Gabriel Pereira

INSEAD

“A global citizen with deep Bolivian roots, a data-driven strategist, passionate about finance, sales, and solving complex problems.”

Hometown: La Paz, Bolivia (naturalized American)

Fun fact about yourself: Ten years ago, while living in Paris, I started tracking my wine journey in Vivino (an App), which was inspired by my family’s love for wine, and I have since enjoyed and recorded over 500 bottles worldwide.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

• George Mason University (GMU) – Bachelor of Science in Economics (Honors) with a PPE Concentration
• New College, The University of Oxford – Honors Research Exchange Semester (Behavioral Economics & Finance)
• Sciences Po, Paris – Exchange Semester (Econometrics, Economic Sociology, and Economic History)

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school?

Salesforce, Inc. – Enterprise Corporate Sales Account Executive

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024?

No internship; I was working full-time at Salesforce as an Enterprise Corporate Sales Account Executive.

Where will you be working after graduation?

• Exploring opportunities in management consulting (MBB or boutique firms) in Europe or the Middle East, focusing on fintech and private equity.
• Long-term, aiming to leverage consulting experience to transition into VC or entrepreneurship, supporting startups and investment opportunities in Latin America.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: I am actively involved in multiple clubs, including the Consulting Club, Retail & Luxury Goods, Blockchain & Fintech, and Latin America Club. I am also engaged in sports as a member of the soccer team and running club. While I have not yet taken on a leadership role, I am open to opportunities to contribute further as the program progresses.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Though early in the program (Period 1 out of 5), I take pride in how quickly I have built strong relationships with diverse classmates. INSEAD’s fast-paced environment fosters immediate adaptability, collaboration, and deep conversations, which I have embraced from day one. I already made strong friendships with people worldwide, and I look forward to future opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the INSEAD community.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Transitioning from finance and strategic operations into enterprise sales at Salesforce was a pivotal moment in my career. Unlike most AEs assigned to a single vertical, I managed accounts across Tech, Banking, Finance, Government, Healthcare, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, and Retail. This complexity required me to adapt to different industries quickly, understand unique business challenges, and develop tailored solutions for diverse enterprise clients. Despite the steep learning curve, I reached 192% of my sales quota on my first year, was later inducted into the Sales Excellence Academy (top 5% of Salesforce talent), and played a key role in enterprise deals across Latin America. This experience reinforced my ability to adapt, influence, and create value across industries.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose INSEAD because of its truly global perspective and unparalleled diversity. As someone who has lived, studied, and worked across Bolivia, the U.S., the UK, France, and Germany, I wanted an MBA program that mirrored my international background and aspirations. INSEAD is a place where no single nationality dominates the conversation (this is by design). It is also a place where, regardless of intelligence or money, one cannot apply if you do not talk, write, or speak two languages and leaves the cohort speaking a third language of your choosing at an A2 level. Every classroom discussion brings perspectives from finance, consulting, healthcare, law, tech, and the arts. This richness of viewpoints is precisely what I sought.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Sasa Zorc is a professor of Uncertainty, Data, and Judgment. His ability to explain complex decision-making processes and his interesting background as an academic and professional poker player make him an engaging and insightful professor with real-life stories.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Though early in my INSEAD journey, Uncertainty, Data, and Judgment have been a standout course. It challenges us to think critically about risk, probabilities, and how biases affect decision-making, which is highly relevant across finance, sales, and strategy.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Even though it’s early in the year, one of INSEAD’s most impactful traditions is Master Strategy Day, where students engage in an intense, real-world strategic business simulation. Where one “surprise” company is selected, and students at INSEAD solve one critical challenge for the company chosen. It challenges us to apply critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to tackle complex business scenarios under time pressure. This event reflects INSEAD’s commitment to hands-on learning, bridging classroom theory with practical strategy execution in a high-stakes environment. Still, most importantly, “Business as a force for good,” as in the last years, the companies selected were NGOs looking to make an impact on their communities.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I would have made even more effort to connect with classmates across different sections earlier. INSEAD structures the cohort by campus but also by sections (there are 4 in total in Fontainebleau). Given the program’s intensity, building strong bonds with a subset of people is easy, but I want to maximize exposure to different cultures and industries. Everyone at INSEAD has an incredible story to tell if you give yourself the chance to listen.

What is the biggest myth about your school? That INSEAD is only for consultants. While many students come from or transition into consulting, my cohort includes neurosurgeons, general doctors, lawyers, fine arts professionals, business owners, and finance and tech professionals. INSEAD fosters leadership across multiple industries and my backgrounds.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Fontainebleau is a charming historic town that offers a tranquil setting for intense learning and reflection. The people in town also try to accommodate and speak in English when possible. Studying here forces you to be fully immersed in the INSEAD experience, and the proximity to Paris allows for an easy escape when needed. 

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business, and what did you learn from it? Even though it might be a cliche among people who like finance, The Big Short highlights how systemic biases, overconfidence, and a lack of critical questioning can lead to massive failures in business and finance. To non-financial people, it is a movie that intelligently explains complex financial topics and lingo combined with humor. The Big Short reminds us that data-driven decision-making and intellectual honesty are crucial in leadership.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Martin Yoba. A French Cameroonian engineer and CFA Chartholder, Martin combines strong quantitative skills with an intuitive understanding of people. He effortlessly blends technical knowledge with emotional intelligence, making him a standout in discussions and team projects.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Starting a fintech-related business that impacts Latin America—particularly Bolivia.
2. Living and working in Africa to complete my global career journey.

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

“To the Admissions Committee, Gabriel Pereira stands out for his authentic presence, engaging personality, and rich cross-cultural experience. He has lived and studied across the U.S., UK, and France – making him a natural fit for INSEAD’s global and diverse environment. Though early in his MBA journey, Gabriel has already built strong connections across the cohort and is actively engaged in multiple clubs—including consulting, retail & luxury, fintech, and the Latin America Club—as well as INSEAD’s soccer and running teams. His passion for innovation in fintech and venture capital, particularly in underserved Latin American markets, reflects his commitment to using business as a force for good. Gabriel is an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025.”

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