensive, so we often have to recruit from overseas. Structural and legislative hurdles further complicate business operations, though recent policies have started supporting industry and agriculture growth.

For us, business has never been just about making money, it is about building something meaningful for our country and people. We believe in creating impact through our work and creating a strong sense of belong­ing within our team. With around 500 employees, we op­erate like a close-knit family, facing challenges and find­ing solutions together.

What are your current focus areas in terms of driving growth for L&L Engenharia?

We have shifted from construction to a service-based model. Initially focused on state infrastructure projects, Angola’s prolonged economic crisis since 2014 led us to diversify. By 2019, we expanded into transportation, equipment maintenance, and factory development.

After a period of investing in our current assets, we are now leveraging in-house expertise to provide ser­vices and equipment for agriculture, food processing industry and mining. Additionally, we are investing in agriculture, producing fruits for our factories, for local markets and also to export. As we explore new sectors, we are identifying opportunities that align with market demand and future growth.

What do you see as the biggest challenge in Angola’s development, and how can it be addressed?

Education and technical training remain Angola’s big­gest challenges. While schools have been built, many families lack structure, mothers work in the streets, children raise their younger siblings and fathers often struggle with unemployment. Universities prioritize soft skills over technical expertise, leaving a shortage of skilled professionals.

In our capacity, we provide training within our com­pany, helping workers shift from small plantations to operating machinery in our factories. We also support schools by donating books, desks, and building small libraries. However, these efforts have a limited impact. Large-scale investment in education and vocational training is essential for true national development.

Sonia Leitao, Assistant Managing Director, L&L Engenharia

Sonia Leitao turns vision into action, building industries that not only contribute to Angola’s economy but also empower its people with skills and opportunities for a stronger future.