Vinicius Pinheiro, Vanderbilt Owen MBA Class of 2024
Age: 28
Hometown: Guarulhos, Brazil
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Universidade Federal do ABC (Brazil) – Double major in Energy Engineering and Science and Technology
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 5 years working as an engineer in the cable manufacturing industry.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
For the past five years, I have been working as an engineer in the manufacturing industry and building my career as a technical specialist in the area. However, my latest experience in software development and implementation ignited my desire to work as a product manager in the technology industry. To do so, I knew I had some educational gaps that I had to overcome. To me, attending business school sounded like the perfect way to achieve this goal: I can explore different aspects of the business while building a strong business foundation.
Why did you choose Vanderbilt Owen? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
For me, choosing Vanderbilt Owen as a place to pursue my MBA can be summarized into two words: “Personal Scale”. We are a close-knit community that fosters a strong sense of collaboration rather than a competitive environment. Everyone is welcome to share their ideas and be who they are without fear of judgment. The small class size helps with getting to know your classmates and building meaningful connections with them. The school also invests a lot of effort in personal leadership development, with its own LDP program, to help you put together the concepts you learned in class and your emotional intelligence to become a better leader.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Vanderbilt Owen MBA Class of 2024?
I am an international student with a diverse background: I grew up in Brazil, studied abroad in the United States and Italy, and worked in a cross-cultural setting for the past 5 years developing projects across the globe, from South America to Europe. This international background allows me to contribute by bringing a different point of view to group discussions and helping the class see the perspectives of doing business in a global environment.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I love hiking. My goal is to visit all U.S. National Parks.
Post-MBA career interests:
Product management in the technology industry.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Reach out to current students to understand if the culture of the school fits into what you are looking to get from your MBA experience. LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for finding students that come from a similar background to yours and understand their point of view going into an MBA program.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Do not get too concerned about test scores or GPA. They do matter during the application process, but
more important than that is to understand who you are and how you will contribute to your class. Your past experiences, extra-curricular activities, and personality are what differentiate you from other applicants. Focus on understanding how you can leverage your previous experiences to tell a compelling story and showcase who you are.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The waiting process after you give your interview and receive your acceptance letter can be daunting. After putting so many hours into the application process and prepping for all the individual steps, there is nothing left to do other than wait. I remember being on my nerves during the weeks that preceded the admittance call from Owen. My recommendation is to focus on things that you like to do to get your mind out of it. The results will come, and all your hard work will be rewarded.
What is your initial impression of the Vanderbilt Owen students/culture/community? Vanderbilt Owen culture is exactly what I have been looking for. Everyone has been super welcoming and looking forward to hearing about my experiences. I recommend arriving in Nashville a few weeks before the semester starts and exploring the city with your classmates before the hectic MOD 1 starts.
What is one thing you have learned about Vanderbilt Owen that has surprised you? Everyone is accessible and wants to see you succeed. The saying “Owen is a collaborative, not cut-throat environment” is 100% real.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Being able to participate in all the events that I am interested in. Time management has been the key during the first Mod. There are so many things happening that it is almost impossible to attend it all. You need to be selective, decide on what matters to you, and focus on these experiences.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am very excited about getting more involved with clubs and extracurricular activities. During the fall break, between the first and second Mod, a group of us is going on a Global Business Immersion to Panamá, which will be a good change of pace from Nashville.
