Full-Time M.B.A., Finance and Marketing

While still in her 20’s, Fabiola was hired by Kraft Foods to launch Crystal Light (“Clight”) in Brazil. She created a new positioning for the product and, for almost two years, she and her team managed all marketing aspects of the brand, achieving one of the most successful launches ever of a soft drink in Brazil.

Soon, Unilever tapped Fabiola to be a new business manager and asked her to expand its culinary brand (Cica) to Latin America. Her team created a new market test assessment model and was given an expanded budget “to test a huge brand innovation.” The results showed a one-year revenue potential could be achieved in six months, driving an increase in company revenue an estimated $50 million over three years. For her performance, Fabiola was awarded a Unilever international prize, “Best Food Innovation 2000.”

Considering the focus Fabiola brings to reaching goals, it’s not surprising she graduated three months early while still completing a summer internship with a United States firm. Having the flexibility to accelerate her program was a reason for choosing Simon, she says, since her husband remained in Brazil while she studied. However, there were other reasons to leave São Paulo, where she grew up and launched her career, to earn a Simon M.B.A. degree.

As a chemical engineer who turned to marketing, Fabiola wanted to acquire a “deep understanding of finance.” She also wanted an integrated curriculum (“instead of isolated courses”), to live abroad for the first time (“and gain international exposure”), and to become fluent in English.

As she packed in spring 2004 to return to Brazil, she talked about the tremendous professional and personal growth she achieved during her time at Simon.