Fernanda Camilo Aguiar

London Business School

“FinTech Female Product Leader and UK Global Talent Visa Holder, driving innovation and growth globally.”

Hometown: Curvelo, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Fun fact about yourself: For my 30th this year, I’m walking the Santiago de Compostela trail —hoping for enlightenment as I close my MBA chapter, or at least good WiFi.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

1. UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE MINAS GERAIS, Brazil – Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering (1st in class)
2. LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY, UK – Chemical and Process Engineering (international exchange)
3. FUNDAÇÃO GETÚLIO VARGAS, Brazil – Business Administration Post-Graduation

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? I was a Business Manager at Red Ventures, an American tech and media company, where I built 4+ years of product expertise leading cross-functional teams developing complex digital products for financial services companies on retail banking and pension fund investments.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? I was one of two LBS students on Google’s MBA EMEA Finance Internship Program in Dublin, Ireland, leading a project that optimised Global Invoice Dispute resolution processes for the Revenue to Cash Operations global team.

Where will you be working after graduation? I have already transitioned to my post-MBA role in London as a Product Manager leading Payments for SECCL, the Octopus-owned embedded investment platform that’s on a mission to helping more people to invest – and invest well.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

1. Pre-MBA Volunteer Summer Startup Experience Internship during June-August/2023 at Quantacap, an LBS incubator backed startup (remote/London), where I conducted market research on eCommerce M&A market, defined the company’s go-to-market strategy, forecast, product roadmap and customer feedback process alongside the founder who is an LBS alumnus.

2. Meet Community Lead for Pre-MBA class events including our cohort’s traditional first trip to Brighton and our first Orientation week student organised events.

3. Peer Leader for Technology and FinTech, having coached 50+ students across all LBS programs on CVs, cover letters, Tech industry recruitment insights and interview prep.

4. A member of LBS’s Women in Business Club’s ExCo, leading the EQUALL conference speakers team in 2023/2024.

5. LBS Tech and Media conference organiser, helping with logistics, planning and speakers for 2023/2024.

6. Volunteer organising the London Fintech Festival 2023/2024, facilitated by LBS.

7. School awards and honors:

1. 1. 55% Merit scholarship recipient, including the Wili and Ilse Scholarship.
   2. Concentrations on Private Capital, Finance, and Economics.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? My MBA journey has been a constant balancing act—launching and scaling a fintech startup, driving innovation in the UK investment landscape, and pushing myself academically to gain the most from the experience. For almost the entirety of the MBA, I was also Head of Product and Growth at planD, and I had the opportunity to build and grow a platform at the forefront of the UK secondaries market, helping investors and founders navigate the complexities of Enterprise Investment Schemes and Seed Enterprise Investment Schemes. From refining our go-to-market strategy to expanding awareness among key players in the investment ecosystem, I applied my classroom learnings directly to real-world challenges —bridging product development with financial market dynamics.

Besides that, I also fully committed to the academic rigor of my MBA. I pursued three concentrations in Private Capital, Finance, and Economics, ensuring I developed a well-rounded understanding of financial markets while integrating my expertise in tech and product development. In the end, I completed 200+ credits in some of the most demanding courses—not just as a requirement, but as a deliberate effort to equip myself as a future leader in fintech.

Balancing a startup, an internship, and multiple jobs while excelling academically wasn’t easy—but it was a challenge I embraced. It reinforced my resilience, adaptability, and long-term commitment to building the future of financial technology in the UK which is my geography of choice.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The achievement I am most proud of is being endorsed for the UK Global Talent Visa for Digital Technology, a recognition of my expertise and impact as an established leader in FinTech and product management. This was more than just a milestone—it was the culmination of years of work building innovative digital products, scaling fintech businesses, and contributing to the broader tech ecosystem. Receiving this recognition at a national level reinforced my commitment to shaping the future of fintech.

