Full-time MBA | André Sanson

Hometown
Curitiba, Brasil

Undergraduate
School: Universidade Federal do Paraná
Major/Minor: Economics

Previous Industry
Asset Management

Summer Internship
Investment Banking at Moelis

Specializations at Stern
Finance, Banking, Management

Student Clubs
Graduate Finance Association (GFA), VP of Technical Development
Latin American Business Association (LABA), VP of Admissions
Graduate Ambassador

I knew Stern was home even before I was admitted. Throughout the application process, I reached out to current students and alumni, and what stood out was how supportive they were. Recruiting is never guaranteed, and no one can influence a firm's hiring decision. It was not about making promises. It was the genuine commitment to helping, mentoring, and supporting each other. That level of optimism and reassurance gave me the confidence I needed and showed me the kind of community Stern truly is.

Before starting the program, I made a conscious effort to take some time off and enjoy my family and friends before moving to New York City. I think it's important to decompress before the MBA begins, as the experience can be intense and overwhelming from day one. In the weeks leading up to the move, members of the Graduate Finance Association reached out with advice on investment banking recruiting. Following their guidance, I began preparing early so I could hit the ground running once recruiting started.

Professor Allan Brown’s Distressed Investing course, for sure. Even though I came to Stern with a background in investing, the class significantly broadened my understanding of a field I had very little exposure to before business school. Distressed investing involves complex legal and contractual concepts, but Alan had a unique ability to make the topic practical and genuinely interesting. It was also probably the class where I shared the most laughs. Alan is a naturally funny person with a talent for both stand-up comedy and teaching.

Set clear goals and start working toward them from day one. You may not know exactly how you'll get there, but you'll figure it out along the way. At the same time, don't take yourself too seriously. Many people feel pressure to project a perfect image, but growth comes from being willing to make mistakes, take risks, and learn from failure. Your MBA journey will include both successes and setbacks, embrace them.

Go out and socialize as much as you can during the first month. Not only is it some of the best weather you'll get in New York, but once recruiting starts, your availability to build new connections drops dramatically. The relationships you build early on will stay with you throughout the MBA.

I often say that Stern is probably the best-located business school on the planet. Within just a few miles of campus, you have access to many of the world's leading companies, investors, entrepreneurs, and executives. Networking is one of the most valuable resources in business school, and being in New York gives Stern students an unmatched advantage. Everybody is within reach.

Stern prepared me for the recruiting process through an incredibly structured and well-developed support system led by the Graduate Finance Association (GFA) and the Career Center. The training covers both technical and behavioral aspects of recruiting, and I would go as far as saying it was decisive to my success. Without it, I don't believe Stern's placement rate in investment banking would be as strong as it is. 

The process can feel overwhelming at first, but we receive outstanding guidance every step of the way. From dress code and networking etiquette to behavioral interviews, technical finance questions, mock interviews, and recruiting strategy, every aspect is thoughtfully covered. 

What impressed me most is that Stern and the GFA have been refining this process for decades. There is an incredible amount of institutional knowledge embedded in the program, and it shows. I now understand why students with little or no finance background are able to successfully transition into investment banking. Stern truly has an edge when it comes to preparing students for recruiting to IB.

The Stern community is filled with collaborative, hardworking, and remarkably humble people. Organizations like GFA and LABA perfectly reflect that culture. Both communities are filled with people who are generous with their time, willing to mentor others, and eager to share advice and opportunities. Instead of competing against each other, students genuinely want to help their classmates succeed.