Q&A with Ana Carolina Oliveira, Class of 2023
Can you tell us about your pre-MBA experience?
I am from Brazil, and I have a background of nine years in marketing. I worked in start-ups, small companies, and then in the cosmetic industry as a PMM.
Did your career or life take any unexpected turns before coming to Fuqua?
Applying to the MBA was a complete journey; I’m the first woman in my family doing an MBA. I began thinking of doing this five years before applying to Fuqua. When I started preparing for the GMAT, I had moved to another city to become a PM in the company I was in. I had this new life, I was very busy, and I was studying in parking lots at 6am before work. I learned I had to find a way to enjoy the journey. So, I decided to practice meditation and yoga. I even became a yoga instructor. Yoga helped me so much, since you have to be comfortable in an uncomfortable position. It’s similar to life in a way.
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
Besides becoming a yoga instructor, I also went to DJ school!
Why did you want to become a COLE fellow?
I had a coach and a mentor during part of my career, and she helped me understand myself and make better choices. I’m also interested in human capital development, so I wanted to do something that had an impact on the FY students.
How would you describe your experience with COLE so far?
We are given an extraordinary number of resources to help develop our leadership skills, including trainings and being part of a community of fellows that supports each other. I feel COLE helped me enhance Fuqua values and inspire people and help them be more efficient.
Do you have other club leadership involvement?
I’m on the social cabinet of Latina-American Student Association (LASA) and am also the Co-President of Fuqua Fit.
What advice would you give to FYs for developing their leadership skills?
Try doing new things. Remember that doing the same provides the same results over again. Here we are in a very diverse group. I recommend going out of your comfort zone and embracing diversity. Get to know more about your C-LEAD’s culture. That will give you more flexibility in your life.
To keep up with the rest of the COLE Spotlight Series, be sure to follow the COLE Instagram at @coleatfuqua