FGV EAESP’s 70th anniversary: Ex-student excels in Forbes Under 30 with vegan plastic sandal brand
This year, Fundação Getulio Vargas’ Sao Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV EAESP) celebrates its 70th anniversary. Since the school was founded in 1954, many talented graduates have stood out, and one of the latest is Isabela Chusid, who obtained her degree in business administration in 2016. Since then, her business career has taken off at a fast pace. She is now the CEO of Linus, Brazil’s first vegan plastic sandal brand.
Her work has led her to be recognized in “Forbes 30 Under 30,” the Forbes Magazine ranking of the world’s 30 most promising young entrepreneurs. To celebrate FGV EAESP’s 70th anniversary, we’ve been inviting former students to talk about the impact of graduating from FGV EAESP on their academic and professional journeys.
“Making the Forbes 30 Under 30 list was the result of consistent and ethical work. FGV gave me a generalist and comprehensive view of how to manage the various areas of a company, knowing where to look for solutions to challenges,” Isabela says.
Read the full interview with the former student below.
How has your degree in administration at FGV EAESP influenced the creation and development of Linus?
Studying at FGV opened many professional doors for me, especially at the start of my career. However, I think the most important thing was the holistic view of management that FGV gave me. I may not have been an expert in certain subjects, but with the grounding I gained, I knew exactly which tools to use and who to look for.
What lessons about sustainability and innovation did you learn that have been key to your brand’s success?
I believe that understanding that nothing is 100% sustainable is a good starting point. However, knowing that promoting more sustainable habits is a responsibility shared by governments, companies and individuals puts you in a position of leadership.
How did learning about innovation in your degree help shape Linus’ design and philosophy?
Whenever we talk about sustainability, we usually think first of environmental issues. In this case, I strongly recommend looking for raw materials that are renewable, recyclable and produced locally by socially responsible suppliers. However, we must also look at financial sustainability. That’s why I really like the idea of starting a business as leanly as possible, with the minimum feasible investment. That way, you have the chance to test the product with low risks and be careful with your spending right from the start.
How did your education at FGV EAESP prepare you to be recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list?
Making it onto the Forbes 30 Under 30 list was the result of consistent and ethical work. I believe that FGV gave me a generalist and comprehensive view of how to manage the various areas of a company, knowing where to look for solutions to the challenges that arise in the day-to-day running of any project.
What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs starting out on their careers?
Entrepreneurship is not a simple or linear journey. Creating a business with the aim of getting rich or winning prizes will end up generating moments of frustration, as well as a lack of focus. You should go into business with something you love, that really makes sense to you and that makes you strive to be the best. The rest is a consequence.
Isabela’s degree from FGV EAESP has been fundamental to her success, not just because it opened doors, but because it provided a holistic view of management. Driven by the belief that sustainability is a collective effort, she argues that success and recognition are the result of a well-defined purpose and ethical work.
This article is part of a special series called FGV EAESP’s 70th anniversary, featuring interviews with high-flying gradates.
To dive into the school’s history and learn more, visit this commemorative page.
Related news
- Administration30/10/2024
- Administration29/10/2024
- Administration25/10/2024