Director of Strategic Initiatives

• Dec 2021 - Present

Vice President, Global Advisory Solutions

• May 2011 - Aug 2021

Member of the management team that transformed Accion’s advisory services into a high performing global team that excels at strategizing and designing solutions with the client and keeps the end user at the heart of what we do. Set and managed the industry engagement strategy for the global advisory team leading its efforts to synthesize and share research and insights with the industry.2011-2015: Led the Training and Capacity Building Unit within Accion’s international Operations Department. The 9-person team built and strengthened the managerial and technical skills of key industry professionals and Accion staff through the development of tools, frameworks, and innovative, interactive programs that incorporated cross-regional, peer-to-peer learning experiences. The team organized global opportunities for staff and partners to share and learn from each other and experts through workshops, webinars, field visits, and virtual leaning platforms. 2005-2018: Trusted strategic advisor to the founder and CEO of Swadhaar FinServe, an Accion investee company (exit in June 2018). Starting with the founding of Swadhaar in 2005 when, part of a small group, we sat around a table in Mumbai laying out the vision and plans for serving underbanked female owned micro-businesses in Mumbai’s slums, to the acquisition of Swadhaar by RBL bank in 2018 when the company had over 750,000 active clients. Headed Accion’s technical assistance to Swadhaar providing advice and guidance in key areas including strategic planning, customer strategy, small merchant credit underwriting, and credit risk management. Served on the board of Swadhaar from 2010 to 2018 during which time we converted from an NBFC to a service company for a large commercial bank and started a new business vertical servicing the Indian “missing middle” – small businesses unserved by banks.

Senior Director & Project Manager, India team

• Jan 2006 - Apr 2011

Responsible for providing strategic advice and consulting services to ACCION partners and affiliates in India and Africa. o Specialized in the following areas: launching of new microfinance operations; business planning, product development; change management; credit underwriting; management training; human resource development; portfolio quality; and internal audit.  Supervisor and coach to four senior line managers seconded to Swadhaar, ACCION’s partner in Mumbai, India. Manager of the Global Training Center, India. Responsible for managing a team of Trainers and training material developers in a divers area of microfinance related training topics including risk management, mid-level management, consumer protection, individual lending, and training of trainers. 2006-2007: Member of the Business Development Team; responsible for new business development in the Middle East with a focus on establishing strategic alliances with commercial banks interested to enter the microfinance market.

Senior Director, International Operations

• Feb 2002 - Dec 2005

 Responsible for operational tasks in the transformation process of PADME from an NGO into a financial institution. Developed tools and provided guidance in establishment of human resources department; reviewed and restructured internal audit department; conducted methodology audit and developed new evaluation techniques for PADME’s small business clients (Benin).  Reengineered the individual loan product of Uganda Microfinance Limited (Uganda). Developed the strategic plan for Microfin-CML to link its microfinance operations in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Granada and St-Lucia through a centralized operating system. Conducted training for CML managers in client retention & customer service, product marketing, delinquency management, and credit underwriting (Trinidad & Tobago). Developed internal control manual and risk management guide for Tchuma (Mozambique). Conducted methodology audit and developed performance management system for MicroKing (Zimbabwe).

Consultant

• Jan 2000 - Jan 2002

- Launched the start-up of new microfinance service company, Sogesol, affiliated with Sogebank, Haiti’s largest commercial bank, together with local management team.  Provided technical assistance to Sogesol management on all levels of operations and was active member within the management team during the establishment and growth of the MFI for the first two and a half years of operations.  Prepared Sogesol policy and procedures manuals; designed front-line training program and conducted initial training of front-line staff. Developed methodology audit tools for the monitoring of credit activities; developed branch management tools; conducted delinquency and desertion analyses; developed structure and tools for collections department.

Commercial Manager

• Oct 2004 - Feb 2005

Assumed the Commercial/Credit Management position at Sogesol, a Haitian Microfinance Institution, during a period of high political turmoil. Assumed the Commercial/Credit Management position at Sogesol, a Haitian Microfinance Institution, during a period of high political turmoil.

Microfinance Consultant

• Dec 1998 - Sep 1999

Microfinance Advisor, Small Investments & Microfinance Fund, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Microfinance Advisor, Small Investments & Microfinance Fund, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Micro-Credit Team Leader

• Jan 1998 - Dec 1998

Project Manager

• Jun 1996 - Oct 1997