Luiz Maia

Luiz Maia’s zest for life and thirst for knowledge is contagious. He lights up the room with a simple smile, and when he speaks, it’s with poise and motivation. He’s a tenured businessman with a wealth of expertise. And he believes that the sky is the limit when it comes to professional growth – but it’s up to us to make sure we preserve that opportunity for generations to come.

Luiz is a Brazil native, living in São Paulo. He also has a residence here in the United States, in Boca Raton, Florida. He enjoys the opportunity it gives him to experience the difference in culture and environment. But in time, it would also afford him the opportunity to grow and develop in ways that have the potential to impact the world.

Truth is, Luiz has invested much of his life in learning and creating a discipline to give back to the society. In his early college years, he studied civil engineering, obtaining a master’s degree in international management. He then dedicated his career to the field of international capital markets and banking. But when the pandemic forced the world into lock down, Luiz decided it was the perfect time to take the next step in his career.

Utilizing his Boca residence as a starting point, Luiz set out to explore higher education opportunities. He found Florida Atlantic University’s website, started exploring the option of virtual classes and ultimately decided it was time to go back to college, after 42 years. He started studying a major in Spanish – he had prior knowledge of speaking in Spanish, but really wanted to hone in on the technical writing of the language in addition to studying Hispanic and Iberian cultures and literature.

As time went on, he learned about FAU’s Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) program, a highly flexible degree completion program designed to support career advancement with various course options and an emphasis on strengthening high-demand workforce skills in management, leadership, technology, and communication. He instantly connected with the idea of infusing his professional experience with his passion to grow in leadership and new skills. He changed his major to Professional Studies – but don’t worry, he still minored in Spanish! And he even made the Dean’s list.

Luiz said that the benefit of being part of the BPS program is that "you can piece everything together to be exactly what you need and want." Adding, "there are so many things to learn and reflect on in your professional life. If you want to recycle knowledge and go back, it’s good for thinking out of the box, challenging yourself and connecting with likeminded colleagues."

The BPS program at FAU has everything you need to successfully complete your degree with easy credit transfers, tailored advising serves and even customized courses scheduled to fit your busy life with classes offered online or on-campus, day or evening.

"Finishing my degree in May will be the capstone of my Leadership goals," Luiz said.

Luiz added courses in nonprofit organizations, data analytics and artificial intelligence as well. He’s fascinated by the ever-evolving advancement of technology and the role that measuring data analytics plays in the sustainability of our future - both for businesses and for the global economy. Courses that he believes are "fundamental for the decision-making of the future". Luiz wants to be armed with knowledge that can preserve the future of our planet so he can be able to add to those important discussions in different forums. He hopes to start by using his newfound information on data analytics to find future work with nonprofit organizations and their board of directors. Luiz hopes to bridge the gap in philanthropy and nonprofits in the US and team up with opportunities in Brazil and in Latin America to accelerate a worldwide change targeting sustainability and social development.

All this technical work and leadership can feel overwhelming at times. So, what does Luiz do to clear his mind? He cycles – riding his bike beachside here in Florida or through the streets and terrains of São Paulo or the mountains in Europe. One of his favorite cycling adventures has been participating in the Race Across America. He joined with his son and another friend’s duo of his. They started in Oceanside, north of San Diego, and ended in Annapolis, Maryland. In total, it was a 3,000-mile, non-stop relay race. The partners switched every six hours to rest and refuel. The journey spanned across 16 states in 7 days and 20 hours.

Luiz is excited for his next chapter. His experience at FAU has created freshness and enthusiasm for change and connected him with so many people – some of which he took under his wing in the FAU mentoring program. He admits that going back to school after 42 years was no easy feat. He felt rusty, and adjusting to a virtual platform was a bit challenging. But in the end, it was like riding a bike. You never forget!

To learn more about our Bachelor of Professional Studies program, visit: https://www.fau.edu/bps/