Microfinance Internships

MicroCapital offers an intensive, remote microfinance internship program. Since 2003, our interns have emerged from the program with a level of knowledge that is unparalleled among new entrants to the field. Our interns have entered full-time positions in many top microfinance organizations. Benefits to interns include direct interaction with senior management and the opportunity to make a visible contribution to a vibrant organization. Academic credit can sometimes be arranged for interns, as can complimentary admission to some industry events. Past interns have included both students and accomplished professionals. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for the following two positions:

Research Associate: This position focuses on research of current events in microfinance and involve writing five stories per week of the type that appear on our home page. Interns have leeway to direct a significant portion of their work toward areas of personal interest (e.g., savings, microinsurance or a particular region of the world). Native English and excellent writing skills are required.

Webmaster Associate: This position involves maintaining and developing our websites. A technical background is required.

All internships are uncompensated. The minimum time commitment is 15 hours per week for a minimum of 15 weeks. The daily schedule is flexible. All positions are carried out online and thus can be completed from anywhere in the world.

If you wish to apply, copy and paste your resume and a cover letter into our contact form. Please specify the number of hours you are available to work and the dates the you propose to begin and end the internship.

All internships require the achievement of demanding daily goals. Due to the large number of applications received, we are not able to respond to all applicants. Please excuse this inconvenience.


2023 INTERNS

    • Pranav Agarwal – Research Associate
      Pranav AgarwalPranav joined MicroCapital as a rising junior at the Academy for Math, Science and Engineering in the US state of New Jersey. He has a strong interest in finance and a sincere desire to contribute to the mission of empowering individuals through microfinance. Specifically, he is interested in exploring the intersection between economics, international relations and technology, and their role in bridging the gap of social and income inequality. During his leisure hours, he plays basketball, passionately supports the Boston Celtics and immerses himself in mythological literature.
    • Rohan Kumar Agarwal – Research Associate
      Rohan Kumar AgarwalRohan joined MicroCapital from Dubai, UAE. With a keen interest in economics and mathematics, his ambition is to delve into the fields of social science and research. He has gained valuable insights into the corporate world through internships and research programs, and has published one research paper to date. Beyond numbers and statistics, he also plays table tennis at a national level, is an astute investor, and enjoys watching sports and movies.
    • Ben Barba – Research Associate
      Ben BarbaBen joined MicroCapital having recently earned a bachelor’s degree in management with a concentration in finance from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management. He has a strong interest in sustainable investing, green technology and geopolitical analysis. During his time with MicroCapital, he hopes to further his understanding of microfinance and sustainable development. In his free time, he enjoys watching films, reading non-fiction and listening to podcasts.
    • Rohit Dayanand – Research Associate
      Rohit DayanandRohit joined MicroCapital from the US city of Cupertino, California. He has a strong interest in fintech and social impact. He seeks to discover how microfinance can impact economic growth, particularly through incentivizing the development of technological infrastructure. In his free time, he loves to sample every Indian restaurant within a 50-mile radius of where he lives.
    • Aarya Dhru – Research Associate
      Aarya DhruAarya joined MicroCapital as a rising second-year student pursuing a concentration in Fintech and Data Science at Northeastern University in the US state of Massachusetts. She is interested in learning more about microfinance in low-income communities, developments in the fintech industry and the field of economics. During her free time, she runs a business and technology competition aimed at improving small businesses’ digital footprint. She also likes to paint, travel and stay physically active.
  • Anaya Jhaveri – Research Associate
    Anaya JhaveriAnaya entered the program as a junior pursuing dual degrees in quantitative economics (BS/BA) and international studies (BA) at the University of Miami. As an international student, Anaya aspires to work for the UN or as a diplomat serving her home country, India. Anaya serves as the print editor for The Miami Hurricane – a student-run newspaper. She also serves as vice diversity chair for Alpha Kappa Psi for the Beta Pi Chapter at the University of Miami. She looks forward to using her knowledge of quantitative economics and finance – and her experience as a writer and editor – to craft stories focused on microfinance.
  • Hawra Moochhala – Research Associate
    Hawra MoochhalaHawra joined MicroCapital as junior at Bard College in the US state of New York. She is from Karachi, Pakistan, which is where she became interested in public policy and development economics. Through her internship, she aspires to gain greater insight into the world of microfinance and the role it plays in uplifting communities in rural and urban slums in terms of public health, literacy and gender equality. Having grown up in a “developing” nation, I was exposed to these challenges being faced by many communities, which in the long run impact the economic productivity of current and future generations. Outside of the world of economics, she is a part of the women’s track team at Bard, loves traveling and enjoys watching old rom-coms!
  • Vaughn Rajah – Research Associate
    Vaughn RajahVaughn joined MicroCapital as a master’s degree candidate, due to begin studying in London, England, in the fall of 2023. He is interested in the ability of microfinance to drive societal change, and he aims to gain insight into the role microfinance can play in building climate resilience, particularly in the Global South. In graduate school, Vaughn intends to pursue economic policy and green finance. In his free time, he enjoys reading, writing, outdoor activity and watching football.
  • James Stevenson – Research Associate
    James StevensonJames began his time at MicroCapital while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, history and mathematics from the US-based University of Michigan. He completed an honors history thesis on the payoff of the national debt in the early US. He is particularly interested in the ways that microfinance institutions interact and deal with governments, both domestic and foreign. In his free time, he enjoys playing the piano, reading and running long-distance.

2022 INTERNS

    • Hasnat Aslam – Research Associate
      Hasnat AslamHasnat joined MicroCapital while studying in Lahore, Pakistan. He is intrigued by the ability of microfinance to provide returns for both social engineers and profit-seeking investors. He aims to gain insights into the ability of microfinance to impact diverse facets of society, particularly in South Asia. In college, Hasnat intends to pursue economics and political science. His free time is dominated by reading Russian literature and playing football. 
    • Ben Greissman – Research Associate
      Ben GreissmanBen joined MicroCapital as a rising senior at Boston University studying international development and environment. He has a strong interest in sustainability and is hoping to learn how microfinance can be used to promote sustainable development around the world. In his free time, he enjoys playing baseball on Boston University’s club team. He also enjoys community outreach and coaches a local high school varsity baseball team in the US city of Brookline, Massachusetts. UPDATE: Ben accepted a position as a research and analyst fellow at US-based Sustainable Capital Advisors in 2022.
    • Sheen Gupta – Research Associate
      Sheen GuptaSheen joined MicroCapital from Hyderabad, India, with a keen interest in economics as well as finance, mathematics, management and psychology. She enjoys research and writing and hopes to expand her knowledge about the intersection between economics and social impact. She is the founder and head of her school’s financial literacy club and newspaper. Her other interests include traveling, art, classical dance and music. UPDATE: In 2022, Sheen was accepted to study at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Nithin Naren – Research Associate
    Nithin NarenNithin joined MicroCapital as a rising sophomore at the University of Chicago in the US state of Illinois, studying economics and computer science. He is an Eagle Scout and has played competitive chess for the majority of his life. He hopes to discover how financial literacy can be disseminated more widely within low-income communities as well as the relationship it holds with microfinance. When he is not studying or following the market, he’s either in the gym or solving puzzles. Nithin is also an avid Atlanta sports fan and enjoys watching and debating all types of sports.
  • Saulius Ramanauskas – Research Associate
    Saulius RamanauskasSaulius joined MicroCapital having recently earned a bacheor’s degree in international relations and development at LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania. Primarily interested in development economics, he came to admire microfinance as an elegant and non-paternalistic tool for advancing development and dedicated his bachelor’s thesis to the impact of microfinance on poverty. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in economics and wishes to try out research-focused work, the internship at MicroCapital being his first step. In his free time, he enjoys learning languages (fluent in four, working on five others), reading and listening to music. UPDATE: In 2022, Saulius began a position as a treasury specialist at the Lithuania office of the global firm Citco Fund Services.
  • Renata Samedova – Research Associate
    Renata SamedovaRenata is from Baku, Azerbaijan. After researching possible areas of study, she resolved that finance and business analytics suited her most. She has a passion for math and physics, which has led to her strong interest in the processes of calculating, analysing, comparing and drawing conclusions – typical tasks of a financier. She enjoys working on projects that require creative and unconventional approaches. During her internship at MicroCapital, she hopes to improve her writing skills and deepen her knowledge in microfinance while providing people with the most up-to-date news in this area. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, watching movies, and reading books and scientific articles about psychology in English and German.

