Aspire Leaders Program alumna Linda Fraga’s path to success stands as a testament to the power of following a passion and seizing opportunities to make a positive impact. Driven by her creativity while growing up in Brazil, Fraga nurtured a deep love for art and thinking outside the box. These interests guided her through pivotal life decisions, shaping her into the accomplished Brand Lead and Social Media Manager she is today.
Balancing Passions and Practicality
I always wanted to do something that would add to my life; to leave a legacy and to just leave the world in a better way than [how] I found it.
As a first-generation university student, Fraga felt she had to succeed for both herself and her family. During her time at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, she became determined to pursue a path that would leave a lasting positive impact.
“I always wanted to do something that would add to my life; to leave a legacy and to just leave the world in a better way than [how] I found it,” she said.
Not wanting to limit herself, Fraga decided to seek out a career that could merge her artistic inclinations with practicality. She opted for a major in advertising and publicity with minors in international studies and psychology — the perfect intersection of art and business.
This choice not only allowed Fraga to harness her creative talents in a professional role, but also exposed her to an immersive experience in practicing English during her international studies courses. She relished having the opportunity to learn the language and soon found the chance to put her newfound skills to practice.
Immersed in a Community of Like-Minded Peers
After university, Fraga sought opportunities to learn more about herself and grow personally as well as professionally. She discovered the Aspire Leaders Program from an online resource center that listed opportunities for Brazilian students – and quickly applied.
Once accepted, Fraga was amazed at the rich and diverse network of peers she found within the program.
“The journey was amazing [and] it really opened my eyes to this space where I could interact with people still located in their own realities and their own countries,” she said. “We had this space where we could discuss real issues that we all had in common and [share] different perspectives. I was so amazed by the diversity.”
It gave me hope that we could come together and inspire each other to continue going through our individual journeys.
The program’s emphasis on peer-to-peer learning and collaboration was invaluable to Fraga. She fostered friendships that continue to thrive today through regular communication and mutual support.
“I could see that more people were also in the same situation as I [was] and living through the same things,” she said. “It gave me hope that we could come together and inspire each other to continue going through our individual journeys [while going] through this together.”
Putting Passions into Practice
Fraga’s journey took another exciting turn when she moved to the United States and began an MBA program at One League, an Aspire Institute partner and global institution that connects changemakers with world-class education and opportunities.
Fraga initially learned about One League through an interest survey sent out by the Aspire Programs team. Motivated by a desire to continue broadening her horizons and inspire others from similar backgrounds, she applied.
The transition felt even easier when she encountered 18 of her fellow Aspire alumni in the same MBA program.
“It created a safe place for [that] journey as well,” she said. “We got to bond and share those experiences.”
Beyond her studies, Fraga involved herself in community initiatives at One League. She utilized her creative skills to aid in organizing student events and even took on a leadership role as the class co-president. The One League team noticed Fraga’s exceptional skills in visual communications and branding and offered her a role in various creative projects. Fraga — elated to obtain an opportunity that aligned with her studies and passions — agreed, and she has since taken on a full-time role there.
Fraga found her niche as One League’s Brand Lead and Social Media Manager, a position that allows her to combine her skills with her passion for making a positive impact.
A Bright Future
Looking forward, Fraga remains focused on using her creativity to design solutions for real world problems in the U.S. and in her community in Brazil. She is using this time to grow as much as she can and prepare to implement initiatives that make a positive impact on her home community.
From her roots in Brazil to her current role at One League, Fraga continues to inspire others through her journey of self-discovery and unwavering commitment to leaving the world better than she found it.
“I want to build something — to know that I left an impact and I was able to use my creativity to help someone,” she said. “[I want to] be part of designing solutions for problems small or big that will last longer than my life[time].”
