Meet Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA Class Of 2019

Swellen T. Macieira 

Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Determined, loyal and dedicated person, who has a great sense of humor and an open mind. Brazilian from Rio, but not a fan of the carioca summer.

Hometown: Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Fun Fact About Yourself: I used to be a Brazilian super model, to be more precise, a baby model. I won a few beauty contests for babies and was invited to shoot for Johnson & Johnson but my father did not like the idea of having his baby’s face everywhere. He was too jealous and my career as a super model finished before it began.

Undergraduate School and Major:

IBMEC: Bachelor of Business Administration

Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC Rio): Specialization in Corporate Finance (Lato Sensu Post Graduation Level)

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Associate VP – Mason Square Capital

Offshore Analyst – Brasil Plural Asset Management

Equities Analyst – Vinci Partners Asset Management

Management Consulting Analyst – Accenture

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Working in capital markets with senior traders and executives was an amazing experience for my development, but was also a challenging one. This high pressure and male-dominated environment (at least in Brazil) pushed me further as a professional and exposed me to important negotiations.

Looking back, I realized I was the “diverse party” – female, young and Latin. However, it was a unique opportunity to prove myself, be more assertive when exposing my thoughts and earn respect. I responded to the adversities by controlling my anxiety to get things done and practicing patience. That environment contributed significantly to my emotional intelligence, making me more capable of reading others and helping them develop in diverse and adverse situations—one of my greatest strengths.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Before starting the process, you should be sure that you want an MBA and that it will make a significantly difference in your career. The process is time consuming and you won’t get the desired result unless you are determined and dedicated.

GMAT: I advise you to have plenty of time to study and take the GMAT. Do not be afraid or ashamed of taking it 5 times if necessary. Only you know your learning curve. Be aware of what you need to develop and focus on that. If you need to take classes, go ahead. You should only take the exam after doing as many mocks as possible and scoring a grade at least 20 points higher than your target grade. Learn the exam structure. The questions have pretty much the same form, so by learning the structure of the test you will be capable of solving all of them.

Essays: If you do not have any previous experience in applying for business school, talk to an educational consultant to know the steps. It is not simple and many people underestimate the essays. Be aware that the GMAT by itself will not take you to your dream school. What made a difference in my application was asking for my friends’ help. Look for someone who has attended a top MBA program or who has worked at a top company. This person’s opinion is sometimes better than a consultant’s because he or she knows you and the process more deeply.

Interviews: If you receive an interview invitation, you should be happy for the achievement, but the process is not over yet. Practice for your interviews! I have hours of recordings on my phone of me training by myself at home. Do as many mock interviews as you can, but never pretend to be somebody else. Unless you are a professional actor, my greatest advice is to be yourself.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I had the opportunity to attend Tuck’s events in São Paulo and interact with students. Talking to them increased my interest in studying at this extraordinary school. Tuck’s robust core curriculum, global immersion program, experimental learning projects, access to outstanding faculty and engaged alumni, along with the natural beauty of Hanover were crucial for my decision.

At Tuck I will definitely have the opportunity to establish deep and rich relationships that will last a lifetime—strong bonds as found in families. I believe there is no better place to experience diversity, enjoy a blended teaching methodology, and develop myself as a professional and especially as a human being.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? I will consider the experience a success if I can consolidate previous lessons and experiences from my professional life and develop new ones. I want to engage in more entrepreneurship initiatives, strengthen analytical skills, and broaden business perspective through interaction with other cultures and ways of thinking.

I hope Tuck provides a holistic view of business that integrates academic knowledge and experimental practices into a broad perspective. I expect to develop my interpersonal skills creating a concrete network and improving leadership.