2021 INTERNS

    • Arin Atluri – Research Associate
      Arin AtluriArin joined MicroCapital while studying in the US state of New York. With an eye toward pursuing a degree in either finance or economics, he hopes to gain a better understanding of microfinance to learn how it can counter rising wealth disparities on the international level. In addition, he is interested in understanding how the microfinance industry can promote financial literacy in low- and middle-income countries. During his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, gaming and competitive tennis.
    • Sai Bommineni – Research Associate
      Sai BommineniSai joined MicroCapital from the US state of Texas. He previously had experience as an intern at Samatva Wealth Management and serving as president of his school’s finance club. He hopes to get a better understanding of microfinance to help him in his pursuit of a degree in finance and a career in private equity. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, gaming, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
  • Zachary DeLuca – Research Associate
    Zachary DeLucaZach entered the program shortly after graduating from Lehigh University with a degree in finance and minor in psychology. During his time at MicroCapital he hopes to expand his knowledge of the impact that microfinance and impact investing have on individual communities. His goal is to build upon his writing skills to become a more well-rounded professional. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends, investing, and building financial models. UPDATE: In 2022, Zach joined the finance department of Ross Stores.
  • Divya Deshmukh – Research Associate
    Divya DeshmukhDivya joined MicroCapital from Dubai with plans to pursue a degree combining finance and artificial intelligence. Coming from a small town in India, she has experienced the monumental change brought about by microfinance and is looking forward to contributing to it in her own small way. She hopes to increase her knowledge about the world of finance and to learn how advancements in technology can further push the boundaries of microfinance. In her free time, she enjoys playing the drums, reading, scuba diving, running, and baking for friends and family.
  • Sophie Fiala – Research Associate
    Sophie FialaSophie joined MicroCapital with studying in Ontario, Canada, with plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in commerce in college and then a career with social impact. As a member of the MicroCapital team, she is interested in learning how microfinance can empower women in developing economies and further her understanding of sustainable infrastructure investment. In her spare time, Sophie enjoys playing field hockey, baking and spending time with friends.
  • Tejas Gumudavelly – Research Associate
    Tejas GumudavellyTejas joined MicroCapital as a freshman at the University of Michigan Stephen M Ross School of Business, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with minors in computer science and mathematics. Tejas previously interned at Ford Motor Company on its data analytics team and launched a club teaching students the fundamentals of investing. He hopes to understand more about microfinance to combine his interests in finance and public policy. He also enjoys playing basketball, football and tennis, as well as spending time with family and friends.
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  • Eha Joshi – Research Associate
    Eha JoshiIn 2020, Eha graduated from Bates College in the US state of Maine with a bachelor’s degree in economics and English. She previously worked at Solidarity Center, an international labor organization based in Washington DC, researching methods for strengthening trade unions. She is interested in learning more about economic development, microfinance and other social enterprises. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and bike riding.
  • Teo Lin-Bianco – Research Associate
    Teo Lin-BiancoTeo Lin-Bianco joined MicroCapital at the end of his first year at the University of California, Berkeley, in the US state of California. He has always been interested in the finance sector and is thrilled to expand his breadth of knowledge at MicroCapital. With a degree in environmental economics and policy, he hopes to earn an MBA and pursue work in public service and business sustainability. In his free time, Teo is an avid knitter, baker and reader; he loves the outdoors and being active whenever he can.
  • Steffi Ong – Research Associate
    Steffi OngSteffi joined MicroCapital as a junior at Boston University in the US state of Massachusetts, while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in international economics and a minor in Middle Eastern studies. She previously worked at Invesco, where she gained hands-on experience with real estate investment management. She is interested in learning more about development economics and microfinance. In her free time, you can catch her walking her dogs, trying out new soup recipes, as well as visiting new restaurants.
  • Harriet Ritchie – Research Associate
    Harriet RitchieHarriet joined MicroCapital as a senior at Convent High School in the US state of California. She is interested in gaining research experience to prepare for college and understand how microfinance can empower impoverished women. Her goal is to help educate girls in developing countries, and she is interested in pursuing a college major in economics. At school, she runs short sprints for her track and field team and loves learning about development in her global politics class. In her free time, she enjoys jogging, surfing, baking and spending time with her dog.
  • Aakansha Shenoy – Research Associate
    Aakansha ShenoyShortly after joining MicroCapital, Aakansha received word that she had passed the exam to become a Chartered Accountant in India. She previously earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Thakur College of Science and Commerce, Mumbai. Meanwhile she has been volunteering with an NGO educating homeless children. Through the internship at MicroCapital, she hopes to learn more about microfinance and further hone her writing skills. In her spare time, she enjoys cycling, traveling, reading, playing the flute and listening to music.
  • Bradley Shulman – Research Associate
    Brad ShulmanBrad entered the program as a junior at Boston University in the US state of Massachusetts, majoring in economics and mathematics with minors in computer science and environmental analysis. Despite growing up in New York City, he is an avid Philadelphia sports fan. He also loves playing basketball, reading nonfiction and following trends in politics. He has a growing interest in how microfinance can help solve issues relating to poverty in developing countries.
  • Adhya Singh – Research Associate
    Adhya SinghAdhya joined MicroCapital as a senior at Johns Creek High School in the US State of Georgia. She is passionate about issues that impact people in low socioeconomic strata, especially women. In college, she plans to major in either economics or finance, so she can analyze and apply economic and financial solutions to help her community as well as the rest of the world. In her free time, Adhya loves to read, listen to podcasts, play the violin and hike nature trails.

