TAMPA -- Fabio Favari, a junior finance student at the University of South Florida, embarked on an extraordinary journey from Brazil to the United States, driven by a singular purpose: education.
Fabio Favari
"USF was the most cost-effective option," Favari explains, highlighting that the university’s generous scholarships for Latino students made his dream more attainable. Coupled with the Muma College of Business’ strong reputation, USF quickly became his first choice.
Favari's passion for finance was clear before he even stepped foot on campus. Growing up in Brazil, he was intrigued by many fields, from aerospace engineering to medicine. However, he realized finance could tie all his interests together.
"As I looked into specific careers, I saw finance as a way of me combining all my industry interests and negating my indecisiveness while being able to solve meaningful problems," Favari said.
Despite his positivity, Favari was homesick, didn’t know anyone on campus and faced an adjustment period.
"The first week of school was a little crazy for me. School here is very different than where I’m from in Brazil. It’s very autonomous here. Brazil is a little more structured," he said.
Determined to immerse himself in the community, he attended USF's Week of Welcome, discovering several clubs, including the Investment Club. Intrigued by its reputation and accomplishments, Favari researched the group and decided to apply to be a member.
2024 USF Investment Club
Once in the club, opportunities came swiftly. "I was surprised by how fast internship offers and professional opportunities came to me once I joined," Favari says.
With the guidance from club leadership, Favari secured an internship with Star Mountain Capital during the summer after his freshman year, an experience that would profoundly shape his future. Over the next year and a half, he honed the skills and knowledge that would ultimately lead to his most recent achievement — an internship at Goldman Sachs in New York.
"My goal was always to make my way to New York for a position in finance," Favari says.
After multiple interviews and a rigorous three-day virtual "super day" interview with the company, Favari received an internship offer. He is set to start his internship this summer, after a December visit to meet the team.
“I am going to put the most education and effort that I can into my internship this summer,” he said. "My goal is to return to Goldman Sachs as a full-time hire after graduation."
Favari credits his time at Star Mountain Capital and the USF Investment Club for his success and emphasizes the importance of networking and mentorship.
"The network developed through the investment club was key," he says, adding that he maintained connections with USF finance alumni to build relationships with New York-based companies.
Favari believes in the power of collaboration.
"You can be involved with as many clubs and organizations as you want. You can go to as many recruiting events as you want, but what made the difference for me was the person on the other side of the situation lending a hand to me and helping guide me in the right direction," he says.
"That comes from a repeating cycle. The people in the investment club were able to help me because, before that, someone helped them. And now I plan to go help someone after me," he said.
With his graduation on track for 2026, Favari’s story is a testament to the strength of USF’s finance community and the opportunities available to students who combine passion with persistence.