Cristina Helena Zingaretti Junqueira

Cristina Junqueira was a Brazilian engineer and former Itaú Unibanco executive who ran the bank's largest credit card division before co-founding Nubank. Her insider knowledge of Brazilian banking — including how incumbent banks 'shoved horrible products down people's throats' — was critical to designing Nubank's customer-centric model. She was featured in the Financial Times' 25 Most Influential Women of 2024.

Cristina Helena Zingaretti Junqueira is a Brazilian engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded Nubank in 2013. She previously worked at BCG and Itaú Unibanco, where she led the bank's largest credit card division. Junqueira's deep understanding of Brazilian banking operations, regulatory relationships, and customer pain points was instrumental in designing Nubank's product strategy and go-to-market approach. She became one of only two self-made female billionaires in Brazil following Nubank's December 2021 IPO, with her 2.9% stake valued at $1.3 billion. She currently serves as Chief Growth Officer and is expected to lead Nubank's future US banking operations.