The importance of people to a business

Ines Kolmsee is currently the only female chief executive of a German publicly listed company. She runs SKW Stahl-Metallurgie, which makes chemicals for the steel industry.

On a visit to Brazil to open a new plant, she spent time with Frederico Curado, president and chief executive of Embraer, one of the world's largest manufacturers of aircraft.

The vast majority of Ms Kolmsee's employees are based outside Germany and yet she reveals how active a role she likes to play in HR matters throughout the company.

Mr Curado admits that while Brazil has made progress, businesses operating there still face the burden of bureaucracy.

Special report: The Ideas Exchange