2020 INTERNS

    • Will Boudreau – Research Associate
      Will BoudreauWill joined MicroCapital as a second-semester senior working on a degree in economics with a minor in political science at Boston University in the US state of Massachusetts. He is interested in refining his research abilities for post-graduate employment and learning more about how microfinance can assist impoverished regions. At school, he is a rower on the Division 1 men’s rowing team, a member of the Bloomfield Leadership Academy, and the team representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. With the little time he leaves free during the week, he enjoys reading, spending time with friends and playing basketball.
    • Kate Finster – Research Associate
      Kate FinsterKate began working with MicroCapital as a rising senior pursuing an economics degree with a minor in art history at Scripps College in the US city of Claremont, California. She is interested in honing her writing and research skills in order to prepare for her senior thesis, as well as to learn more about the potential for sustainable growth in the microfinance sector. Kate has worked as a in her college’s Institutional Advancement department and Office of Student Engagement, has interned for various arts-based non-profits, and is the Event Chair of the Scripps Economics Society. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, painting, swimming, and spending time with friends and family.
    • Kiersten Greene – Research Associate
      Kiersten GreeneKiersten began working with MicroCapital as a senior at the University of South Carolina, pursuing a degree in public relations. A native of the US state of South Carolina, she grew up traveling to Columbia for Gamecocks football games. Kiersten’s involvement in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications has included work for the alumni magazine Intercom. While working on articles for the magazine, she interviewed a lead photographer for Getty Images, Win McNamee. Kiersten also completed a business management internship at Enterprise Holdings, where she worked to improve sales numbers and customer service processes.
    • Andrew Janni – Research Associate
      Andrew JanniAndrew Janni joined MicroCapital after his sophomore year at the Tippie College of Business at the US-based University of Iowa, where he is studying accounting and economics, with a minor in informatics. As a member of the MicroCapital team he is eager to polish his writing and research skills and learn about risk and financial advisory services in the development finance industry. At school, Andrew works as a resident assistant and keeps himself busy as an active participant in the university’s honors program and pitch competitions put on by the school’s entrepreneurial center. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, listening to and making music, and watching Star Wars.
    • Nathan Kiplagat – Research Associate
      Nathan Kiplagat Nathan joined MicroCapital as a rising junior pursuing a degree in economics and international relations with a minor in finance at Tufts University in the US state of Massachusetts. Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, he recognized the positive impact microfinance could have on low-income countries in general and the role it could play in alleviating poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa in particular. Furthermore, he is excited about the skills he will develop as a member of the MicroCapital team, namely stronger research, writing and analytical skills. At school, he is a member of the Tufts Financial Group and the International Club, and he spends a lot of his free time watching and playing soccer with his friends. In the future, he hopes to pursue a career in finance before eventually moving back to his home country, Kenya, to take on a managerial role in international development.
      • Simrun Kothari – Research Associate
        Simrun KothariSimrun joined MicroCapital as a junior at Brooklyn Technical High School in the US state of New York. She has completed an internship at Grameen Bank and also founded a club that holds fundraisers and issues loans to small-business owners through Kiva. Simrun looks forward to expanding her knowledge of microfinance and poverty alleviation with an eye toward a college major in finance and public policy. In her free time, she enjoys reading about the finance world and spending time with her family.
      • Jessica McLeod – Research Associate
        Jessica McLeodJessica joined MicroCapital as a rising senior at US-based Haverford College, pursuing an economics degree with a minor in Spanish. She is interested in economic initiatives that promote financial inclusion, encourage sustainable growth and contribute to alleviating economic inequalities. She worked as a Lending Program Intern at the Women’s Opportunity Resource Center, a nonprofit that promotes economic empowerment for women and their families, and also has been an active member of the Haverford College Microfinance Club. Aside from her academic interests, she enjoys traveling, hiking, reading and playing tennis. UPDATE: Jessica accepted an analyst position at Charles River Associates in 2021.
      • Chee Meng Ng – Research Associate
        Chee Meng NgChee Meng joined MicroCapital while he was a first-year undergraduate at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the UK, where he is pursuing an economics degree. Through his studies, he has become interested in development economics and microfinance. In his free time, Chee Meng plays frisbee and cue sports. In the future, he hopes to enter a career in finance, with a focus on sustainable and impact investing.
      • Romil Pandey – Research Associate
        Romil PandeyRomil joined MicroCapital as a junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mathematics with a minor in International Relations at Boston University in the US state of Massachusetts. She strives to refine her writing, research and analytical skills with the goal of working in international economic development. At college, she is the captain of a nationally competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team BU Jalwa and the Director of Political Affairs of Leading Women of Tomorrow – BU Chapter. In her free time, she enjoys being a cinephile and traveler. UPDATE: In 2022, Romil accepted an offer of admission to the master’s degree program in international and development economics at Yale University in the US state of Connecticut.
      • Madigan Ruch – Research Associate
        Madigan RuchMadigan joined MicroCapital as a senior at the University of Toronto Schools in Canada and will be majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at University College London thereafter. She is drawn to microfinance for its potential to support ethical and economically viable solutions to global issues. Through working on the MicroCapital team, Madigan hopes to further understand how microfinance can impact vulnerable groups – specifically women – in impoverished communities. In her spare time, Madigan enjoys reading, watching movies with friends, and walking her dog, Ferris.

 

 


2019 INTERNS

    • Eugene DeCosse – Research Associate
      Eugene DeCosseEugene joined MicroCapital as a rising second-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago in the US state of Illinois, where he is working toward a BA in political science and a minor in statistics. He grew up in Japan and is fluent in Japanese. This background led him to an interest in a career related to international politics and development. He is looking forward to learning more about the possibilities microfinance holds for the empowerment of impoverished communities in the developing world. At school, he is a part of both the education research group Block58 and the Maroon newspaper. In his free time, he enjoys swimming and photography.
    • Anna Gravois – Research Associate
      Anna GravoisAnna joined MicroCapital as a recent Santa Clara University graduate with a degree in Communication, French and Sustainability. Growing up in a household of Belarusian and Cajun-French influences, she has always been curious about world cultures. Through her education, this curiosity evolved into a desire to create a positive impact on a local and global scale. Anna’s exposure to microfinance through a gender studies course showed her the ways that impact investing can empower individuals in underdeveloped communities. Through this internship, she hopes to achieve a better understanding of microfinance in order to create opportunities for disadvantaged individuals in the future. She also hopes to convince the Game of Thrones creators to film a sequel.
    • Daena McClintock – Research Associate
      Daena McClintockDaena entered the program as a rising senior within the Commonwealth Honors College at the US-based University of Massachusetts Amherst, while studying finance and economics. Studying in Barcelona, Spain, allowed him to travel throughout Europe and experience many different cultures. Having grown up in the small seaside town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, he enjoys spending time by the ocean, surfing with friends or simply reading a book by the beach. Having already interned in global operations, venture capital and equity research, Daena is looking for a relatively unorthodox career path within the financial services industry. He plans to write his honors thesis about microfinance, focussing on the impact of microloans in developing economies. He also plans to complete a hands-on internship with a microfinance institution in a developing country.
    • Soham Mehta – Research Associate
      Soham MehtaSoham joined MicroCapital as a rising senior at the BASIS Chandler high school in the US state of Arizona. He is passionate about social entrepreneurship and looks forward to leveraging his previous involvement in microfinance organizations. Through this internship, he seeks to improve his understanding of methods for addressing poverty in the developing world using innovative market-based techniques. Soham hopes to study economics and data science in college. His goal is to research institutions and market design in order to better understand income inequality and combat global poverty.
    • Natasha Nath – Research Associate
      Natasha NathNatasha joined MicroCapital as a sophomore at Colgate University, a US-based liberal arts institution, majoring in economics with a double minor in Asian studies and Latin American studies. Natasha is motivated to learn more about how investment creates opportunity for disadvantaged populations, especially in developing countries. Moving forward, she expects to pursue an international career that allows her to invest in and otherwise support underdeveloped communities.
    • Tiannah Steele – Research Associate
      Tiannah SteeleTiannah entered the program as a third-year student at the US-based University of Virginia, majoring in Politics and Foreign Affairs (International Relations). She joined the MicroCapital team because of her interest in international business and finance, especially regarding the participation of and effects on the Global South. Her dream career would include traveling and learning about the culture and politics that influence countries’ approaches to international politics, business, public service and humanitarian work as well as the opportunity to influence policies and populations to resolve economic problems.
    • Shuyang Sun – Research Associate
      Shuyang SUNShuyang joined MicroCapital as a first-year master student in finance at Sciencespo Paris in France. With a multidisciplinary background in Eurasian affairs and finance, she seeks to contribute social value by improving accessibility to financial services. She hopes to learn more about microcredit, microinsurance and other forms of financial inclusion. Besides her professional interests, Shuyang enjoys doing farmwork, exploring beer culture and collecting stamps.