Beyond the personal achievement, this was life-changing. It gave me the freedom to drive impact on my own terms, ensuring that I could work on what truly matters, rather than being constrained by visa restrictions. None of this would have been possible without the Tech Career Centre at LBS and the incredible support from David Morris, who helped me navigate the UK tech landscape, connect with the right people, and prepare for this opportunity. Through LBS, I was able to immerse myself in the UK startup and investment ecosystem, ensuring that my contributions to the fintech space could continue beyond business school.

This achievement is also about community. Today, I am not just part of the LBS alumni network, but also a growing global talent network of exceptional tech professionals driving change across the UK. This network has helped me navigate every step of my journey here, and I am already working to bridge these two communities—connecting LBS talent with the wider tech ecosystem to further strengthen the UK’s position as a hub for innovation. This visa was a recognition of what I’ve done so far—but more importantly, it’s a springboard for what comes next.

Why did you choose this business school? For me, it was always about London—the city where tech, finance, and global talent converge. I needed a place where I could thrive professionally, grow personally, and truly belong. LBS offered that. The school sits at the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic financial and technology hubs, giving me unparalleled access to investors, founders, and industry leaders. It provided the ideal environment to launch and scale fintech products, connect with a global community, and work towards closing key gaps in financial services. Beyond the academics and career opportunities, LBS was a place where I could be myself. It was a school that understood not just my ambitions, but my reality: balancing work, entrepreneurship, and education. It gave me the flexibility, support, and community I needed to make my life work—on my terms. I’ve always been drawn to British culture—its fair play, modesty, humour, and deep sense of community. Choosing LBS wasn’t just a career move; it was about building the life I wanted in the country that feels like home.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? In business school, a lecture can often feel too basic for those with industry experience or too complex for those new to the subject—hitting a sweet spot that serves very few students. For me, the true objective of a classroom is to learn concepts you don’t know and push them to their limits in an intuitive way. That’s exactly what Associate Professor of Finance Howard Kung did.

He made even the most intricate financial concepts clear, structured, and applicable. Instead of drowning in jargon, he focused on what mattered—breaking down complex topics like capital structure, IPO processes, real options, and corporate risk management in a MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive) way. More importantly, he linked everything to real-world applications, ensuring we weren’t just memorising formulas but actually understanding finance as a decision-making tool. As someone who thinks best in workflows and process diagrams, I naturally look for frictionless user experiences—whether in digital product design or education. Just as a great product must be intuitive and seamless, so should a great lecture. Howard’s teaching wasn’t just informative—it was thoughtfully designed, removing unnecessary complexity while still challenging us to go deeper. Finance 2 became a foundational course for me, shaping how I analyse businesses, structure deals, and approach valuation. More business schools should follow this model—know the subject well, make it simple for the user, and always connect it to reality.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? The Private Equity & Venture Capital (PE/VC) course was the most impactful of my MBA, as it pushed me to think like an investor while coming from a startup and product background. It reinforced that success in PE/VC is not just about complex financial models, but about asking the right fundamental questions—on revenue, market size, competition, differentiation, and the validity of assumptions. Working alongside Columbia exchange students, MiF, and EMBA participants in a high-calibre study group challenged me to structure arguments rigorously and think in a Mutually Exclusive Collectively Exhaustive way. Despite having no prior finance experience, I earned my first A+ by demonstrating a deep understanding of investor perspectives and applying them to real-world cases. The course was intense, industry-connected, and fast-paced, mirroring the real PE/VC environment. Most importantly, it validated my ability to bridge the gap between builders and investors—an essential skill as I continue driving innovation in fintech and startups.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Snow Trek was my favourite MBA tradition, embodying the best of the LBS experience—adventure, learning, and community. Beyond skiing and lessons, it was an opportunity to connect with classmates in a unique setting, strengthening friendships and building new ones across programmes. The mix of experienced skiers and beginners reflected the school’s collaborative spirit, where everyone supports each other in both personal and professional growth. I had a recovering knee injury, and people I had never met before went out of their way to help me move, showing the depth of genuine, selfless support within the LBS community.

