Alumni dreams #251

For Thiago Souza Machado, choosing BA IS meant embracing a world far beyond his own. Coming from Brazil, he saw the program as an opportunity to dive into a region rarely explored in his home country—Eurasia. Drawn to its geopolitical significance, cultural diversity, and economic complexity, he wanted to challenge himself with a new language and a fresh academic perspective.

His thesis, The Economic Developments of the Eurasian Economic Union: Russia’s New Strategy for Growth, examined whether the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) provided tangible economic benefits to its member states. He also explored the potential for a shared currency, analyzing the political, cultural, and linguistic factors influencing the region’s economic integration.

Thiago’s BA IS experience was anything but one-dimensional. He completed 210 ECs, including an Honours Degree in Tackling Global Challenges at the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs. His academic journey extended across multiple faculties, from Humanities to Archaeology, and even a minor in Comprehensive Micro-Macro Quantitative Economics at VU Amsterdam.

Beyond coursework, Thiago thrived in extracurricular activities. He co-founded and led the BASIS Eurasia Committee, served on the 7th Board as Internal Officer, and won the Student Sustainability Trophy in 2019. His consultancy projects included working with Heineken on blockchain solutions for illicit trade and collaborating with the Dutch Development Bank (FMO) on sustainable cocoa agribusiness in Nigeria.

Research also played a key role in his academic development. As a research assistant at Leiden University, he explored the academic-professional gap and presented his findings at Leiden’s Education Festival. At VU Amsterdam, he studied compromise politics and virtue ethics.

After graduating, Thiago took a gap year to gain work experience in the EdTech sector, which provided him with valuable skills in a fast-paced environment. He then pursued a Master’s in International Management and Sustainability at Sciences Po in France, driven by his passion for the intersection of social sciences, business, and sustainability.

Today, Thiago works at ACTED, an international humanitarian organization assisting over 27 million people worldwide. As part of the financial operations team, he oversees missions in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Colombia, Venezuela, and Haiti. His work focuses on financial reporting, budgeting, compliance, and ensuring cost efficiency in humanitarian efforts. ACTED’s mission to integrate sustainable development into humanitarian aid aligns perfectly with his academic background and career aspirations.

To current and future BA IS students, Thiago’s advice is clear: embrace the interdisciplinary nature of the program. Dive deep into the cultural and geopolitical complexities of your chosen region, take on new academic challenges, and get involved beyond the classroom. BA IS provides a foundation that extends far beyond university—it prepares you to think critically, act globally, and adapt to an ever-changing world.

Thiago’s path from BA IS to international humanitarian work proves that embracing diverse experiences can lead to impactful change!