  • 2018 INTERNS

Michelle FlemingMichelle Fleming – Research Associate
Michelle joined MicroCapital following a year teaching English in Korea. Having a passion for international development and finance, she double majored in international business and finance at the US-based University of South Carolina. Her studies there sparked her interest in economic development, and she plans to go to Switzerland in 2019 to begin working toward a master’s degree in international finance at the Geneva Business School. In her free time, Michelle enjoys traveling, skiing, reading and studying languages. UPDATE: As of 2020, Michelle is an ESG analyst for the risk-management firm OTCFin.

Anuhya TadepalliAnuhya Tadepalli – Research Associate
Anuhya joined MicroCapital as a freshman at US-based Cornell University, preparing for a career in business. She is driven by a passion to promote self-reliance and entrepreneurship among disadvantaged women and youth through microfinance. Apart from her academic pursuits, Anuhya runs a nonprofit organization, Chess for a Cause, which organizes chess sessions in senior communities to promote brain health.

Erik McDonaldErik McDonald – Research Associate
Erik entered the program as a recent graduate from US-based Brigham Young University – Idaho, where he graduated with a degree in International Studies. He learned about microfinance in courses he took on social innovation and international development and is excited for the opportunity to learn more about the field as a researcher at MicroCapital. He enjoys listening to and playing rock, indie, blues and music from all over Latin America. He is passionate about languages and fluently speaks Spanish, Portuguese and Mayan. He loves traveling through rural Mexico and plans to start a microfinance institution in the Yucatan region, where he lived and volunteered for two years.

Nicholas GalimbertiNicholas Galimberti – Research Associate
Nicholas arrived at MicroCapital as a second-year undergraduate student pursuing degrees in Economics and Finance at the University of Miami in the US. He is strongly attracted to learning more about microfinance because the topic can reveal much about the development of under-served capital markets around the world. Having served as an assistant at his university’s Economics Department, Nicholas aspires to apply his enthusiasm of economics during his time at MicroCapital. Nicholas is also a die-hard soccer fan and plays the sport in his spare time.


2017 INTERNS

Aleks MarceauAleks Marceau – Research Associate
In pursuit of gaining experience in a dynamic financial field, Aleks joined MicroCapital as a rising junior at Bates College studying economics, Spanish and mathematics. The microfinance sector piqued Aleks’ interest as an opportunity to expand on his prior research while contributing to the growth of a concept with the potential to aid low-income countries. Having worked most recently with a tech start-up, he seeks to combine his analytical and investment-based background with his Spanish degree to shed more light on microfinance developments in Latin America. Originally from the US city of Boston and writing in the state of Maine, Aleks also play for the Bates men’s soccer team and is an avid supporter of the English soccer club Tottenham Hotspur. UPDATE: As of 2018, Aleks has secured a summer analyst position at Barclay’s, a UK-based bank.

Christian ChartierChristian Chartier – Research Associate
Christian took to MicroCapital on his search for common ground between his global health studies and his love for finance. He joined the team as a first-year medical student at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where he has won a place in the Honours Investment Management program at McGill’s business school. Working as a pro bono consultant in his hometown pushed him to craft solutions to challenges pertaining to efficiency, compliance and supply chains. He hopes to bring this perspective to the table during his time with MicroCapital. Christian is also an avid ping-ponger looking for his next opponent (conquest).

Ryan GauthierRyan Gauthier – Research Associate
An ardent enthusiast of international development, Ryan joined MicroCapital to expand his academic and professional experience in emerging markets and microfinance. After spending time living, working and studying in Tokyo, Japan, and Shanghai, China, Ryan spent a semester researching economic growth in modern Cambodia. While at Boston University in the US state of Massachusetts, he served as president of two nonprofit organizations supporting development in Asia and Africa. In his spare time, Ryan can be found competitively swimming, hiking or exploring areas of the world both near and far from home.

Chloe MiaoChloe Miao – Research Associate
Chloe joined MicroCapital as a a rising junior pursuing her undergraduate degree in Economics and Comparative Literature at US-based Brown University. She grew up in Nanjing, China, and her interest in microfinance grows from her passion for nonprofit work in general and international development in particular. At Brown, she served as the mentorship coordinator of China Care Brown, a student-run NGO dedicated to raising awareness of and fundraising for Chinese adoptees in Rhode Island area. She speaks Chinese, English and French, and in her spare time she enjoys reading, writing and traveling.

Colin MulliganColin Mulligan – Research Associate
Colin joined the MicroCapital team to foster his interests in development economics and quantitative finance. Although he will conduct his research in his (horridly humid) home state of New Jersey, Colin studies Mathematics and Economics at Pomona College in the US state of California. When he is not training for Cross Country and Track and Field, Colin enjoys playing Spikeball, Super Smash Bros. Melee and ping pong.

Jacob O'DriscollJacob O’Driscoll – Research Associate
Jacob became involved with MicroCapital as a second-year Economics and International Development student at Canada’s McGill University. He believes microfinance is an innovative instrument of sustainable development with the potential to empower the disenfranchised worldwide. Jacob’s academic fields of interest are international trade, public policy and economic forecasting. (He hopes someday to build a model that’ll stump Vegas odds makers.) In his free time, Jacob enjoys reading, running and playing basketball.

Matthew O'NeillMatthew O’Neill – Research Associate Matthew joined MicroCapital while working as a researcher at US-based technology startup Wonder. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance at DePaul University in the US state of Illinois and became interested in microfinance after studying the work of Robert Shiller. In the past, he has lived and worked in various US cities, farming organic coffee, teaching English and working as a tax professional. In his spare time, Matthew enjoys competitive cycling, volunteering with local farmers’ markets and reading 19th-century Russian literature.

Phoebe RorkePhoebe Rorke – Research Associate
Phoebe joined MicroCapital as a junior pursuing her undergraduate degree in Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University. She is from the US state of Massachusetts and first became interested in microfinance after taking a class on international humanitarian aid and relief efforts. In her spare time, Phoebe enjoys playing volleyball, traveling and going to the beach. She is very interested in pursuing a career within corporate social responsibility or human resources.

Sascha StroblSascha Strobl – Research Associate
Sascha joined MicroCapital as a grad student pursuing his master’s degree in financial engineering at Claremont Graduate University in the US state of California. He is from Austria and has taught finance in Azerbaijan, Finland and China. While in his undergraduate program in Germany, he was the co-founder and treasurer of the NGO Fazer Pensar, which seeks to improve employment opportunities for impoverished kids in Brazil through musical education. In his leisure time, Sascha enjoys badminton, table tennis and reading.


2016 INTERNS

Petra BarbuPetra Barbu – Research Associate
Petra joined MicroCapital as an economics student at Northwestern University in the US state of Illinois. She is the marketing ambassador for LEND, a nonprofit microfinance organization that works in Evanston and the Chicago area. She has worked as a research associate for Higher Ground, a start up working towards establishing internet in developing countries, among other missions, and is the 2016-17 News Editor for North by Northwestern, a university newspaper. She hopes to pursue a career in microfinance or social impact consulting.

