15/05/2025

From PIC to IMPA Tech: student envisions future in the corporate world.

A world without borders thanks to knowledge! Davi Pestana, a 21-year-old student from Rio de Janeiro, is a medalist in various knowledge olympiads and is currently an undergraduate at IMPA Tech. In the past, thanks to his mother's encouragement, he strengthened his relationship with mathematics through the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad for Public Schools) and the PIC (Junior Scientific Initiation Program).

Davi, a former student of Colégio Pedro II, was captivated by the Bachelor's degree in Mathematics of Technology and Innovation . “When I saw IMPA Tech and its connection to OBMEP, I thought: 'that's what I want!' I knew it wouldn't be easy to fit in anywhere, but when I got here, I was sure it was the environment I wanted. I was enchanted by the place and the program's approach,” he said.

Before arriving at IMPA Tech, he participated in other selection processes in Rio de Janeiro, but chose to wait for his chance in IMPA's undergraduate program. In 2024, the young man was accepted into Engineering at UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) and Applied Mathematics at FGV (Getúlio Vargas Foundation). This year, he entered IMPA Tech through the knowledge medals program.

In Porto Maravelley, the student also appreciated the support network among classmates. “People here know a lot, but they support each other, they’re by your side, nobody puts themselves on a pedestal. Since most students are connected to the Olympiads in some way, it’s really cool, because we have similar profiles.”

David's relationship with mathematics olympiads began in 2017, when he participated in the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools), thanks to his mother's encouragement. Although he didn't do it with much enthusiasm, the initiative earned him a bronze medal, which motivated the student.

Thanks to his achievements in the competition, Davi also participated in the PIC program, where he was able to further develop his knowledge in the field of exact sciences. “I loved the teachers, especially the content covered, which is basically logic. That fascinated me; the numbers started to make sense, and we solved interesting problems.”

In 2019, a group from David's school was selected to participate in a mathematics olympiad in Asia, the AIMO (Asia International Mathematical Olympiad) , in Taiwan, due to the positive result obtained in the Mathematics Without Borders Olympiad, also international. However, the institution's budget had been reduced and the team's participation was uncertain.

Not believing that his journey could be interrupted, the student mobilized family and friends to raise funds to cover the costs of the trip. After a few weeks and online campaigns, the young people managed to raise the necessary funds. "I even got discouraged, thinking it wouldn't be possible, but my friends encouraged me and kept saying it would be possible."

Despite the uncertainties, the final push to meet the fundraising goal came from the family. “My aunts encouraged me and made it clear that financial support didn't obligate me to achieve anything at the Olympics. My grandfather, who sadly is no longer with us, gave a speech saying that it shouldn't be a burden for me, that I should go with a clear conscience and do my best,” he recalled, emotionally.

Davi Pestana com a bandeira do Brasil em Taiwan

In Taiwan, after the initial anxiety during the competition, the result was celebrated with great joy. “I won a bronze medal and I was very happy. It was thrilling. It was already dawn in Brazil because of the time difference, but I called everyone and we couldn't even sleep,” she said.

Looking to the future, Davi hopes to work in leadership positions at large companies. At IMPA Tech, he praises the work done by the NCE (Career and Internship Center), which could be a guiding force for the young man's career in the coming years.

“I intend to pursue a focus on Data Science because I think it's an area more geared towards the corporate world. Since I was little, I said I wanted to be 'a businessman,' and when we talk about data analysis , we're talking about analyzing information to provide strategic guidance for a company's future decisions. The NCE is an area that helps our development in the job market. The meetings and the possibility of doing an exchange program, which is interesting in the corporate market, encourage us a lot,” he said.

Furthermore, student housing is another distinguishing feature of the bachelor's program. “The 'boarding school' model is fundamental to the students' good performance. Being next to the university and living with people who share the same purpose is very good. My roommate often motivates me, even without him knowing it,” he added.