Ana Paschoini 

Warwick Business School 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Communicative, Collaborative, Practical, Persistent, Passionate, Proactive, Crazy for challenges and problem-solving, Hands on, Good-Humour, Chocolateholic.

Hometown: Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

Fun Fact About Yourself: I challenged myself to publish a children’s book and it is there on Amazon! I also have a mug from every place I visit.

Undergraduate School and Major: Law and Accounting, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Brazilian Development Bank – Lawyer, Coordinator and Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: It was working at the Brazilian Development Bank with passion and motivated to achieve the best overall performance. I have been heavily involved in successful international transactions related to aircraft, supporting small and medium entrepreneurs through to innovations and business implementations. The last achievement is just the one I am living: reaching a career break through my sabbatical to do an MBA.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in the program so far: It would be understanding myself better – my strengths and weaknesses, putting into better perspective my values to be more valuable to a team and empower myself to act effectively.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  Life is so short to give up on our dreams. When I was 22 year- old, I completed my first graduation. After some months, I was in one of the most desirable jobs in Brazil. Since then, I have accomplished many objectives in my life, personal and professional.

Still, my international experience was missing. After one failed attempt to gain some in 2007, I postponed it due to my family growing. In 2016 I had coaching sessions and my soul was still calling for that achievement. So I started to plan it, sharing this idea with my partner and children. First I tried through a job experience, but it has not worked as well. But I had not given up; I realized tat I could achieve this by studying, which is one of my passions. As a result, I decided to go back to school in a more practical environment.

As part of my job, I have contact with business entrepreneurs, but sometimes it is hard to fully understand their perspective. That was the key issue that brought me to an MBA. I asked myself: if one day I need to run a company, am I prepared? As I didn’t feel confident, I decided to do an MBA, but there was still a long way to get an unconditional offer from a business school.

It has been a massive period of studying – some applications, private lessons and test submissions. So I recommend planning your schedule considering the free time you have and get organised. Focus is essential! Any spare time I had, I was reviewing subjects for the GMAT and taking mocks on mobile apps. Also, I was getting prepared for the personal interviews in order to give my best in a short time and be very concise. So be prepared and do not underestimate any stage of this preparation. The best part of this journey is that you make friends and connections, including alumni, and also reconnect with people after a great time apart to ask for recommendations. During the process, people share common values and feelings, and they feel very happy to assist you. My best advice would be: believe in yourself, You are much stronger than you think. Keep by your side the ones that value you most!

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 applied to other universities as well. Since the beginning, some issues were very important to me to get this experience: Get the break permission in my job; put into consideration the financial costs involved with this international experience; find a good environment for me and my family (with small children). I had some difficulties to get my visa, which already gave me to less choices.

Warwick was my final decision because I felt that I was cared by them since the first moment. WBS staff members were always kind and sensible with my issues. Even though we are adults, sometimes we can ask stupid questions because it is not our environment. I know that it is part of the service, but they provide more than that – they make you feel essential for them. I did a lot of research about Warwick Business School’s neighborhood and started searching for home and school options. Looking back, I could not have chosen better. Leamington Spa, which is a very close city to the campus, was selected as the happiest UK city last year. From now on, our lives have been connected, I am part of WBS and WBS is part of me – I have been spending lovely moments here, have got to know people from different nationalities, and I am sure I will leave the university with a better outlook on life.

What would success look like to you after you graduate from business school? WBS has re-ignited again my desire to make a difference for the world. When I was a child, I set up some dreams. As I grew, it is common to be in a comfort zone if you have already achieved part of the list. It is normal, but I realised that I shall keep going. So I would really like to join a team that makes a difference, has clear alignment of expectations, and by the end of the day share a common goal. Besides that, I would like to share my experience to engage other people to live their dreams too. If I could be successful, I may be able to empower other people to be engaged with positive attitudes. What is the legacy I shall deliver? I want to change my environment, for me, my family, and for the society. Following this, I still have a big dream: to be part of a social foundation to empower children through education. Who wants to join me in this challenge?