Michelle DoldMichelle Dold – Research Associate
Michelle holds a degree in International Development Studies with a minor in Spanish language from the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to joining MicroCapital, Michelle worked as a research analyst for California Common Sense, a nonprofit dedicated to government transparency and data-driven policy analysis. She also worked for two summers in the finance and real estate division of the international law firm Dechert LLP, specializing in securitized loan transactions. She believes in the potential of microfinance to enable communities to create meaningful and sustainable economic development. UPDATE: As of 2016, Michelle is working as a technical assistance associate at Incofin Investment Management, an impact-investing firm in based in Belgium.

Sharanya MadhavanSharanya Madhavan – Research Associate
Sharanya joined MicroCapital while working as a financial risk analyst at an insurance firm. She graduated from Columbia University with a master’s degree in Operations Research & Financial Applications. While in her undergraduate program in India, she was the co-founder of the student chapter of the NGO My India, which sought to create employment opportunities for rural women and a market for their products. In the future, she would like to work in the field of international development, particularly in microfinance or impact investing. Sharanya enjoys reading and travelling in her spare time.


2015 INTERNS

Victor MugoVictor Mugo – Research Associate
Victor joined MicroCapital while pursuing an undergraduate degree in actuarial science at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He has previously interned with the Commercial bank of Africa, which was an early mover in mobile-phone banking. In addition, he serves as the Financial Director of Tamara group and a board member to Grace and Peace Foundation. His previous experience has fueled his interest in microfinance and how it can be used to eliminate poverty and realise the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. In the future he hopes to improve lives in developing nations via nano-investment. In his spare time, victor enjoys travelling, playing lawn tennis and writing.

Arielle Hye In OhArielle Hye In Oh – Research Associate
Arielle joined MicroCapital while in her third year at Yonsei University in South Korea, double-majoring in International Relations and Economics. Although ethnically Korean, Arielle has lived in the Philippines since she was two years old, only returning to Korea to pursue undergraduate coursework. Having grown up in a country where economic problems are significant and much policy reform is still needed, Arielle has the desire to continuously learn more about the economic problems in developing countries and the ways in which these issues can be alleviated. She believes microfinance can play a key factor in this development, under the right circumstances. Until this is achieved, she will continue learning, studying and trying to help people laugh the sorrows of the world away, one joyful moment at a time.

Arpita SarkarArpita Sarkar – Research Associate
Arpita joined MicroCapital as a graduate student at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy concentrating in International Monetary Theory and Policy, International Business Relations and International Political Economy. She is qualified to practice law in India, as she is enrolled with the Bar Council of India. Prior to graduate school, she worked as an Associate with the Banking & Finance department at Luthra & Luthra Law Offices based in Mumbai, India, where her work focused primarily on rendering advisory and legal assistance in structuring, drafting and negotiating documents for cross-border finance, structured finance, construction finance, project finance, debt restructuring and security sharing arrangements. Arpita’s specific interest areas at The Fletcher School are informal finance and financial inclusion. Her other interests include traveling, photography and painting. UPDATE: As of 2017, Arpita is working as a finance and markets global practice consultant for the World Bank Group.

Meredith SteihMeredith Steih – Research Associate
Meredith joined MicroCapital as a rising senior in the Honors Program at the University of Michigan, where she was majoring in International Studies with a Political Economy and Development concentration, Arabic, and Middle Eastern & North African Studies. Meredith has previously worked as an Emergency Services Intern at ACCESS, serving low-income, immigrant and refugee clients in both English and Arabic. She is passionate about the social effects of economic development in developing nations and believes that microfinance has the ability to substantially improve livelihoods for people all over the world. Meredith speaks English, Arabic and Spanish fluently and is intermediate in German. She enjoys traveling, cooking and yoga. UPDATE: As of 2016, Meredith was an Americorps VISTA Leader for the National Network for Arab American Communities.

Matt CerfMatt Cerf – Research Associate
Born in the US city of Seattle, Washington, Matt joined MicroCapital while in his third year at the University of San Diego, double-majoring in International Relations and Business-Economics with a minor in Spanish. His passion for microcredit evolved from extensive work with grassroots community development organizations in the Dominican Republic and Peru. He has spent 18 months in Latin America, including time studying in Buenos Aires, Argentina; working as a mobile journalist for the CEA Study Abroad Blog; and helping to implement a microcredit program for the NGO WAVES for Development in Lobitos, Peru. In his spare time he likes to surf, climb, play basketball and continue his search for the best fish tacos in the San Diego area.

Jacob FergusonJacob Ferguson – Research Associate
Jacob joined MicroCapital as a fourth-year undergraduate student at Northern Illinois University in the US state of Illinois, where he is majoring in Operations Management and Information Systems. Prior to joining MicroCapital, Jacob held internships with various social enterprises, primarily in marketing and communications roles. He truly believes that microfinance is an idea whose time has come. Upon graduation, he will be serving as a City Year Chicago Corps Member. In his spare time, he loves to travel and exercise, and he always has a taste for trying new foods.

Julia Marín MoralesJulia Marín Morales – Research Associate
Julia began studying microfinance in 2013 at Wesleyan University in the US state of Connecticut. She became convinced that this financial tool can play a role in providing new opportunities for people in developing countries. In 2014, she was selected to intern at US-based NGO FINCA International, assisting the New Business Development Team in fundraising and project development. As of 2015, she is studying toward a master’s degree in Microfinance for Entrepreneurship at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain. She would like to specialise in savings products and cost-effective delivery channels. She is also planning to start an internship with FONPRODE, the Spanish Agency Cooperation Fund, focusing on microfinance investments and grants. In the future, she is eager to travel and discover innovative ways to increase financial inclusion in developing countries.

Jeff PierceJeff Pierce – Research Associate
Jeff joined MicroCapital while in his second year at Bentley University in the US state of Massachusetts. He is majoring in economics & finance with minors in mathematics and public policy. He has a passion for development economics and believes that microfinance is a fantastic way to help the growing economies of the world lift people out of poverty. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys tutoring other students, reading and playing soccer. In the future, he hopes to travel the world as much as possible.

Caroline ZhuCaroline Zhu – Research Associate
Caroline entered the program while working as a marketing specialist at a renewable energy company. She graduated from the United States’ University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in economics and environmental science. She first became interested in microfinance while volunteering in Costa Rica. Through her internship, Caroline hopes to grow her knowledge of the microfinance industry in preparation for a career in international development.

Simon PfannerSimon Pfanner – Research Associate
Simon Pfanner joined MicroCapital after holding positions as an analyst for Sberbank Switzerland and a health economist for the Reproductive And Child Health Alliance, an NGO in Cambodia. During his time in Cambodia, he became increasingly interested in microfinance as a tool to lift families out of poverty. By working for MicroCapital, Simon is hoping to expand his knowledge of microfinance and build a platform for a career in finance and development economics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and Management and a master’s degree in Political Economy from the University of Sussex in the UK. He speaks English, French and German, and he is learning Spanish. UPDATE: In 2016, Simon was hired as an associate consultant for Veran Performance, a human-resources consultancy based in the UK.


LATE-2014 INTERNS

Emily TeleposkyEmily Teleposky – Research Associate
Emily joined MicroCapital while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Business and Political Economy at US-based New York University. While studying in London for a year, Emily worked with a nonprofit that focuses on providing equal opportunities for Londoners to live healthy lifestyles. This piqued her interest in creating level playing fields in many facets of life, including financial inclusion. While working with MicroCapital, she is taking the semester to study in Shanghai, China. In the future, she is interested in working in microfinance as it moves toward reaching its potential.

