Breno Lobato

Other Courses
MBA from FGV-Rio w/ GPA of 9.8/10; Industrial Engineer from PUC-Rio w/ GPA of 9.3/10 and additional domain in Entrepreneurship; University of Leeds - Exchange Program to England representing PUC-Rio in 2016; Elementary School, Middle School and High School at Colégio Santo Agostinho 2001/2012. Graduated with Honours as an "Augustinian Student".

 

Date of graduation (or projected date if you have not yet graduated)?
MBA from FGV-Rio (end 2020); Industrial Engineer from PUC-Rio (end 2019); University of Leeds - Exchange Program (end 2017).

Year of Graduation
2017

Current organisation
Shell Brasil

Current position

Senior Buyer, Contracting & Procurement Upstream

Tell us about your degree - why did you choose it? What elements of the degree inspired you to study it?
Taking an Engineering degree would open many opportunities to my academic and professional career. The course is challenging, analytical and would take me out of my comfort zone, that is what I am always looking for when investing my time. But, on the other hand, I also sought a business background to help me navigate through technical and business matters whatever job I ended up with. For that reason, I took one year abroad at Leeds University Business School focusing on subjects that were business-related to fill that specific gap. I have become much more prepared to come to my home country, finish the Engineering degree and join Shell Brasil.
 

What was the best part of your studies here? What did you enjoy the most?
Whenever I think about my time at Leeds, it brings a smile to my face and amazing memories to my mind. It was a unique experience, and I could not ask for a better university to be part of during that time. I have joined one of the most respected universities in Europe and the world, alongside distinguished minds as colleagues and a robust structure of facilities to help me with my studies after class. If I have to choose one thing that I have enjoyed the most, I would say the diversity of people who were part of my life during that year which was a watershed in how I was prepared to deal with a multicultural environment when I got back home.

What were your career aspirations when you arrived? Do you think the experience and skills you gained here will help/helped you in your future career plans? In what way?
When I arrived at Leeds University Business School my career aspirations were to come to Brazil to finish my degree and get into a multinational company, since this international experience has given me such a breadth of opportunities to interact and cope with multinational backgrounds. I am sure that living and studying with people from all over the world was key to help me achieve my first step when I have joined Shell Brazil. Furthermore, living abroad required me to be more proactive and to enhance my communications skills which have been helping me since then to get the right behaviours and initiatives in my professional day-to-day life.

How has your career progressed since leaving the Business School? Have there been any notable highlights?

Since November 2017 I have been working at Shell Brazil as a member of the Contracting & Procurement team. I started as an Intern for Downstream and now am working as a Senior Buyer for Upstream. I believe in the power of Energy Transition to change our future, which is why I am co-leading FEL (Future Energy Leaders) hub in Shell Brazil as a Co-Chair. Also personally committed to Diversity and Inclusion, hence early 2019 I joined the Racial Equity Network of Shell Brazil intending to raise awareness and take actions that can change the status quo.

  Having concluded my degree as an Industrial Engineer from PUC-Rio with an accumulated GPA: 9.3/10, taking one year abroad at the University of Leeds (England), I am very proud that I was the Mathematics teacher for the Dom Helder Camara Social Project financed by PUC-Rio and ministered at a poor community for one year. Because of the spirit of getting involved in academic activities and reaching my fullest potential, I gathered awards, such as three Academic Merit for being classified among the best Engineering students of PUC-Rio. Recently, I finished my MBA at FGV-Rio with an accumulated GPA: 9.8/10. Finally, I am really glad to share that last month I was awarded ISM 30 Under 30, 2021 Rising Supply Chain Star. The 'ISM 30 Under 30 Supply Chain Stars' is a recognition programme that acknowledges young procurement/supply chain, management professionals. These individuals are exemplary examples of supply management professionals. 30 Under 30 recognizes and applauds them for their passion, creativity and contributions to the supply chain.

 

 

Where are you currently working, and what is your role?

I’m currently working at Shell Brazil as Senior Buyer in Upstream business. Activities: Graduate Program at Shell as member of the Contracting & Procurement (C&P) team for Upstream Non-Operated Ventures (NOV), being responsible for analysing contracting data that comes from the Operators. I am also a C&P Lead for tactical and strategic contracts related to offloading operations with the responsibility of Contract Management and Deal Making. Highlights: 1) Supply Chain Intelligence: Led a project that radically disrupted the way contracting information was stored and visualized, hence for such initiative, potentially responsible for millions of dollars in savings from better data management alone, I won the Shell Artificial Intelligence Awards 2020. 2) Business Partnering: Constructively influenced the business to adopt commercial improvement opportunities, especially during the COVID-19 crisis, bringing $200K (USD) in savings through these influencing skills. 3) Contract Management: Responsible for crafting strategies and their executions, which has brought so far $18,38M (USD) in savings through better contract management, long-term vision and deal-making initiatives. Additionally, due to my passion and belief in the power of energy transition, I am co-leading the establishment of the FEL (Future Energy Leaders) hub in Shell Brazil, sponsored by their Country Chair and I’m part of the board as a Co-Chair guiding 30+ volunteers. As another volunteer activity, apart from being active in Diversity & Inclusion initiatives helping the Racial Equity Network of Shell Brazil, I have also joined the IBP Youth Committee (Brazilian Petroleum and Gas Institute), which has the mission to promote actions and knowledge exchanges, aiming to attract, insert and develop young people in the oil, gas and biofuels sector, to support the sustainability of the industry and the renewal of talents.

 

What are your ambitions for the future?

The future is bright and exciting, with a greater focus on the energy transition, digitisation and diversity of representations. My ambition is to become one of Royal Dutch Shell’s leaders responsible for representing the company as a spokesman and by taking decisions that can set the direction of it, leading an organization that can help take Royal Dutch Shell to become one of the top 10 most valuable brands and providing 10% of world’s access to energy especially to low accessible communities.

 

 

Do you think your experience and skills gained here will help you in your future career plans? In what way?

Having the University of Leeds as part of my academic background testifies that I am academically and intellectually prepared to face the greatest challenges in our business world. I am sure that it will also help me in bringing an international experience as part of any team that I am part of which is fundamental in this multi-connected world that we live in. Furthermore, it gives me the confidence to pursue the best academic experiences throughout my life and do not settle for the status quo.

 

 

If you are not from the UK, how was the transition to a foreign country? Did the university offer support or services that you found helpful? Can you offer any advice?

The transition could not be smoother, I have received huge support from the team who received my application, advised me with curricular questions that I had and helped me to adjust to my new life when I arrived in England. The international office is very supportive, also the accommodation staff and to them my deepest appreciation.

 

           
What was your impression/experience of the facilities, the staff, your peers, the student union, the City of Leeds and the region itself? What would you recommend to future students?

The city is vibrant and at the same time is calm if you go to the libraries available to you. On one hand, you can have fun in the pubs, student union facilities, and on the other hand, you can take care of your body in the university´s gym. It is a great place to live and with amazing people around to help you and to make your time at Leeds one of the best times of your life!

 

What would you say is your defining memory of studying here? (eg friendships made, confidence in your abilities, or any single event that you will always remember?) And would you recommend the Business School to others?

The best memory that I have is when I remember the friends that I have made during my one year in Leeds. For me, it is all about people and enduring relationships, and until today I still connect and interact with my friends that I have made in Leeds. I truly recommend studying and get involved with Leeds University Business School, you won't regret it any second about it and it will be an experience that will open many doors to your academic and professional life!