Maria Frias is a prominent Brazilian businesswoman and a key member of the family behind Grupo Folha, one of Brazil's largest and most influential media conglomerates. She is the daughter of Octávio Frias de Oliveira, who acquired the precursor to the renowned daily newspaper Folha de S.Paulo in the 1960s.

Frias holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Growing up within a media dynasty, she was groomed to help manage a portfolio that has defined Brazilian journalism and digital services for decades.

• Core Company: Grupo Folha (Media and digital services).
• Family Legacy: Daughter of Octávio Frias; sister to billionaire Luiz Frias.
• Education: MBA from the University of São Paulo.

Maria Frias’s career is defined by her governance role in the Frias family’s multi-billion dollar holdings. While her brother Luiz Frias serves as the executive chairman of PagSeguro Digital, Maria remains a significant individual stakeholder in the family’s core media and technology assets.

Her structural contribution is tied to the long-term stability of Grupo Folha and its pioneering internet subsidiary, UOL (Universo Online), which remains one of the most visited websites in Brazil. The family successfully pivoted from traditional print media into the digital economy, notably through the 2018 NYSE listing of the payments firm PagSeguro.

• Governance: Major shareholder in the family investment vehicles controlling UOL and Folha.
• Industry Position: Part of a family that has consistently defended press freedom and resisted censorship in Brazil.