Ananya TiwariAnanya Tiwari – Research Associate
Ananya is an attorney specializing in insurance law. Her background involves work in the legal departments of a Manhattan insurance carrier and a risk management firm working across the US. Prior to graduating with a Juris Doctor in May 2012, she concentrated her legal studies around traditional insurance, microinsurance and small business incorporation. Ananya holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh, which is located in the US state of Pennsylvania. She has traveled to Austria, Hong Kong, mainland China, Mongolia and Russia to conduct research and compete in various interscholastic arbitration competitions. She has a strong interest in microinsurance and hopes to become more involved in that field. In her free time, Ananya enjoys traveling, hiking, reading and writing. UPDATE: As of 2020, Ananya is the Manager – Professional Risks for Proclaim of Australia.


MID-2014 INTERNS

Aliz CrowleyAlíz Crowley – Research Associate
Alíz’s background in investment and commercial banking primarily involves complex structured and project finance transactions and advisory assignments on behalf of European governments. She has also worked in transaction structuring and restructuring, corporate banking, credit analysis, syndicated lending and corporate finance. Alíz holds a master’s degree in economics and another in European studies and international relations. In the future, she would like to be involved in international development, particularly in the fields of microfinance and social entrepreneurship. To support this goal, Alíz will be undertaking postgraduate studies in international development at the London School of Economics. In her spare time, Alíz loves to travel, take photographs, blog, exercise and cook. Alíz speaks English, Hungarian, German and is learning Arabic.

Hope GitanguHope Gitangu – Research Associate
Hope is a trainee actuary and has interests in microfinance and research analysis relating to the economies of emerging and frontier markets. She has worked at Actuarial Services East Africa (ACTSERV) focusing on investment analysis and actuarial valuations. With a passion for building innovative solutions to poverty, she seeks to be involved in the realization of Kenya’s Vision 2030 as well as poverty eradication in developing countries. During her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling and reading. This year, Hope expects to complete her degree in actuarial science from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya.

Ben KruppBen Krupp – Research Associate
Ben joined MicroCapital while pursuing an undergraduate degree in economics at Washington University in St. Louis, in the US state of Missouri. He is particularly interested in Spanish language, education and sustainable development. In the past, he has lived and worked in both Ecuador and Costa Rica, teaching English, working at an eco-lodge and helping to implement small-scale community development projects. In St. Louis, Ben is a leader of a youth tutoring organization predominantly for first-generation Latino middle school students and has worked on a consulting project with the Boeing Company through the Washington University business school. In his free time, Ben enjoys good food, travel and playing ultimate Frisbee.

Sarah LuoSarah Luo – Research Associate
Sarah joined MicroCapital while pursuing bachelor’s degrees in finance and business analytics at the Rutgers Business School in the US state of New Jersey. While at university, she helped found several initiatives, including a microfinance-inspired tech startup for young entrepreneurs and a project on homelessness. Her experience with underprivileged groups in both the United States and Taiwan has enhanced her interest in microfinance and sustainable economic growth. Sarah is looking to build a foundation for working in the microfinance sector, particularly in the developing world. While working with MicroCapital, she is also assisting a professor at National Taiwan University publish a book on social impact leadership and development aid. In her spare time, she mentors young teenagers, and she enjoys reading and blogging about social justice and personal faith.


EARLY-2014 INTERNS

Juan BlancoJuan Blanco – Research Associate
Juan holds a Master of Arts in Global Development Policy from Boston University, which is located in the US state of Massachusetts. While there, Juan worked on several research projects including Brazil’s industrial policy since 1980, branchless banking in Colombia and green microfinance in Latin America. For his final project, he worked on an ongoing microfinance effort in West Bengal, India, that carried out a randomized controlled trial to assess the relative success of individual lending versus group lending. Juan has worked for the Ministry of Culture in Colombia, and he also interned at the UN Conference on Trade and Development in 2013. In his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar, soccer and reading. He speaks Spanish, English, French and German. UPDATE: In June 2014, Juan became an associate at Accion’s Center for Financial Inclusion in Washington, DC.

Chikondano Faith ChisalaChikondano Faith Chisala – Research Associate
Chikondano Faith joined MicroCapital after holding various roles at a commercial bank, where she was involved in trading, treasury management, credit analysis and business development. She developed an interest in the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in emerging economies after taking up a small business development and entrepreneurship course during her undergraduate studies at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. She holds a masters degree in Strategic Management from the University of Derby in the UK, where her independent study focused on strategies to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Malawi. In working with MicroCapital, she hopes to expand her knowledge of microfinance and form a foundation for a career in micro- and development finance. Chikondano Faith also enjoys travel, drawing, jazz and improving her French.

Meraj HusainMeraj Husain – Research Associate
Meraj holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Irvine with a concentration in econometrics, finance and economic development. While at university, he worked on empirical projects researching the causes of economic growth in developing nations. After graduating, he spent a year traveling in North America and Europe. He has worked as a GRE instructor, screenprinter and client relations coordinator at a major insurance firm. In the fall of 2014, Meraj will begin a masters program in applied economics with the goal of working in a microfinance institution upon graduation. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, playing guitar and riding his road bike through his hometown of Los Angeles, California.

Tejas JainTejas Jain – Research Associate
After finishing his bachelor’s degree in computer science engineering in 2011, Tejas joined Bajaj Allianz General Insurance as an insurance advisor. In 2013, he joined the firm’s investment division as a credit analyst trainee and began performing credit analyses on financial institutions. He is also a Level-II candidate in the Chartered Financial Analyst program. Tejas has volunteer experience with the UN’s Knowledge Gateway for Women’s Economic Empowerment and the Conservation Centre of Herbs, Yoga & Naturopathy, an NGO that aims to halt the skewed sex ratio in India. Tejas enjoys literature, traveling, art and music. Coming from an emerging market economy, he believes that microfinance is the key to creating an egalitarian society in developing nations.

A'kos SzebeniA’kos Szebeni – Research Associate
A’kos joined MicroCapital after holding a senior analyst role at an investment bank where he was responsible for supporting a variety of M&A, capital-raising and private equity transactions for emerging growth companies around the world. His prior experience includes 3+ years in various roles in finance and business development for major international financial institutions and start-up companies alike throughout China, the EU and the US. A’kos holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the George Washington University in the US and a master’s degree in economics from Italy’s University of Rome, where he focused his studies on the economics of emerging markets and development as well as inclusive finance. He is also a Level-II candidate in the Chartered Financial Analyst program. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, cooking and playing soccer. A’kos speaks English, Hungarian, Italian and Spanish.


LATE-2013 INTERNS

Megan McGowanMegan McGowan – Research Associate
After earning her bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin in the US city of Madison, Megan moved to Chicago to pursue a career in microfinance and economic development. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in economics at the University of Illinois – Chicago. Her interest in microfinance recently took her to Bangladesh for an internship with the Grameen Bank. Her experience there and travels throughout Asia and Central America exposed her to the need for financial services for poor people. In her spare time, Megan teaches yoga and enjoys running, traveling and cooking. UPDATE: As of 2014, Megan is a loan portfolio analyst at IFF, a community development finance institution based in the US city of Chicago, Illinois.

Adrija VaiciulionisAdrija Vaiciulionis – Research Associate
Adrija joined MicroCapital while pursuing a major in international relations and a minor in economics, with concentrations in economic development and international management, at Boston University. Her previous experience includes interning with the House Committee of Post Audit and Oversight at the Massachusetts State House in the US and interning with a parliamentarian in Vilnius, Lithuania. It was her internship in Lithuania that led Adrija to her interest in economic development, international trade and finance, global emerging markets, and cross-border investments. In the future, she aspires to become involved with international economic strategy and policy. Adrija is also intrigued with linguistics. She is fluent in both Lithuanian and English and is working toward becoming conversational in German. Adrija’s other interests include traveling, photography, architecture, reading the news and outdoor sports.


