Gustavo Valverde Rezende

New York University, Stern School of Business

“Brazilian, with a background in consulting and corporate finance. Happy to share my experience.”

Hometown: Juiz de Fora, Brazil

Fun Fact About Yourself: I had never seen snow until I was 27 when I learned to ski and fell in love with it.

Undergraduate School and Major: UFJF (Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora) – BBA

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Anga&Din4mo – Finance & Strategy Leader

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of NYU Stern’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school, and why was it so important to you? NYU Stern emphasizes EQ and collaboration during the application process and walks the talk. For instance, some current students reached out to me during the application process and made me feel part of Stern’s community right away. That made me even more excited about joining Stern’s world-class finance program.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at NYU Stern? I am looking forward to taking classes with Stern’s stellar faculty. I look forward to learning more from Professors Aswath Damodaran, Scott Galloway, Anat Lechner, and so many more. Of course, I intend to join a few professional clubs, such as the Graduate Finance Association, Latin American Business Association, and Stern Management & Strategy Club. Stern FC soccer club also looks like fun, and I am eager to score some goals with them!

What excites you the most about living in New York City and how do you see it enhancing your learning experience? NYC is probably the most exciting city in the world! I am eager to “wake up in a city that never sleeps!” Being so close to Wall Street and nearly all major corporations, NYC provides lots of networking opportunities. I plan to leverage these opportunities to connect with people in the market since networking will hopefully be in person again really soon.

What does EQ (Emotional Intelligence) mean to you and when have you seen its value in your career? The pandemic made everyone understand why EQ is so relevant in business. Leading a then fast-growing company, I had to make tough decisions that had high impact on business and people. Being emotionally intelligent in that context meant taking into account all factors involved in a decision and acting timely and in a humanized way. In my company, we cut costs and complied with a non-negotiable no-layoffs policy, taking care of the bottom line and the people.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Being the CFO of a company during COVID was huge. We took a big hit in revenues but managed to stay alive. After a few months, our operations were much more efficient and delivered the most profitable quarter in the company’s history. All that while preserving everyone’s jobs. I am super proud of the way we handled things in such hard times.

How did COVID-19 change your perspective on your career and your life in general? COVID-19 was life-changing for everyone. It taught us to value what really matters and to be grateful for the time we have. This affects the way people consume and how business leaders make decisions. Therefore, I believe COVID-19 will be the catalyst for many changes in the corporate sector, from product offerings to work relations. Of course, this will demand business leaders to become more aware of the impact they make in society.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? The MBA has been a long-time dream since I don’t have any international experience. It is also a powerful tool to help me change the course of my career. My main objective is to scale-up my personal impact. My plan is to leverage Stern’s world-class business education and strong community of highly skilled professionals to be a more impactful leader.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied to ten programs, including Wharton, Kellogg, Ross, Harvard, and Stanford. I don’t recommend applying to this many programs, though.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into NYU Stern’s MBA program? People say it’s a process that requires a lot of reflection, and it really is. I realize this may sound like an empty-worded sentence, but it makes a huge difference to put time and energy into actually thinking about yourself and your goals. Get in touch with people from Stern and don’t be afraid to ask for advice – you will quickly experience Stern’s collaborative environment if you do that.

DON’T MISS: Meet NYU Stern’s MBA Class Of 2023