Studying in Berlin – from Brazil: a truly global MBA

Douglas Souza already had CEO experience. Yet, he knew that he also wanted a “broader global perspective.” The solution? A flexible, international MBA that allowed him to explore “different countries, industries, and realities” while simultaneously fulfilling the demands of executive leadership.

A broader global perspective: Douglas’ story

In this article, Douglas shares his experience of taking part in the ESMT Global Online MBA (GOMBA) program while also accepting a role as the CEO of CNEX in Brazil. He touches on key differences in Brazilian and German business practices and explains how his GOMBA teachings continue to resonate. And he shares his experience of finding a global cohort network that is still connected to this day.

Hi Douglas, please introduce yourself.

Hello, my name is Douglas Souza. I am Brazilian and based in São Paulo. I completed the Global Online MBA at ESMT Berlin in 2023.

I started my professional journey at Ambev, one of the largest – and arguably the largest – brewing companies in the world. After that, I joined a venture builder in Brazil, where I became a partner and have since held executive roles across various portfolio companies.

Over the years, I have served as CEO of a consulting company, Commercial Director of a real estate development company in the countryside of São Paulo, and coordinated the finance function of the venture builder as a whole. More recently, over the last two and a half years, we sold one of our operations to an education group based in Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, and I have served as CEO of that operation since then.

What made you choose the Global Online MBA program at ESMT?

One of the main reasons I chose ESMT was its positioning in the world. For me, ESMT has a very interesting ability to connect the West and the East through a highly attractive business agenda.

I was clear that I did not want to pursue an MBA in the United States, so Europe naturally became my first option. Among European countries, Germany stood out to me, and within Germany, ESMT was the clear choice because of its reputation, strategic location, and the quality of its business education.

Why did an online program appeal to you?

The online format appealed to me primarily because of the flexibility it offered. When we started the program, around mid-2020, the world was still facing a high level of uncertainty because of the pandemic.

At that moment, ESMT offered a program that was flexible, but also robust enough academically. Another important aspect was that, although the MBA was online, it still created opportunities to meet the cohort and experience the university in person, especially through initiatives such as the Berlin Experience Week.

What was it like to network with your cohort online? Did you get a chance to meet in person?

“Our group is still connected today, and people continue trying to meet in different parts of the world”

Yes, we did have the chance to meet in person a few times. Officially, the program included a Berlin Experience Week, when many of us came together on campus. That experience was spectacular.

Later, we also met again during graduation, which was a very special moment of celebration with the cohort. The online networking also worked well. Our group is still connected today, and people continue trying to meet in different parts of the world. That ongoing connection is one of the valuable outcomes of the program.

You are now CEO of CNEX in Brazil – can you tell us a little about the company?

CNEX is an executive relationship and education platform in Brazil. We work with international content licenses and partnerships, including MIT Sloan Management Review Brasil, Harvard-related content, and CKGSB Knowledge Brasil, from Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.

Through these editorial and knowledge brands, we build content initiatives that bring senior executives in Brazil closer to global business ideas. We also design educational journeys and executive development programs inside companies, helping organizations connect leadership, strategy, innovation, and business transformation.

You started this role while still an MBA student. What was it like to balance studies with the demands of senior leadership?

Balancing the MBA with a demanding executive agenda was not easy, but it was absolutely possible. The key was personal organization and discipline.

Once you establish a routine and create the right structure around your time, it becomes viable to manage both. It was challenging, of course, but I would not say it was the biggest challenge of the journey. The program was designed in a way that allowed me to continue working at a senior level while also dedicating real time and attention to my studies.

Did you have much C-suite experience before you began the MBA? How did the program help clarify your career goals?

“Being connected to people from different countries, industries, and realities opened my mind significantly.”

Yes, I already had some C-level and executive experience before starting the MBA, especially through my work in the venture builder and in different portfolio companies. However, the MBA helped me gain a much broader global perspective.

When you are based in the Global South, there can be a tendency to look at the Global North mainly as a reference point or aspiration. The program helped me go beyond that view. Being connected to people from different countries, industries, and realities opened my mind significantly. The professors and the content also played an important role in expanding how I think about business, leadership, and my own career path.

How do the teachings from a German business degree translate to doing business in Brazil? Are there any major similarities or differences?

In Brazil, business education and business discussions can sometimes be very focused on Brazil itself, almost disconnected from the rest of the world. Studying at ESMT, in Germany, challenged me to think much more globally.

Germany has a very strategic position in the global economy, and that context encourages you to understand different innovation ecosystems, different models of growth, and different ways of building competitive companies.

One concept that stayed with me very strongly was the idea of the Hidden Champions. For me, it is not only a business concept, but also a kind of philosophy behind important foundations of the German economy. I see many parallels with Brazil. We also have strong companies outside the obvious spotlight, but in Germany this has already been mapped and understood as a major engine of the economy. In Brazil, we still have a lot of work to do to recognize and develop that potential more systematically.

Which concepts or teachings from the MBA have stuck with you the most?

“The MBA reinforced the importance of thinking globally, understanding different business systems, and not limiting strategic thinking to the reality of one country or one market.”

The concept of Hidden Champions is probably the one that stayed with me the most. It helped me understand how specialized, often less visible companies can become global leaders in their niches and serve as a powerful engine for a national economy.

More broadly, the MBA reinforced the importance of thinking globally, understanding different business systems, and not limiting strategic thinking to the reality of one country or one market. That perspective has influenced the way I lead CNEX and how we design executive education programs for companies in Brazil.

What is your favorite overall memory from your time at ESMT?

“That in-person experience was fundamental. It gave a different dimension to the program”

Without a doubt, my favorite memory was the Berlin Experience Week. I also had the opportunity to stay a few additional weeks in the city, which allowed me to experience the campus, spend more time with classmates, and interact more closely with professors.

That in-person experience was fundamental. It gave a different dimension to the program and helped transform an online MBA into a much more human, personal, and memorable journey.

What advice would you give to someone considering an online MBA at ESMT?

My advice would be to take the program seriously and dedicate real time to the learning experience. The more you invest in studying, reflecting, and engaging with the content, the more you will be able to absorb from the professors, classmates, and discussions.

I would also strongly recommend making the most of the in-person opportunities, especially the Berlin Experience Week and other initiatives that allow you to connect with the university and your cohort. The online format gives you flexibility, but the combination of online learning with meaningful in-person experiences is what makes the journey especially powerful.

Thank you, Douglas!

Douglas Souza is the CEO of CNEX in Brazil.

If you’ve been inspired by this article, and you would like to learn more about CNEX, business in Brazil, and leadership development, you can follow him on LinkedIn.