Amanoa Elias de Godoy, Cornell Johnson MBA Class of 2028
Age: 33
Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Universidade Federal de Uberlandia
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Stone Co. a leading fintech company in Brazil – Senior Sales Operation Manager, 9 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
After building my career in commercial and sales operations in Brazil, I reached a point where I wanted to expand my impact and move toward broader strategic and finance-oriented leadership roles. Throughout my journey at Stone, working closely with Brazilian entrepreneurs strengthened my desire to better understand how finance, strategy, and access to capital can transform businesses, especially for women entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
After more than nine years of professional experience, I felt this was the right moment to step outside my comfort zone, gain a global perspective, and build the skills needed for the next stage of my career and long-term goals.
Why did you choose Cornell? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
When I decided to pursue an MBA, I knew I was looking for two things: a community with a strong sense of purpose and a rigorous academic environment that would challenge me to grow. I found both at Johnson.
What first stood out to me was its commitment to doing the greatest good. To me, that’s more than a motto, it’s part of Cornell’s identity. Cornell was the first Ivy League university to admit women, and knowing that I’ll be studying in Sage Hall, originally built as Cornell’s first residence hall for women, reinforced my belief that Cornell has consistently expanded opportunities and developed leaders who challenge conventional thinking.
Just as importantly, as someone preparing for a career pivot, I wasn’t looking for an MBA that would simply teach me new concepts, I wanted one that would help me make that transition successfully. Johnson’s Immersion Learning model immediately stood out because it bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. Rather than waiting until my summer internship to apply what I’ve learned, I’ll have the opportunity to work on real business challenges in the field I’m transitioning into, allowing me to build the confidence, industry perspective, and practical judgment to contribute from day one.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
What I hope to contribute most to the Johnson community is a steady presence during moments of uncertainty. As a leader, I learned that my responsibility wasn’t to have all the answers, but to help people navigate challenges. Whether someone was facing a difficult decision, feeling overwhelmed, or doubting themselves, I helped them organize their thoughts, focus on what they could control, and take the next step with confidence. I hope to bring that same presence to Johnson. During recruiting, academics, or any of the inevitable ups and downs of an MBA, I want to be the classmate my peers—especially my Core Team—can turn to for perspective, honest advice, and support. If I can help my classmates feel more grounded, confident, and capable of overcoming challenges together, I’ll know I’ve made a meaningful contribution to the Class of 2028.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
My name, Amanoa, is so uncommon that I’ve never met another person who shares it. It’s an Indigenous name that means swallow, a bird my parents chose because they hoped I would always have the courage to fly far while never forgetting where I came from. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that’s also how I try to live: embracing new places and opportunities, while staying connected to my roots and helping others along the journey.
Post-MBA career interests:
Post-MBA, I am interested in pursuing strategy and consulting roles, where I can leverage my experience in business growth and operations while developing a broader perspective on how organizations solve complex challenges and create long-term value.
In the long term, I hope to apply these experiences to support entrepreneurship and business growth, particularly by helping expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
One thing I would absolutely do again is visit the schools in person. As an international applicant, I did not have a deep understanding of the different regions in the U.S., the campuses, or what the experience at each school would truly feel like beyond what I could find online. Visiting gave me a completely different perspective.
At the beginning of the process, I was planning to apply to five schools. However, after visiting campuses, interacting with students and admissions teams, sitting in on classes, and experiencing the communities firsthand, I gained much more clarity about what was truly important to me. Those visits helped me understand not only the academic programs, but also where I could genuinely see myself living and building a community. As a result, I decided to apply to only two schools that truly felt like the right fit.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
One thing I would do differently is how I approached the GMAT or standardized testing requirement. I requested a waiver, and while I still believe that an MBA application should be evaluated based on much more than a test score, I sometimes wish I had made the decision to pursue business school earlier in my career and given myself more time to prepare for the exam.
In hindsight, preparing for the test could have also helped me transition back into an academic environment. After more than 11 years away from school, returning to classes, exams, and assignments—and adapting to the pace and intensity of an MBA program—has been challenging. The discipline and study habits I would have developed while preparing for the GMAT might have helped me rebuild that academic muscle and feel more prepared for what was ahead.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I honestly would not say there is one part I would have skipped. Every part of the process was important, even though some moments were much more enjoyable than others. For me, the hardest part was managing my emotions throughout the journey and dealing with uncertainty.
There were days when I felt incredibly confident in my potential and truly believed I could get into my dream school, and other days when I questioned whether any of it would work out. It was also challenging not to fall into the trap of comparing myself to other applicants. Maintaining confidence throughout such a long and uncertain process was probably the hardest part.
What helped me the most was having support along the way. I worked with a mentorship program in Brazil founded by someone who had gone through the application process himself. Having someone who could bring clarity to the process, follow my progress, and support me through every interaction with schools—from essays and interviews to coffee chats with students—made a huge difference. That guidance helped me stay grounded, keep moving forward, and continue believing in my own potential, even during the moments when I doubted myself.
What is your initial impression of the Cornell students/culture/community?
My initial impression of the Cornell community has been how diverse and energetic it is. One of the things I have enjoyed the most is getting to know my classmates and realizing how many different backgrounds and experiences are represented in one room—from international students and former military members to dancers, gamers, and startup founders.
I have especially loved the opportunity to learn from people whose paths are completely different from mine. At the same time, despite all these differences, our class has become incredibly close and energetic very quickly. In the first two weeks, we were together almost every day, exploring Ithaca and getting to know each other beyond the classroom—from going to Bike Bar and Moonies to hiking around Ithaca’s waterfalls.
It has been a great reminder that one of the most valuable parts of the MBA is not only what you learn in the classroom, but also the people you get to experience it with.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’m most excited to immerse myself in Cornell’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, especially through eLab. My long-term goal is to build a fintech company focused on expanding access to credit and financial services for women entrepreneurs in Latin America, so eLab is a natural fit for my goals. I’m excited to work alongside PhD researchers, contributing my background in technology sales and commercial growth, while learning how early-stage ventures bring innovative ideas to market. Beyond eLab, I’m also looking forward to getting involved with the Latin American Business Association, and the Women’s Management Council to continue developing as a leader while learning from classmates with diverse backgrounds.
What is one thing you have learned about Cornell that has surprised you?
One thing that has surprised me about Cornell is the sheer number of opportunities available beyond the classroom. I knew Cornell was a large university, but I did not fully realize how much access we would have to different clubs, events, career resources, professors, alumni, and opportunities across the broader university.
What has been especially surprising is how easy it is to explore different interests and connect with people outside of your immediate program. I am still discovering new opportunities every week, and it has made me realize how much there is to learn and experience beyond the core MBA curriculum.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
As surprising as it may sound, one of the things I am most excited about in my first year is experiencing the intensity of recruiting. I am excited to prepare for something completely new, interact with companies, and go through the entire process alongside my Working Career Group.
From coffee chats and club meetings to case interview preparation and interviews, I am genuinely looking forward to the challenge and the learning that comes with it. Recruiting feels like such an intense and unique part of the MBA experience, and I am excited to fully immerse myself in it, learn from my peers, and push myself outside of my comfort zone.
