Karla was born in Recife, one of the Brazilian slums in Northeast Brazil. She dreams of reducing poverty among women in developing and underdeveloped countries by empowering them and their communities. She earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science with a minor in International Relations from the Federal University of Pernambuco, where she also pursued her master’s in Political Science. During her studies, she developed and published research about political representation, UN peace missions and sexual crimes, sustainable development as a democratic measure, and acquired professional experience as an analyst of economic and financial projects for industries. She started her carrier in StartUps and Social Businesses at the age of 16 as CMO for a startup focused on the development of humanitarian technology to solve problems of physical disability. Her newest endeavor was to develop and be the CFO of EcoCiclo, a StartUp that manufactures the first 100% biodegradable sanitary pad produced in Brazil and through the manufacturing process empowers women in situations of social and economic vulnerability by employing and giving them chances for personal development. She’s currently a Fulbright Fellow and is pursuing her second master’s in Development Practice at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. As part of her experience at Humphrey School, she worked with the Rainforest Alliance to improve the quality of life of rural communities in the Mayan Biosphere in Guatemala.
Advisor
Greta Friedemann-Sanchez
Education
BA and MA Political Science
