Where is your home country?

Brazil

Where do you live now?

Brazil

What languages do you speak?

English, Portuguese, Spanish and French

What is the name of your course?

Master of Commerce in Marketing

When did you graduate?

2002

What was the name of your education institution?

Macquarie University

Why did you choose to study in this field?

I was always fascinated by innovative, efficient ideas and how they become distributed worldwide, so I figured out that I´d need to learn how to communicate and think big by studying abroad. I wanted to gain the practical skills, knowledge and hands-on experience that I would need to be the in-demand professional I am today by understanding all areas of business – including Accounting, Business Management and Organisation, Finance, Human Resources Management and Marketing. I had the freedom to explore my own interests in Marketing Communications, a course that helped me discover one of my greatest passions: public speaking.

Why did you decide to study in NSW?

I spent the millennium New Year’s Eve of 1999/2000 in Sydney and fell in love with the city. So, I decided to go back right after I graduated from university (in Brazil). When I started to look for universities and courses, the one that appealed to me the most was Macquarie University in Sydney because of its beautiful campus, international department and cost-effective courses which were accessible to me compared to other countries back then.

Tell us about your experience studying in NSW

It was the best year of my life. The state of NSW is as magical as its people. I loved it all. I was able to find and connect with like-minded people from several nations and discover new hobbies such as surfing and golf. During my time studying in NSW, I developed the kind of soft skills that are invaluable to employers such as listening, public speaking, leadership and teamwork.

What opportunities has studying in NSW given to you?

I learned how to collaborate in a group of people from different nationalities, cultures and backgrounds. It gave me a holistic view of the world trade market which supported me in working on multinational projects and being able to work with people from all over the world towards achieving aligned results.

What was the highlight of your experience studying in NSW?

Getting close to the Australian way of life. The way Australians enjoy nature, respect their community and listen to the voices and opinions of each other is inspiring.

Did you work or undertake projects with employers or industry groups during your studies? If yes, how did this experience benefit your career?

A teacher offered me an interview opportunity to work with Mitsubishi Australia but I had to decline due to personal matters. During my studies I had the chance to execute surveys, to support my hypothesis on the papers I was working on in the classroom, However, my actual work experience in Australia was  two weeks as an extra during the production of the movies The Matrix 2 and 3!

What are you doing now in your career?

I’m the Head of the Startups segment in AWS (Amazon Web Services), Brazil.  My role is to lead a team that helps startup customers to grow in the cloud, developing disruptive solutions to solve everyday problems of mankind in more efficient and available manners.

Can you share any career advice for current students or graduates?

Be open minded, always listen carefully to others to gather insights on how to provide better services by helping both internal and external customers of your chosen industry.