GBR Spotlight – Debora

For this edition of GBR Spotlight we are speaking with Debora who initially joined as a GBR ambassador and is now part of our community team. Continue reading if you want to know more about her motivation to join GBR and stories about drunk tattoos!

Hello Debora, can you tell us a little bit about yourself to start off with?

Hi! I’m a Brazilian biotech BSc working in clinical research. And outside of work, I am also a waterfall chaser who loves spending time with my dog.

What made you study Biotechnology, and would you have done as a backup career?

I have lived with diabetes for over 15 years and I dream of making innovative therapies for chronic diseases accessible to the entire population of my country. I believe that a treatment is only efficient if it is available to all patients. Given that, I honestly think I could switch jobs for a dog walker very easily.

Have you ever lived in any country aside from Brazil and if so, where do you see the difference in the counties you lived in both in terms of social aspects and the Bioeconomy?

I have lived in Canada for 5 months and it was weird for me having to have a prescription to buy insulin. In Brazil it is not necessary, and it evoked many questions in my head regarding the impacts on how diabetic patients in each country manage the disease.

Now let’s talk about your role with us for a little while: What is your role within GBR?

Currently, I am a community director. This means my team and I are responsible for creating and managing tools to enhance GBR members’ experience within the organization. Right now, I am responsible for our mentorship program: GBR Connect. I am very excited to work on it as making connections is a huge passion of mine, and I think my life experience as a Latin woman is super positive in amplifying the impact of the organization on new cultures. I am also very happy with my group colleagues; I think we complement each other’s work very well!

How did you get involved with GBR?

I was selected as a Leader of Tomorrow for GapSummit in 2022. Then I became an ambassador in 2023 and now I just started as a Community Director in 2024. I like to think I am getting promoted haha

Can you describe a project you really loved working on?

I really loved working on my Ambassadors project! I interviewed 5 participants from science-based initiatives accessible to Brazilians, which resulted in 5 podcasts and 1 fireside chat. The project is available in Portuguese at Spotify and YouTube, respectively, under the name “Vamos mostrar ciência para esse povo”.

That sounds really exciting and is something that our Portuguese speaking readers should definitely check out! Aside from this, what do you like most about working for GBR?

The conversations I have with other members. I learn so much! I love to hear from and to be heard by people from all around the world, and I think that’s a great way to start a revolution.

To me GBR expands my understanding of the world; working with a multinational team just does wonders for my imagination! I am very happy with the woman I am becoming, and I think GBR is an important part of it.

Let’s move on to a few more personal questions. What is the last dream you remember?

It was a weird one, actually. My eyelashes wouldn’t stop growing, just like my hair. I needed to cut them every day

That sounds really weird indeed. What are your hobbies outside of work and GBR (and dreaming of eyelash cutting it seems)?

I practice yoga and like to discover new restaurants in town. I also really like museums; they are my number one priority in travels.

Are there any fun facts about you, you can share with us?

I have a drunk tattoo. I really like it. In Brazil some clubs have tattoo studios inside them. I think this is the most dangerous part of our culture. I was partying with some friends when I saw the cutest little fire scribble that looked a bit like Calcifer from “Howl’s Moving Castle” and had “not bad” written around it. After a few caipirinhas, I decided it was not a bad idea to have it in my arm. It wasn’t, it’s a lovely tattoo, BUT I wouldn’t recommend doing it drunk because the healing process was a pain. 

At least now it comes with a great story to tell, which hopefully makes up for the healing pain! What is the last book you read, and would you recommend it?

“Nós, o Atlântico em Solitário” from Tamara Klink. It tells the true story of the Atlantic cross in a sailing boat Tamara did all alone from Europe to Brazil. She was the youngest Brazilian to do it, which would be enough reason to recommend it, but also the way she writes is pure poetry! 10000/10

Who is your favourite person in GBR to work with?

Monika! She was very embracing of my project in the Ambassador’s program and crucial for its success, I can’t thank her enough! Also, she is really assertive in her communication, giving excellent suggestions, and I could feel she was genuinely interested in it. You should all meet her!

Which three items would you take with you on a lonely island?

Toilet paper, sunscreen and a canga (a piece of beach wrap)

Finally, the standard job interview question: Where do you see yourself in the near and more distant future?

Sunbathing near a river in Brazil after completing 6 months into a master’s degree in clinical research in Europe.

That sounds fantastic! Thank you so much Debora for speaking with us today!