MANUELLA FROTA joined the DanceWorks Chicago board in 2013. Manuella currently works in the financial services industry, focusing on M&A advisory at William Blair in downtown Chicago. She studied Ballet at an early age in her home country Brasil and brings her passion and commitment to dance to the DanceWorks Chicago Board. She received her degree in Law from Pontificia Universidade Catolica, Masters from George Washington University, and her MBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Prior to joining William Blair, she worked for seven years at the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C., advising developing countries around the world on poverty reduction initiatives and best practices. When she is not working, she enjoys running, catching up on movies, and spending time with her 10 year old cat, Neo.