What is the biggest myth about your school? One of the biggest myths about LBS is that your MBA experience will be all about the school itself, with you spending most of your time around Baker Street and Regent’s Park for two years. The truth, however, is that while LBS provides a fantastic foundation and network, the real value comes from quickly pivoting towards your own life goals and aspirations, especially if you want to create roots in the UK and in London more broadly. It’s about making the most of the opportunities, leveraging the school’s resources, and actively shaping your path from day one. LBS offers a world-class education, but the true success lies in integrating that with your own vision and driving towards your future from the outset.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? London is more than just a financial and tech hub; it’s a place where different communities intersect, and where I felt a genuine sense of belonging. Its blend of old-world charm and modern innovation makes it a unique city where you can truly thrive. From my time as an undergrad, I’ve always been drawn to British culture. I am a fanatical Liverpool fan and I resonate deeply with the UK’s values of fair play, modesty, and the sense of unity that comes with community. London’s diverse environment made it easy to find people who shared similar values and goals, whether through professional connections or the shared experience of facing challenges together. London is a place where both the global and the local meet, providing opportunities for growth that go beyond just business. From the football culture to the city’s inherent resilience, everything about London fuels my drive to push forward and build the life and career I’ve always envisioned.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? I found AI to be an incredibly useful tool for supplementing my learning experience, especially given the constraints of my time. AI helped me by summarising complex concepts quickly, allowing me to get straight to the key insights when I couldn’t fully grasp something during lectures or when I was pressed for time. On the FinTech Dubai block week, we explored how AI can drive efficiencies in financial systems, which resonated with my personal experience of using AI to streamline my own learning process. Whether it was asking AI to clarify concepts, helping me generate and iterate on multiple questions, or accelerating my understanding of new topics, AI became an invaluable resource. It not only helped me iterate on ideas faster but also allowed me to focus on the strategic application of these insights in real-world scenarios.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I most admire Navid Eskandar for the incredible impact he has had on so many lives through his work with Ladderly, his startup focused on helping people improve their CVs and secure jobs. What stands out to me about Navid is his commitment to creating real, tangible change in the lives of others. By providing individuals with the tools to enhance their professional profiles, he has given countless people the opportunity to pursue better career paths, improve their lives, and get closer to achieving their dreams. This, to me, is one of the most meaningful forms of impact you can make. Navid’s dedication to supporting others, particularly those who may have had limited opportunities, is a quality I deeply admire and strive to emulate in my own career.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? The top two items on my professional bucket list are to become a founder and to help people achieve their personal goals through smart financial literacy. I am passionate about the potential of starting my own company, where I can create innovative solutions that empower others. Helping people, especially underserved communities, gain a better understanding of financial management and investment options is something I deeply care about. By making financial literacy accessible and engaging, I believe I can provide individuals with the tools they need to take control of their financial future, unlock opportunities, and ultimately live better, more fulfilling lives.

What made Fernanda such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“In reflecting on Fernanda’s experience at London Business School since August 2023, it’s hard to believe it’s only been 20 months since she started her MBA journey. Her personal and professional successes over this period of time are nothing short of outstanding. Fernanda’s drive and commitment to her own values are skills that have ensured that she has really made the most of all opportunities. Using the MBA platform and the LBS community as vital starting blocks, Fernanda embodies the very best of LBS students in continually challenging herself, setting her own ambitious targets, and working with enviable tenacity at all times. She is undeniably a role model for other students, and for prospective students to LBS. While her own achievements speak for themselves, Fernanda’s community spirit and her commitment to supporting others on their MBA journey is something she should be equally proud of. I know that the class of MBA2025 would have been noticeably weaker without her, and I expect her community spirit and support for others around her to continue when she is a fully fledged alumna of the School. I am very excited to follow Fernanda’s post-MBA journey, and have no doubt that she will achieve her professional bucket list, and much more to come.”

Helen Foley
MBA Programme Director

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