The start of a journey

This journey starts with the tale of survival endured by an eagle called “AFC”. Eagles lifespan can in many cases go up to seventy years, an astonishing voyage throughout which “AFC” had to endure life changing painful and challenging processes. 

“AFC” lived an early dynamic and fruitful life, but despite that positive road, by the time it reached full maturity at forty years of age, its claws and beak began to soften up, and the all dynamic eagle began to find increasingly difficult to fly as its feathers showed signs of sudden aging. The eagle’s options where then very difficult: To succumb to death or to endure a painful transformation. 

Choosing to raise to the challenge, “AFC” beat off its old beak against a rock and pulled out each dying claw. That painful yet again required process, made room for a new strong beak and fresh sharp claws. For the final transformation process which would potentially prolong its life an additional thirty years, the eagle peeled off the old feathers making room for a new shiny plumage.  

This tale of strength and perseverance endured by “AFC”, reflects the similar journeys borne by Mário and Sérgio. 

At sixteen Mário moved to Portugal to continue his studies, leaving behind the ravaging Angolan civil war. After completing his undergraduate degree in economics, Mário began to work for the consultancy firm Arthur Andersen in Lisbon, reaching up to senior manager in the audits team. After spending three years working for Andersen, and having developed a passion for business and strategy,

Mário decided to return to Angola, a decision driven by family reasons but as well by the desire to make a real contribution for his native country. Upon his return, he spent seventeen years working in financial services, during which he took several leadership roles within banking services, serving as CFO of a top five private bank.

With a similar path, at nineteen Sérgio left behind his family in Angola and moved to Denmark to continue his education. He spent fourteen years in the Scandinavian nation, where he pursued his education and completed his undergraduate degree in Business. Similarly, he then returned to his native country and joined the booming oil & gas sector. For eight years Sérgio worked for Chevron, having amassed a strong technical and leadership experience.

Like the eagle that had to re-invent itself in order to launch a new phase in its life, both Mário and Sérgio had to show resilience. They first met when both took a sabbatical from full time work and decided to join the IESE Business School Global Executive MBA program. 

The IESE experience brought an exceptional learning process of excellence, coupled by different cultures, lifestyles, and experiences from the global structure of the academic program. During that one year and a half experience, both Mário and Sérgio bonded around a high entrepreneurial spirit, deciding to jointly pursue in Angola an innovative project. Miguel Carneiro, who also graduated from IESE, later joined the team and formed “AFC & Partners” to transform businesses and create value in people’s lives. Like the eagle, their aim is to give people the chance to fly again.