Fernando Haddad holds a Law Degree, a Master's Degree in Economics, and a Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of São Paulo (USP), institution in which he is a professor of Political Science, currently on leave. He was an Investment Analyst and Economic Consultant for the Economic Research Institute Foundation (FIPE). He served as Undersecretary of Finance for the Sao Paulo City Government during Mayor Marta Suplicy's administration. He was a Special Advisor to the Ministry of Planning during Lula's first government. In 2004, he became the Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Education, of which he became the Minister from 2005 to 2012. He ran for office and was elected Mayor of Sao Paulo, serving from 2013 to 2016. His administration as Mayor of Sao Paulo was one of the most internationally awarded in the city's history. Among his accomplishments, particularly noteworthy was the unprecedented achievement of investment grade status from the Fitch rating agency, by transforming the most indebted city in the country into a net creditor. He has been awarded six Honorary Doctorate titles, five from Brazilian public universities and one from the International University of Cordoba, the oldest in Argentina. Haddad is the author of six books, with the most recent published in 2022.