Early Life and Education
Cristina Junqueira was born in September 1982, in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Shortly after her birth, her family moved to Rio de Janeiro, where she was raised as the eldest of four sisters. Junqueira attended St. Ignatius College, a Jesuit high school in Rio's Botafogo district. In 2000, she moved to São Paulo to attend the University of São Paulo (USP), earning a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in 2004. She also earned a Master's degree in economic and financial modeling from USP. Junqueira later earned an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management in 2008.
Rise to Success
Junqueira began her career as an associate consultant at Boston Consulting Group. After returning to Brazil, she joined Unibanco, leading its small and medium-sized business sector. After Unibanco merged with Itaú, she became a portfolio manager. She then worked at LuizaCred, the financial services unit of Brazilian retailer Magazine Luiza. In 2013, inspired by frustrations with Brazil's banking system, Junqueira co-founded Nubank with David Vélez and Edward Wible. Initially, Nubank offered a no-fee credit card managed through a mobile app.
Key Business Strategies
Junqueira, as co-founder and currently the Chief Growth Officer, has played a key role in Nubank's growth by focusing on customer experience, transparency, and innovation in financial services. Nubank's strategies include offering user-friendly digital banking services, expanding into new markets, and leveraging technology to provide accessible financial solutions. The company's success has been marked by rapid customer acquisition and strong financial performance. As of 2024, Nubank has over 114 million customers.
Philanthropy
Cristina Junqueira has supported various educational and social initiatives in Brazil. She has also led Nubank's policy on inclusivity programs and has worked to increase female representation in both tech and finance.