{"id":95337,"date":"2025-07-29T09:42:34","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T13:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/?page_id=95337"},"modified":"2026-02-10T15:23:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T20:23:02","slug":"luiz-capra","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/programs\/business-management\/stories\/luiz-capra\/","title":{"rendered":"Desire to Leverage Data Takes Alum from Family\u2019s Recycling Biz in Small-Town Brazil to Role as an Analyst Fighting Food Waste"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Business & Management Programs<\/a>More Student Stories<\/a><\/div>\"Luiz<\/p>\n

Luiz Capra (MET\u201925)<\/strong>
\nMS, Applied Business Analytics<\/a>
\n2025 Graduate Award for Excellence Recipient
\nPower BI Developer, Divert, Inc.
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What motivated you to earn your master\u2019s degree at this point? Why did you choose to fulfill your goal at Metropolitan College?<\/strong>
\nMy undergraduate degree was in business administration, and I used to work as an investment analyst at a multinational real estate company, using data to recommend prices for commercial real estate transaction in Rio de Janeiro. After graduating I returned to my hometown, a small city in the Amazon region of Brazil, to manage a recycling company owned by my family.<\/p>\n

When I got there, it was a shock to see how amateur our data management was, I was used to have a lot of data on my previous job, but after that I had only gut feelings and guesswork from the company managers. That was very frustrating from the first moment, so I decided to start collecting and analyzing my own data to track operational and logistics efficiency.<\/p>\n

After a few years, my family sold that company and I started my own data consultancy business to help other businesses mature in data management, where I had the opportunity to work with over 30 clients helping them analyze their financial and operational results. That\u2019s when I decided that I should get an official degree in data analytics to be able to offer better services, so I applied to the best universities in the US and decided to go to BU MET because it\u2019s recognized internationally as one of the best universities in the world.<\/p>\n

What do you find most fascinating about the discipline of applied business analytics? Do you have a particular focus within the broader field?<\/strong>
\nI\u2019m amazed at how data analytics is transforming decision-making in every industry. What excites me most is the opportunity to use data not just to improve profits, but to create meaningful impact\u2014whether in sustainability, public policy, or social change.<\/p>\n

Congratulations on your high achievement in the <\/strong>Applied Business Analytics<\/strong> program and your Award for Excellence in your studies! Looking back, what do you consider to be the main ingredients of your success?<\/strong>
\nBeyond experience, my success came down to consistency and resilience. The key ingredients were discipline (a lot of it), focus, curiosity, hard work, and treating every project as an opportunity to grow and deliver something valuable.<\/p>\n

Was your success in the program driven by a particular outcome\u2014such as professional advancement, educational achievement, personal satisfaction, or something else?<\/strong>
\nAll of the above. I wanted to improve my career prospects, of course\u2014but even more than that, I wanted to feel prepared to solve real-world problems with substance and strategy. It was also a personal journey to prove to myself that someone from a small town could thrive on a global stage.<\/p>\n

Is there a particular course or project that enhanced your experience in the Applied Business Analytics program? Please explain.<\/strong>
\nBeing a teaching assistant in the Marketing Analytics (MET AD 654)<\/a> course was a highlight. Supporting other students and being on the teaching side of the classroom made the experience more meaningful. It reminded me how much I enjoy helping others learn and grow through data.<\/p>\n

Can you share any examples of skills, principles, or practices learned in the program that you were concurrently able to apply to your job?<\/strong>
\nSo many. The use of statistical analysis for decision-making, building dashboards, predictive modeling\u2014but especially the ability to frame business problems analytically and communicate solutions clearly. That mindset shift was huge.<\/p>\n

There were also two projects I am proud of that I could develop professionally using what I\u2019ve learned on the program: a statistical analysis to evaluate the accuracy and fairness of an AI grading model for essays in Brazil\u2019s ENEM (national university entrance exam) and an association rules-based algorithm to create product suggestion for customers based on their purchase history for my family\u2019s retail jewelry.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next for you? If you are changing roles, moving on to a new career, or receiving any kind of promotion, we would love to hear about it. Would you say that your program helped prepare you for the next phase of your career?<\/strong>
\nI\u2019m excited to join Divert, Inc. as a data analyst right after graduation. The company\u2019s mission\u2014using data to combat food waste\u2014aligns deeply with my personal values. I believe the program helped me get here not only through technical training but by shaping the way I approach challenges with curiosity and confidence.<\/p>\n

You were recognized by faculty and peers for your hard work and dedication to the Applied Business Analytics program. What \u201cwords of advice\u201d or encouragement have served as a guiding principle, or simply inspiration, for you? Any words of wisdom you would like to pass along to students starting in the program?<\/strong>
\nIf I had to choose a mantra, it would be: \u201cSmall consistent steps lead to big transformations.\u201d
\nDon\u2019t rush to be the best\u2014just commit to getting better. And never underestimate the power of showing up with discipline and humility.<\/p>\n

Is there anything else you would like to add?<\/strong>
\nComing from Vilhena, a small town in the countryside of the Amazon, and making it this far shows that it\u2019s possible to achieve great goals with dedication and preparation. What brought me to this point was the combination of very diverse experiences\u2014from leading a family business in the sustainability sector to developing data analysis projects using artificial intelligence. Each step taught me how to solve real problems with depth and creativity.
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