MID-2013 INTERNS

Michael Averell PhotoMichael Averell – Research Associate
Michael joined MicroCapital as a rising freshman at Harvard University, planning to pursue a double major in Economics and Chinese. Deeply passionate about service, he believes that microfinance is one of the most effective ways to combat poverty and support investment in the developing world. In high school, he co-organized a state-wide legal aid telethon with the North Carolina Bar Association, coordinated a charity show that raised money for a school for migrants in China, expanded service outreach as president of his school’s Beta Club and managed hundreds of service projects as chairman of the Cary Teen Council, the largest youth council in North Carolina. He is also proficient in Mandarin and has been to China twice – first on a study abroad trip, then on a law internship. Furthermore, he has served as captain of his school’s Congressional Debate Team, placing first in numerous national and regional tournaments. In his spare time, he enjoys biking, traveling, reading the news, building three-dimensional puzzles, and watching British mysteries.

Meghan Gillis PhotoMeghan Gillis – Research Associate
Meghan joined MicroCapital while pursuing a double major in economics and international relations with a concentration in economic development at Tufts University in the US state of Massachusetts. On campus, she has been part of the cross country and track teams, where she has earned three varsity letters. She also is a member of the Community Health team of the Engineers Without Borders: Uganda project at Tufts. She is proficient in French and is excited to spend the spring of 2014 studying in Aix-En-Provence, France. In her spare time, Meghan enjoys traveling, reading, coffee and playing with her dog. UPDATE: As of 2014, Meghan is conducting research at the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, DC.

Anesa Kratovac PhotoAnesa Kratovac – Research Associate
A humanitarian at heart, with the desire to establish herself in the human rights and sustainable development fields, Anesa previously worked in various countries as a personal-injury paralegal, English teacher, development associate, private tutor and editor. She owns her own editing business, Asena, and is passionate about innovation, specifically about self-sustaining mechanisms that tackle poverty alleviation and promote other forms of social progress. She is fluent in various languages, has traveled extensively and spent a magical month organic farming in Portugal. In her spare time, she likes to read, paint, engage in new projects and explore all of the adventures that New York City has to offer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political studies and international affairs from Bard College in the US state of New York and earned her master’s degree in political science from Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. UPDATE: As of 2014, Anesa is working with Green Village Plan Development in Ghana.

Ernie Wulff PhotoErnie Wulff – Research Associate
Ernie B. D. Wulff joined MicroCapital with five years of credit, portfolio management and research experience in the financial services sector. In March 2013, he gained admission to study for a research master’s degree in development finance at the University Of Stellenbosch Business School in Cape Town, South Africa. On campus, Ernie is a volunteer-member of the Small Business Academy team, an initiative aimed at offering business skills to entrepreneurs in deprived communities. He is also involved in studying the factors that hinder growth of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises in South Africa. Ernie holds bachelor of science degree in economics and a certificate in management from the business school of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. In the future Ernie hopes to become involved with international development work, as he has passionate interest in development finance and social investment. In his free time, he enjoys reading, traveling and swimming.


EARLY-2013 INTERNS

Sam Allmendinger PhotoSam Allmendinger – Research Associate
Sam joined MicroCapital as a junior at Northeastern University in the US state of Massachusetts while pursuing a dual degree in economics and finance. He has also interned with Rinet Company, a private wealth management firm in Boston; State Street Bank; and Travelers Insurance Company. On campus, Sam is a member of the Finance & Investment Club, Economics Society and Sigma Phi Epsilon. With a foundation in the financial sector and an interest in emerging markets and developing economies, Sam seeks to learn about making microfinance institutions more accessible, transparent and effective for both clients and investors. In his free time, Sam enjoys investing, snowboarding, tennis, Mexican food and hiking. UPDATE: As of 2014, Sam is an associate at Kamylon Capital in the US city of Boston, Massachusetts.

Nicole Boyd PhotoNicole Boyd – Research Associate
Nicole joined MicroCapital while pursuing a double major in government and economics at Dartmouth College in the US state of New Hampshire. She also interns at the National Committee of American Foreign Policy’s Forum on Asia Pacific Security, a nonprofit in New York City. While on campus, she works as an information technology consultant and is a staff editor and blog writer for World Outlook, Dartmouth’s undergraduate journal of international affairs. She is also a member of Smart Woman Securities, a college investment group. Having long been fascinated by other cultures, Nicole spent a term abroad studying Chinese in Beijing. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys coffee, swimming, and learning new things. UPDATE: As of 2014, Nicole is working in Ethiopia with the US Department of State.

Brian LeBlanc PhotoBrian LeBlanc – Research Associate
Brian joined MicroCapital as a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Honors Program at Bentley University in the US state of Massachusetts, where he is majoring in economics and mathematical sciences. Prior to joining MicroCapital, Brian interned at the Microfiance and Small Loan Centre (MASLOC) in the Volta Region of Ghana where he assisted in rolling out the organization’s Poultry Loan Program. Brian also serves on the editorial board of the Bentley Microfinance Review, a journal dedicated to publishing undergraduate research on microfinance.


LATE-2012 INTERNS

Sarah BenaliSarah Benali – Research Associate
Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. She entered the program while working as an asset manager for a real estate company based in Montreal. Prior to that, she worked for Capital One Bank as a quality control specialist. During her studies, Sarah took a year off to travel in Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa, which further fueled her interest in developing nations and microfinance. Sarah is fluent in English, French and Spanish and is conversational in Arabic. In her free time, Sarah enjoys reading, writing and traveling. UPDATE: As of 2014, Sarah is serving as the associate producer and web editor for Kitco News of Montreal, Canada.

Makai McClintockMakai McClintock – Research Associate
Makai joined MicroCapital as a rising sophomore at the Commonwealth Honors College at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he is simultaneously pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a self-designed bachelor’s degree with a concentration in economics and socially-responsible investment. Prior to joining MicroCapital, he worked as the chief marketing officer for MyHometownLink LLC, a startup social networking company based in Cambridge in the US state of Massachusetts. Makai has a strong interest in social investment strategies and domestic economic development programs and is currently involved in an independent study regarding the feasibility of microfinance institutions in the US. In his free time, Makai enjoys reading, ultimate Frisbee and skiing. UPDATE: As of 2014, Makai is serving as an assistant editor at MicroCapital.

Chioma OkwudiaforChioma Okwudiafor – Research Associate
Chioma joined Microcapital with five years of research experience in the legal, nonprofit and bilateral trade and development sectors. In June 2012, she won a scholarship from Canada’s MasterCard Foundation to acquire a Certificate in Sustainable Microenterprise and Development at the Carsey Institute at the US-based University of New Hampshire, an experience that fueled her interest in financial inclusion for poor people. She also holds a bachelor of laws degree from the University of London. She hopes to advocate for policies that drive sustenance particularly as related to small and medium-sized enterprises in Nigeria. Chioma was selected as one of 40 young Nigerians to participate in the 2011 Legislative Internship Program of the African Leadership Forum. An avid writer, she has written essays on issues of global public policy concern including “No More Promises,” which was recognized in the 2010 Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) Youth Essay Competition. She also enjoys reading, photography, traveling and music.

