Renata Furst Galvão

Renata Galvao is a Partner Manager for LSEG Risk Intelligence, specializing in strategic partnerships. A certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and holding a Post-graduate Diploma in Law (UCT), she has extensive experience in research and compliance. Renata advocates for children’s identity rights, highlighting identity theft issues through her personal story.

What makes you a Risky Woman?

I am a passionate advocate for children’s identity rights, inspired by my own experience. I decided to use my personal story to highlight how this crime often targets society’s most vulnerable and how risk professionals can protect them. My journey will be featured in an upcoming documentary by LSEG Risk Intelligence.

Name your top 3 achievements

1. Graduating with honors as a Post-Graduate of Law, specializing in Criminology at the University of Cape Town.
2. Growing the strategic partnership landscape in the Americas for LSEG Risk Intelligence, enhancing and diversifying the market presence of World-Check Risk Intelligence data.
3. Building a house from scratch for an orphanage in South Africa by creating my own social media campaign and raising all the funds through crowdfunding online. This will always be my biggest and most proud achievement.

What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?

At 21, I left Brazil for South Africa to pursue a new job in an unfamiliar industry. This move marked the beginning of my journey from entry-level positions to management roles. Eventually, I transitioned from risk research into the business sector, culminating in my relocation to New York City. Each decision was driven by my dedication to making a meaningful impact, despite the comfort of my previous circumstances. Stepping out of one’s comfort zone is challenging, but personal and professional growth often requires taking calculated risks and believing in oneself.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Most people don’t know but I am actually very shy! Because I used to be a reporter and engage quite a lot in public speaking in my industry today, people assume I have an outgoing personality.

What is the best quality for successful leaders in Risk?

The world of risk and compliance is ever-changing, and dealing with risk in a daily basis can be challenging. Successful leaders in this space need a combination of qualities, including strategic thinking, adaptability, strong communication and attention to detail. That being said, the two most important qualities in my view are integrity and passion. To oversee regulatory adherence and risk management requires an ability to uphold ethical standards and foster a culture in which making the right decision is more important than profit. Integrity is key for that. Understanding the bigger picture behind the role is also essential and here is where passion is so important. By understanding how criminal organisations and individuals abuse financial institutions to launder the proceeds of crime and fund criminal activity, we are better able to prevent and stop the flow of illegal profits. Behind every illegal financial transaction, there is a real victim. Being a leader in the Risk space means having a social responsibility to society in stopping the flows of illegal activity and ultimately preventing and protecting victims.