In Latin America's business field, it is difficult to stand out and be successful especially if you are a woman. But Maria Helena Moraes Scripilliti was able to establish a name as one of the few Latinas who not just excelled but eventually became a billionaire in the field as she followed her family's footsteps.

As stated by the Business Executives, Maria Scripilliti, recently included as one of the top 20 billionaires in the country, was one of the few people who were privileged to grow up in a business-oriented family.

Their family's success started when Maria's grandfather, Antonio Pereira Ignacio, bought a textile factory in Sao Paulo state in 1918. Maria's father, Jose Ermirio de Moraes, helped Ignacio in building, running and improving their family business. It was in 1936 when the company's brand expanded to cement business, which eventually became one of the best decisions they had for their business. In 1950, they decided to diversify to aluminum business.

After the death of her father in 1971, the company was taken over by Antonio Ermirio. It was under his control that the company ventured to other industries including nickel, pulp and orange juice. In 1991, the company has also opened a banking institution which was able to expand despite the hyperinflation in Brazil.

Maria started making significant contributions to their family business when she married Clovis Scripilliti. As soon as Clovis took over to manage the business, He and Maria helped expand the company in north east Brazil during 1960s-'70s.

In 2012, the family business reached the net sales of $10.5 billion, half of which came from their cement business. Today, as stated by Celebrity Net Worth, Maria Scripilliti's family-owned holding company Grupo Votorantim is considered as one of the oldest family businesses and the fifth largest and "most diversified industrial conglomerate in Latin America."

Currently operated by the family's third generation, the business shows no stopping in reaching its success. Everyone can expect the company to further grow as its fame and wealth continuously come in.