SOFIA COSTA ALVES

is one of a handful of international executives who have successfully navigated global brands across continents.  She has a brilliant track record of developing and researching brands in Europe, USA and South America.

Sofia started her career at Philip Morris, where she cut her teeth at the company’s European Headquarters in Switzerland.

In 2001, she was recruited to London by Nestle, which she considers to be her Insight and Research school.

In 2003, Kimberly-Clark brought Sofia on board and she spent 9 years in various roles in senior-level positions across different European markets and Brazil, which also entailed significant amount of time working with the US headquarters. 

Since 2011 Sofia has been leading Mindbrand, meeting the needs of both Brazilian companies looking for Strategic Qualitative Research and of international agencies looking for a strategic partner in Latin America. 

Sofia has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, with a fiery can-do attitude and a highly sophisticated knowledge of the cultural nuances that can make or break market strategies.  She is driven by her belief that the most insightful understanding of consumers is a company’s most powerful competitive advantage.  She aims for the highest levels of innovation and rigor, achieved through groundbreaking methodologies, creativity and attracting top-level talent to Mindbrand’s projects. 

ANNE MOLINARI  

has a solid international background in research, strategic planning and consulting across Latin America.

She started her career in 1999 as a strategic planning analyst in the investment bank branch of Unibanco in Brazil.

After her MBA at Columbia Business School, she joined Booz Allen Hamilton, in São Paulo, where she worked as an associate until 2007. During the years at Booz Allen, Anne strengthened her strategic and analytical skills, and she developed a strong interest in research and strategic analysis.

She then joined DuPont, where she held managerial positions in Strategic Planning & Market Intelligence. Her responsibility was Latin America, with a focus on Brazil.

In 2013, she went back to consulting, and spent 2 years working for Itelogy, leading various projects for Brazilian Internet companies such as Buscapé and BrandsClub.

In 2015, Anne joined Honeywell as a senior strategy manager and kept this position for the next 2 years.

She has then joined Mindbrand as strategic consultant, adding her strong analytical and strategic mindset to the team. She is a passionate moderator and researcher. Anne loves the interaction with consumers and how insights taken from these deep conversations are key to form strategies and marketing plans for companies across different sectors and geographies.

THAIS RUA

is a psychoanalyst with a strong background in Marketing and a great love for Consumer Research.

Passionate about brands and strategy, Thais worked for several years in Bauducco and Pepsico, where she inspired those around her with sharp creativity, rigorous analysis and diligence to develop and grow her brands.

Thais joined our team in 2016 and has ever since been a key strategic consultant for some of our clients, helping them unleash the potential of their brands by deep diving in consumers’ subconscious minds. 

A natural moderator, genuinely interested in consumers’ conscious and subconscious minds, Thais leads very deep conversations with all types of audiences, both online and offline, leading to unvealing powerful truths and new business opportunities.

OLIVIA ANDRADE

has a unique profile which combines a background in Marketing, client and agency side research and psychoanalysis.

Olivia started her career as a Marketing Analyst in Pepsico Brazil. In 2008, she was recruited by Kimberly Clark, where she held Marketing and Market Research roles in the Feminine and Adult Care business.

Passionate for Research and Psychoanalysis, she joined our team in 2012 and has been a key strategic partner for many of our clients, helping them unlock powerful insights and consumer truths and providing strategic recommendations for their brand and businesses. 

Olivia has a strong strategic mindset and a deep knowledge of what drives consumer behaviour and the role of the unconscious mind in day to day decisions. She is driven by her passion for a deep understanding of what really drives consumer behaviour and how to turn that into our clients' strategic advantage.

ESTELA WESTPHALEN                       

is Mindbrand’s Generation Z rising Star!

A Liberal Arts student at Brown University, Estela joined our team as an intern, inspiring us with her captivating personality, sharp creativity and rigorous analytical skills.

Having grown up in the USA and Brazil and studied in British Schools in both countries, Estela is a true native bilingual and cultural polyglot.

Passionate about international matters, Estela truly embodies the definition of a global citizen, both in spirit as well as in her experiences.