Brazil Alumni Panel | Global Perspectives Series

TL;DR

Five Stanford GSB alumni from Brazil explain how the MBA supported career shifts into startups, technology, digital payments, and HR while providing a strong alumni network in Brazil and worldwide. They also highlight learning beyond the GSB and student-led trips, including Mauricio’s trips to Israel, China, and Brazil. Read on for specific examples of their career paths, classes, relationships, and support systems.

Transcript

hello everyone thank you for joining us my name is julianne i'm the assistant director of involvement at the mba admissions office at the stanford graduate school of business today's session is going to focus on brazil but we know that there are many of you joining from all over the world we have five fantastic alumni from brazil who will be the ma... Read More

Key Insights

• 💪 The alumni emphasized the importance of the strong network and support they received from Stanford GSB alumni in Brazil and worldwide.
• 👻 Taking classes outside of Stanford GSB allowed the alumni to gain diverse perspectives and develop new skills.
• 🥺 The panelists highlighted the value of student-led trips and the impact they had on their overall experience at Stanford GSB.

Questions & Answers

Q: What did Brazilian alumni gain from the Stanford GSB experience?

The alumni gained support for major career shifts, diverse learning experiences, and lasting professional relationships. They particularly valued the strong Stanford GSB network in Brazil and worldwide, along with student-led trips and opportunities to take classes outside the business school.

Q: How did Stanford GSB help Mauricio change careers?

Mauricio entered Stanford after studying communications and working for a Brazilian sports television network. After earning his MBA, he became country manager for the ticketing marketplace ViaGoGo and later founded Volante, a Brazilian used-car e-commerce company, in 2017.

Q: What career change did Erica make after Stanford GSB?

Erica returned to Itaú after her MBA and worked on the bank’s startup connections, digital transformation, and digital payments. She later moved into HR, accepting a head-of-people position after deciding that the function needed transformation.

Q: Why were student-led trips important to the alumni experience?

The trips gave students access to unusual experiences and people while strengthening relationships outside the classroom. Mauricio joined trips to Israel and China, led the Brazil trip, and recalled sitting with about 25 students at a table with Netanyahu during the Israel trip.

Q: Did the alumni take classes outside Stanford GSB?

Several panelists took courses elsewhere at Stanford, including public speaking at the engineering school and design classes at the d.school. They described these experiences as enriching because they offered different perspectives and skills.

Q: Which Stanford GSB classes supported entrepreneurship?

The panelists recommended Startup Garage and Formation of New Ventures for hands-on learning and exploring entrepreneurial paths. They also emphasized using the Stanford GSB network for mentorship and guidance.

Q: Is the Stanford GSB alumni network strong in Brazil?

The panelists described the Stanford GSB network as particularly strong in Brazil as well as worldwide. They cited alumni helping one another with careers, sharing knowledge, discussing opportunities, and collaborating on projects.

Q: Was the Brazil alumni panel focused on MBA admissions?

No. Julianne from the MBA Admissions Office said the session focused on the experiences and stories of five alumni from Brazil rather than admissions. She directed viewers interested in admissions-specific information to other events.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The panel discussion featured five Stanford GSB alumni from Brazil, who shared their career shifts, including transitioning to startups, technology, and HR.

• The alumni emphasized the importance of the student-led trips and the diverse experiences they had during their time at Stanford.

• They also highlighted the strong network and support they received from Stanford GSB alumni both in Brazil and worldwide.