Former International Trade Advisor
Geneva, Switzerland

Born and raised in Brazil, Luciana Lins received a BA from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and an MBA from the Catholic University. She started her professional career while in her senior year at a leading South American consumer finance company, mostly in the financial planning team during the turbulent 80s hyperinflation.

In 1989, recently-married Luciana moved to Paris where she learned French and helped a group of researchers set up a biotech consulting company as a controller. These were the early days of the start-up concept in Europe. Then came Munich, more intensive language classes and discovering her passion for opera. After relocating to New York in 1992, she volunteered at the New York City Opera as a member of the International Committee. Back in São Paulo in 1994, Luciana joined the US Department of Commerce (USDO) where she had the exciting task of assisting American companies in finding local partners. She created and headed the new “Customized Business Services” in Brazil, a concept replicated throughout USDOC worldwide. Her son was born in 1995, followed by her daughter six years later in London when her family became her priority.

In Switzerland, she joined the newly opened Human Rights Watch branch. Since 2001, Luciana, an arts and sports enthusiast, has taken art history and pilates classes. Pilates replaced her former passion for synchronized swimming, for which she was a twice gold medalist at the South American Championships. She is currently learning Italian for fun.

DCI Fellow: Guiherme Lins