When conducting business, making strategic decisions and controlling a company’s activities, administrators ensure that everything runs efficiently and effectively. To mark September 9, which is “Administrator’s Day” in Brazil, FGV News spoke to some administration students to find out about their references and inspirations in the field, ranging from family relationships to sports idols.

Maria Clara Capobianco of the Sao Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV EAESP), Rafael Barcelos of the School of Public Policy and Government (FGV EPPG) and Gabriel Roque of the Brazilian School of Public and Business Administration (FGV EBAPE) told us about their everyday relationship with management and how role models and family relationships played a part in their choices.

Administrator’s Day is a special date that honors and acknowledges the fundamental role that these professionals play in all organizations. It is a moment of recognition and appreciation for the profession, reaffirming the strategic importance of administrators in all sectors of the economy.

Maria Clara Capobianco, a student at FGV EAESP, is the daughter of an NGO manager and an environmentalist father, who helped inspire her to pursue a career in administration. She emphasizes the challenges her mother faced in understanding the fundamental role of administration within a company. Rafael Barcelos, a student at FGV EPPG, also looks up to his father, a businessman. He grew up watching him lead the business, making strategic decisions, managing people and solving challenges typically experienced by executives.

Gabriel Roque, a student at FGV EBAPE, has long considered racing driver Ayrton Senna to be an inspiring example, due to his character and dedication. His journey, from initial difficulties to global success, showed that continuous effort and determination are fundamental to achieving any goal.

Check out the full interview below.

Who inspired you to study administration?

Maria Clara – My parents, João Paulo and Luciana Capobianco.

Rafael – My biggest inspiration for studying administration was my father. I come from a family of entrepreneurs, and our family business is now in its second generation, which gave me the opportunity to experience the business environment from an early age. When I went to high school, I was able to follow my father more closely, observing him leading the company, making strategic decisions, managing people and solving challenges typically experienced by executives. So, since I was a child, these experiences created in me the desire to become a businessman and one day take on the responsibility of running the family business.

Gabriel – You might think this is a bit strange, but someone who has long inspired me is Ayrton Senna. Although he wasn’t an administrator, the way he conducted his career and his life makes me think about leadership, resilience and the importance of putting maximum effort into everything we do.

Why do they inspire you?

Maria Clara Capobianco – My mother is the founder and manager of an NGO called “I’m a Refugee,” which helps refugees of different nationalities build dignified lives in Brazil. The challenges she faces to keep the organization running made me realize that good management is fundamental to the success of any project.

My father is an environmentalist, and a major part of his career has been in public administration. I grew up hearing stories about the construction of a solid environmental policy framework in Brazil, which sparked my interest in studying and working with public policies. In addition, his stories revealed the difficulties involved in developing any public policy and underscored the value of having a degree in public administration.

Rafael – Having my father as a great example of a businessman and manager inspired me to choose administration as my academic and professional path. The prospect of being able to study, train and acquire the necessary skills to run the family business in future is one of my greatest motivations.

I consider my relationship with my father to be very good, not just the family relationship, but also the professional one. I think of him as a mentor and I have the opportunity to work with him on a day-to-day basis, as if I were a kind of intern, so I can learn a lot from his experience and I can bring these lessons into the classroom. This all contributes to us having a very good relationship.

Gabriel – Senna was much more than just a racing driver. He understood the importance of a team, a well-thought-out strategy and collective effort to achieve success. What always struck me was the way he positively influenced the people around him, inspiring them to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. These qualities – leadership, discipline and the ability to inspire others – were fundamental in motivating me to follow the path of administration, where I can apply these values in the business world.

Do you remember something notable this person said?

Maria Clara – I can’t think of anything specific. I think the inspiration came more from their actions over the years. But if I were to coin a phrase that sums up what they taught me, it would be something like “Do good and do it well.”

Rafael – There isn’t a specific phrase that influenced me when choosing my course, but my father has always given me the security and confidence to know that whatever course I chose, I would have his support.

Gabriel – Something Ayrton Senna said that has always struck me is “Fear fascinates me.” This makes me reflect on how life will often challenge you, and you need to be ready to answer the call, take the risk and seize the opportunity. If you let fear paralyze you, you lose the chance to grow and evolve. This idea of facing fear and moving forward is something I try to apply in both my personal and professional life.

What motivated you to take the course?

Maria Clara – I want to build my career in the field of public policy evaluation and formulation, and I aim to hold a public position at some point. I believe that my degree in public administration from FGV will be crucial to enter the job market prepared to work in this area.

Rafael – What attracts and motivates me most about the course is the opportunity to develop the ability to make strategic decisions, which are fundamental for a company’s sustainability and growth. Knowing how to align available resources with long-term objectives, identifying opportunities and managing risks is something I consider very important for business success.

Gabriel – My motivation to pursue administration began when I was still studying mechanical engineering. However, over time, I discovered that my true aptitude lay in areas such as finance, strategy and business, which led me to change my major. The combination of these elements, together with the desire to have a positive impact on people’s lives, drove me to move forward.

One day, or perhaps even today, I hope to be someone who motivates others to be better every day, on their own terms, always giving their best. I want to be able to inspire because that’s the motto I follow in my own life. I’m always looking to improve myself, curious to learn more and train in new areas. Just as Ayrton Senna always did his best, I try to apply this principle to everything I do, with the desire to have a positive influence and help others reach their full potential.

What are the main advantages of the course?

Maria Clara – In my view, one of the main advantages of the course is the opportunity to take classes and create links with professionals and specialists who are important for Brazilian public administration.

Rafael – Knowing how to align available resources with long-term objectives, identifying opportunities and managing risks is something I consider very important for business success.

Gabriel – The main advantage of the administration program at FGV EBAPE is undoubtedly the ability to network. You can make connections in the academic world, including through partnerships with prestigious universities around the world, and in the professional market, offering valuable opportunities for students, thanks to workshops, lectures and conversations with alumni. From my own experience, it was through these connections that I got the opportunity to do my master’s degree in France, at the renowned ESCP Business School. In short, students have the chance to enjoy excellent professors and a rich network of opportunities to improve and grow.

To find out more about FGV EPPG, click here.

To find out more about FGV EASP, click here.

To find out more about FGV EBAPE, click here.

This article is part of a special series called Inspiring Examples. Read the other articles, based on other commemorative dates:

• World Communications Day
• Public Administrator’s Day
• Social Scientist’s Day
• Lawyer’s Day
• Economist’s Day