Tiago Flórido: A Brilliant Mind Lost Too Soon Tiago Flórido, a fourth-year doctoral student in Business Economics at Harvard University, passed away at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center after a courageous battle with cancer. He was just 27 years old. A native of Rio de Janeiro, Tiago was on a remarkable trajectory to shape the world through his intellectual contributions. From his early aspirations of becoming a diplomat to his burgeoning career in macroeconomics research, he dreamed of applying his expertise to influence policy in Brazil-a goal many believed he was destined to achieve. His professors often described him as our best hope to lead Brazil s top institutions and drive meaningful change. Early Life and Academic Excellence Born in Rio de Janeiro in July 1991 to Luiz Flórido and Paula Tavares, Tiago exhibited extraordinary intellect and dedication from a young age. His academic prowess was undeniable: he ranked first in the admissions exam for PUC-Rio (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro), earning a full scholarship, and second in Law at UERJ, two of Brazil's most prestigious universities. Demonstrating unparalleled discipline, he initially pursued degrees in both economics and law simultaneously, commuting daily between campuses while maintaining the highest GPA in his cohort. Eventually, he chose to focus solely on economics, where his true passion lay. Academic Journey: From Berkeley to Harvard During his undergraduate studies, Tiago spent a