Ana Sofia

Can you introduce yourself? Tell us your name, where you’re from, and a bit about your background.

My name is Ana Sofia, I’m from Portugal, and my background has always been in business, finance, and project management. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Project Management, and I’m now looking to specialize in finance for my MBA.

What were your expectations before coming to ABC Silicon Valley?

I’ve been working for two years, so I already had some professional experience and had met some interesting people. I’d also heard about the mindset in Silicon Valley and how its ecosystem operates differently from the rest of the world.

I wanted to experience that for myself and see whether it was true that people here work at a faster pace and have a different drive to succeed and pursue their goals.

What has been your favorite part of the program so far?

I’d say the connections. It took a few days for everyone in the program to connect beyond their own groups, but once that happened, it became really interesting. Everyone could talk to anyone, and we started forming genuine connections that might last for years, or even a lifetime.

The speakers and company visits were also incredible. We had the chance to speak directly with successful people, ask questions, and even exchange contact information for future connections. I was impressed by how open they were to connecting with students from Europe. It showed me something about the culture here that you don’t necessarily find everywhere.

Did the experience challenge you personally or professionally?

More personally. Being surrounded by people from all over the world meant dealing with different backgrounds, ages, experiences, expectations, and communication styles.

At work, you usually have time to get to know your team and adapt to how you work together. Here, I had to build connections with people coming from very different perspectives, which was much more challenging.

After two weeks of constant conversations, new insights, and connecting with people, I felt both inspired and exhausted. Learning to adapt to so many different communication styles was probably the biggest personal challenge for me.

What is the first thing you’ll do differently when you get home?

I want to be more open to networking and building connections outside my workplace.

One idea that stuck with me was creating your own board of directors. These don’t necessarily have to be formal mentors, but people whose knowledge and perspectives can help you in different areas of your life. I want to be more intentional about surrounding myself with people who can offer valuable insights.

I also want to revisit the exercise Robert shared about living according to your core values. I’ll take some time to reflect on whether the path I’m following is aligned with those values or whether I need to make a change.

What would you tell someone thinking about applying to ABC Silicon Valley?

I’d tell them to apply immediately! I was quite skeptical at first because I’d never done anything like this before, and I was coming on my own. But no matter your age or background, I think it’s a really valuable challenge. You’ll probably leave feeling exhausted from everything you’ve learned, but also re-energized and motivated to keep going.

To me, that’s one of the most special things Silicon Valley has to offer, whether you’re a student, an entrepreneur, a professional, or simply someone who wants to come here and learn. Just apply and go!