First of all, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in the Latin Scholarship competition. I graduated with a bachelor degree in Business from a Brazilian university, which allows me to be quite competent in the field of entrepreneurship. In addition, I have my own business related to yarn production, which has been operating since 2004. During this time I was able to join the entrepreneurial belt, knowing all the intricacies of business processes in the country. Thanks to this extensive experience, I recognized and analyzed one of the most important problems of doing business in Brazil.
Business in Brazil has grown rapidly over the past 10 years, and Brazilian entrepreneurs are increasingly thinking globally, not just in narrow national categories. Many Brazilian entrepreneurs in São Paulo, for example, now understand that it is possible to work abroad. Going beyond Brazil and Latin America makes it possible to do business at a global and higher quality level. Nevertheless, there is a serious problem, which is the lack of success stories. There are success stories, but not as many as in the United States, which is vital for the credibility of Brazilian entrepreneurship. It is the basis for foreign partners to want to interact with each other. From my own experience, I have been able to see that when there is an opportunity to conclude a contract or join a business, potential partners consider such a factor as the company’s credibility. It consists of many criteria, but the main one I can call success, which is measured in the fame, reviews, and profitability of the corporation. Consequently, Brazilian specialists need to improve the credibility and image of companies. Another important feature that should be emphasized is the development of personal contacts. The fact is that business is closely related to interpersonal relationships between people and professionals. It is the aggregate activity and mutual assistance of Brazilian entrepreneurs that allows the most effective result. International business helps to expand business relationships for business, and consequently leads to an increase in quality. This explains why entrepreneurs need to seek international cooperation. In other words, integration into a global industry allows not only to gain credibility, but also to benefit both sides. Here it should be emphasized that it is the university knowledge that makes the entrepreneur a specialist in international cooperation. Since, in addition to basic knowledge, special skills are needed, in dealing with other cultures, currencies or business techniques, the Master’s program is a relevant method of self-improvement.
It is important to emphasize that Brazil is a country that welcomes and promotes entrepreneurs. According to a study conducted last year at Endeavor Universities in Brazil, students are thinking and assuming about starting their own business, and on a fairly large scale (Liberman & Oliviera, 2019). Forty-six universities participated in the survey, of which 91% offered courses and programs related in some way to entrepreneurship (Liberman & Oliviera, 2019, p. 47). According to Endeavor, the problem in Brazil is that in this country it is difficult to distinguish from the mass of entrepreneurs truly important and influential businessmen. There are many companies in the country that focus on rapid growth and business scaling. They use new technology, come up with interesting ideas, apply new methods in management or new business models. Some companies operate internationally (they give birth to ideas of interest to global markets), others at the national level (they instill ideas brought from abroad), others at the local level (they try to make an idea a reality in their region).
The Brazilian entrepreneurial culture came out of the “informal” economy. Usually a business in Brazil starts like this: a person buys an RV, drives around, and offers some services. Often he does not even register a company. Not many people have the ambition and desire to grow a large national company, let alone go abroad. The problem lies partly in state regulation of the economy and the so-called “custo Brasil”. Brazilian law makes life easier for very small companies, giving them tax breaks and simplifying bureaucratic procedures (Schneider & Reynolds & Zylberberg, 2019). But as soon as a company grows up, it is immediately subject to other laws written for big business.
The impediments are leading to an over-concentration of small businesses in Brazil. After all, only a large company can afford to hire the lawyers and accountants needed to buy other businesses or to run franchises. Governments must do away with regressive taxes, such as the income tax, and any other extortions that reduce the cash flow of a company. In the case of Brazil, reforms are needed to improve the country’s business climate and enable companies to adopt global best business practices.
Based on all of the above, I can explain how exactly my master’s education will help me in solving these problems, as well as in developing my own business. The fact is that the Master’s education itself allows the individual to have a unique applied knowledge, which is useful for management positions. Thus, I will be able to improve my own skills in running my own business, making it larger and more reputable. Eventually, given this opportunity to develop, I will be able to create the company necessary to represent the Brazilian tissue industry as a developed, modern and collaborative field. There is another goal in which my master’s degree will help me. The fact is that, as I mentioned above, changes in legislation are necessary. In order to push the government or state such an idea so that it is taken into account, it is necessary to be an authoritative specialist, whose knowledge is supported by a diploma. It is not uncommon for professionals in the field of medicine, for example, to become advisers for politicians by putting forward topical issues for discussion and adjustment. I am sure that having my own business and relevant qualifications thanks to a Latin fellowship I will have the opportunity to draw the attention of politicians to this problem.
As a result of all of the above, I can emphasize that the Master’s program is vital for me. Firstly, I will be able to improve myself as a businessperson, and secondly, it will help me to solve current problems in the field of entrepreneurship. These goals are essential not only for me, but for business in the state as a whole, because I am interested in promoting and improving it. This is also facilitated by the fact that Brazil will create great opportunities for specialists with potential, because education is of high quality and diplomacy is developed enough to provide ample opportunities for interaction with other states. I hope that my existing experience and knowledge will allow you to make a decision in my favor.
References
Liberman, L., and Oliviera, M. M. J. (2019). Contemporary influences on international business in Latin America. Environmental, firm and individual-level factors. Springer International Publishing.
Schneider, B. R., Reynolds, E. B., and Zylberberg, E. (Ed.). (2019). Innovation in Brazil. Advancing development in the 21st century. Taylor & Francis.