Bernadette Fernandes ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น in

Bernadette Fernandes ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น

Login to view DISC.
Principal - Retention Specialist at ThriveNB
📍 Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

Bernadette Fernandes is the award-winning Founder and CEO of The Varanda Network, a consulting agency focused on accelerating international trade and investment. She is a globally connected leader who leverages her extensive network to create economic opportunities. People who have worked with her describe her as focused, dedicated, pragmatic, and conscientious.

Born in Paris and educated across Portugal, Spain, and Canada, Bernadette is multilingual, speaking five languages. She is deeply committed to her community, serving on the boards of Lโ€™Arche Saint John and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of NB, and actively supports newcomer and immigrant success through philanthropy and mentorship.

She has been named one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business and one of the Most Inspiring Immigrants in Atlantic Canada.

Read the full overview →
Experience
14 Years
Current Role
Principal - Retention Specialist
Job Level
Mid-senior
Location
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Personality Overview

How Bernadette shows up

Communication Style
Decision Approach
Work Preference

Behavioral traits and communication patterns that shape how this person evaluates opportunities, builds trust, and makes decisions in professional settings.

Login to view personality overview.
Priorities

Topics Bernadette cares about

International Trade
As CEO of The Varanda Network, she specializes in accelerating international trade and investment opportunities, connecting partners across 75 countries.
Immigrant Success
Recognized as one of the 'Most Inspiring Immigrants, ' she actively works to support newcomers through organizations like ThriveNB and mentorship.
+5 more topics Login to view topics
Career

Work history

1-2022
Principal - Retention Specialist
ThriveNB
5-2021
Innovation Unit Principal
University of New Brunswick
1-2011
Founder and CEO
The Varanda Network
9-2021 - 4-2025
Lead Mentor - Market Access and Export
Emergence
1-2018 - 12-2022
Official Country Partner - Canada
Africa Trade and Investment Global Summit
In the press

Media appearances

No media yetWe could not find public media appearances for this person.
Education
Spanish and Iberian Studies
Universidad de Salamanca
Spanish and Iberian Studies
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

Dominance, influence, steadiness, and calculativeness scores with guidance on how this person prefers to communicate and decide.

Login to view DISC.

More profiles

Discover additional public profiles from our index.

Unlock the full playbookSee exactly how to sell to Bernadette. Free, 10 seconds.