Cristina Junqueira

Cristina Junqueira (born September 1982) is a Brazilian businesswoman who is the co-founder of Nubank.

Junqueira has been a strong advocate for gender inclusion in the workplace. As cofounder of Nubank, she has led the company's policy on inclusivity programs and fought to increase female representation in both tech and finance. Junqueira is currently the CEO of the company's emerging operations in the United States

Early life and education Junqueira was born in September 1982 in Ribeirão Preto, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Career Early banking career After completing her MBA, Junqueira returned to Brazil in 2008 and joined Unibanco as head of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). The following year, Unibanco merged with Banco Itaú to form Itaú Unibanco, and Junqueira became a portfolio manager in the merged bank's credit card department.

In 2009, she transferred to LuizaCred, a consumer credit venture of Itaú Unibanco and retailer Magazine Luiza, where she served as head of marketing and products from 2009 to 2012. By 2012, Junqueira had rejoined Itaú Unibanco as the manager of its credit card portfolio (Itaúcard). At the time, approximately five banks controlled around 80% of the market, and consumers commonly faced high fees and interest rates.

After five years at Itaú, Junqueira proposed initiatives such as commission-free credit cards and improved customer communication. According to interviews, these suggestions were not adopted by the institution. In 2013, she left her role as a product manager to pursue an alternative model.

Shortly thereafter, she was introduced to David Vélez, a venture capitalist formerly with Sequoia Capital, who had also expressed dissatisfaction with the Brazilian banking landscape. The two shared similar views on the need for more accessible and technology-driven financial solutions. Vélez invited her to join him in building what would become Nubank.

Personal life Junqueira is married to Rubens Pereira. They have been together since 2006 and have three daughters.