I grew up in the Brazilian countryside town of Piracicaba, Sao Paolo. My childhood and adolescent years were relatively quiet and devoted to family time and sports – with the exception of one Saturday of a month spent in the office with my father, who was the CEO of his company at the time.
Growing up, I always felt a bit torn between two sides: one that wanted to work in a corporate life like my father, and one that wanted to play sports every day and become a professional athlete. I’m fortunate to be able to say that I made the right decision in pursuing my corporate career goals without fully sacrificing my love for playing competitive sports – and that my passion for sports has not only stayed with me, but has also helped me establish the dedicated, strong-willed mindset I’ve needed to carry me through the ranks of my career.
I always assumed that starting out as a consultant was a surefire way to become a successful executive. Through all the business books I read – I realized a lot of CEOs began their careers at consulting firms. With that in mind, I had a belief that as soon as I graduated college, I would go into consulting.
And that’s precisely what I did. As a junior consultant in college, I conducted market studies, surveys, and community projects for various companies to hone my consulting skills. I also belonged to an organization called SIFE – Students In Free Enterprise – which has since been renamed Enactus. Through this organization, I was able to participate in a variety of social projects and competitions with other universities. My team competed in the “Enactus World Cup” where I received the “Rookie of the Year” award. It felt incredible to be recognized for making a difference in the community.
As thrilled as I was to be embarking on a career in consulting, I had little experience with diversity in the field. I didn’t have a close relationship with any Black CEOs (as my father is white), so I wasn’t sure if the path to CEO was even possible for me.
Nonetheless, I continued on my journey. I held partner roles at two major consulting firms – one in the health sector, and one as a CFO for a private equity portfolio company. In the CFO role, I earned an award (2021 Executive of the Year in Brazil’s South Region). After these roles, I was energized by everything I had learned, but I had no plans to return to consulting.
That is, until I was invited by McKinsey to interview.
It’s funny how sometimes the things we don’t plan end up becoming everything we could have wished for. There was something about the people I met during my interview process that really drew me to McKinsey. It was immediately clear that colleagues at the firm truly lived their values.
Despite being at McKinsey for less than two years, I’ve become involved in initiatives that truly inspire me, particularly those I’ve found through the McKinsey Black Network (MBN), which I joined during my first week.
I've never had anything in my career like the McKinsey Black Network to help me with my doubts, anxieties, or even bullying moments. I never had a close relationship with a Black role model; I was always on my own. I have been so grateful for my family's support throughout my career, and having that kind of support within the workplace is a true blessing.
With the McKinsey Black Network, I not only have what I need to support myself, but also a way to give back to others and provide them with what I never had. I want to devote my spare time to building the McKinsey Black Network community in the same way that it is developing me. I want to have an impact on clients and society, as well as influence others to pursue their dreams.