Lena PhillipsLena Phillips – Research Associate
Lena has long had an interest in community development work and international affairs. In 2010, she graduated from Canada’s University of Toronto with a bachelor’s degree in international relations and environmental policy. She has traveled to Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands where she volunteered with environmental projects. In 2010, she traveled to Mexico as a member of the Canadian Youth Delegation to the UN Conference on Climate Change. Most recently she spent a year working for Katimavik, a Canadian service-learning program. In this role she oversaw and organized thousands of hours of volunteer work and experiential education activities for young Canadians at various nonprofit organizations. In the future, Lena hopes to become involved with international development work and acquire a master’s degree. She is proficient in English and French and has intermediate skills in Spanish and German.

Jennifer YoungJennifer Young – Research Associate
Jennifer joined MicroCapital as a recent graduate of Drexel University in Philadelphia, USA. She holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and business administration with a concentration in international business. She has a strong interest in international economic development, socio-economics and environmental sustainability. The Drexel co-op program enabled Jennifer to work at the Exelon Corporation-PECO Energy as a government affairs intern and financial risk analyst and also at an emerging dot.com in the UK as an assistant business development and marketing manager. While working with MicroCapital, Jennifer is interning with Maxima Mikroheranhvatho Plc, a microfinance institution in Cambodia. Jennifer enjoys traveling, cultural festivals, concerts, coffee shops, wine, cheese and crackers. UPDATE: As of 2014, Jennifer is working on the pricing desk at Tradition Energy in the US city of Stamford, Connecticut.


MID-2012 INTERNS

Brett CohenBrett Cohen – Research Associate
Brett began working with MicroCapital while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Haverford College in the US state of Pennsylvania. Translating math into action, Brett is a student member of the Haverford Dining Services Board, with responsibility for budget allocation, as well as the founder of the Haverford Sports Management Club and a member of the Haverford Finance Club. He also works with the Haverford Quaker Bouncers, a student safety program now being implemented nationwide. A two-sport varsity athlete for the ‘Fords, Brett is a starting forward for the basketball team and starting pitcher on the baseball team. Brett is also involved in helping the community as a mentor for young athletes on and off the court at the Philadelphia 76ers Youth Camp and DiverseCity Hoops, a grassroots program serving disadvantaged youth. UPDATE: As of 2014, Brett is conducting research at international investing firm Veritable LP in the US city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jaime FellersJaime Fellers – Research Associate
Jaime began at MicroCapital as a rising sophomore at Boston College, while pursuing a degree in mathematics with a minor in international studies and a concentration in international political economies. She is also a member of the Arts and Sciences Honors Program at the university. Before joining MicroCapital, Jaime interned at a taxation and estate planning law firm customizing a new billing system and implementing a more efficient and structured form of accounting. At Boston College, Jaime was also selected to serve as the Editor of Academics for the yearbook and as part of The Emerging Leaders Program. Her area of interest is Africa, where she hopes to study soon. Outside of school, Jaime enjoys hiking, camping and rock climbing.

Mihaela GrindeanuMihaela Grindeanu – Research Associate
Mihaela holds a master’s degree in international relations from Kingston University, London, where she focused on the advancement of women as both a condition for sustainable development and a strategy for conflict prevention. She developed a strong commitment to economic and social justice through her work in the nonprofit sector in India and Morocco and also as an intern at the headquarters of the UN in New York. As part of a microfinance certificate program with the Microfinance Association in London, she completed a research paper on the role of microfinance institutions in women’s economic empowerment in Brazil. UPDATE: As of 2014, Mihaela is working in the Department of Political Affairs at the United Nations in New York City.

Webster HughesWebster Hughes – Research Associate
Webster entered the program as rising junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the United States, where he is pursuing a degree in business administration. Webster’s experience includes conducting equity research for Bank of America-Merrill Lynch. He developed a strong interest in microfinance while working with Community Enterprise Solutions in Guatemala. He seeks to learn about how microfinance institutions can be made more transparent and accessible to investors. Outside of school, Webster enjoys playing tennis, eating watermelon and traveling.

Amy SamudreAmy Samudre – Research Associate
Amy joined MicroCapital as a graduate student at Liverpool Hope University in the UK while working on a thesis on microfinance as part of a master’s degree program in international business. Her employment experience includes working with homeless women and children in the US state of Washington and in India. After completing her bachelor’s degree in society, ethics and human behavior from the University of Washington, she spent three months volunteering in India for NGOs working in sustainability. She is interested in integrating social business with international development and enjoys travelling, hiking, painting and jazz.


EARLY-2012 INTERNS

Natalie BaerNatalie Baer – Research Associate
Natalie earned a master’s degree in economics and a bachelor’s degree in international studies with a focus on development economics from Johns Hopkins University. She has spent a year in China as a Fulbright Scholar researching the organic food supply chain, where she found that many farms require proper funding and institutional support to be successful. She is interested in the potential of microfinance to advance sustainable rural development, as well as the interaction of microfinance models and rural financial infrastructure. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, reading and improving her Chinese. UPDATE: As of 2014, Natalie is working with Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation, a producer of renewable energy and clean water in four countries.

Amira Jasmine BerradaAmira Berrada – Research Associate
Amira joined MicroCapital while working at Export Development Canada as a credit insurance underwriter. Amira holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business and Finance from Concordia University in Montreal. Amira has studied in France and spent three months in India promoting and implementing socioeconomic initiatives including the advancement of women. As a result of her time in India, Amira became dedicated to intertwining her business interests with her passion for development. Amira speaks English, French and Spanish fluently and is conversational in Portuguese and Arabic. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, trying new restaurants and most of all traveling with loved ones.

Brendan MillanBrendan Millan – Research Associate
Brendan received his master’s degree in financial economics from HEC-Paris in November 2011. Before joining MicroCapital, he completed a three-month internship with Grameen Bank in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In the future, he hopes to work in the microfinance industry before returning to seek an additional degree in public or business administration. UPDATE: As of 2014, Brendan is serving with the Peace Corps in Macedonia. In 2019, Brendan joined the International Trade Administration of the US Department of Commerce.

Charlotte NewmanCharlotte Newman – Research Associate
Charlotte earned her bachelor’s degree in international studies from North Carolina State University. She has worked in Costa Rica and Mexico, where she became even more drawn to microfinance after seeing the extreme poverty in parts of these countries. She came to MicroCapital while also working with Fundacion EnVia, a small microfinance organization in Mexico. She strongly believes that microfinance is an excellent way to provide sustainable change to those in need. In her free time she enjoys reading, playing with her dog and trying new things. UPDATE: As of 2014, Charlotte is editing news on impact investing for MicroCapital.

Jeff Patterson – Research Associate
Jeff earned a master’s degree in economics at the University of Delaware and a bachelor’s degree in political science and geology at the State University of New York at Geneseo. He has spent three years in Portugal working on various projects for his master’s degree and as a researcher. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, working at the University of Porto as an exchange program coordinator, reading, painting and improving his Portuguese.

Courtney SnellingCourtney Snelling – Research Associate
Courtney earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Stanford University. He then worked for two years with a microfinance institution in Benin as a US Peace Corps volunteer. Following his time in Africa, he returned to the US to work with international organizations managing microfinance projects in the Philippines, Senegal, Tajikistan and Vietnam. Most recently he worked as a financial services officer for a US-based community development finance institution. Courtney is currently pursuing a law degree and is interested in banking laws and regulations as they relate to microfinance institutions. In his spare time he enjoys reading, writing and coaching youth wrestling. UPDATE: As of 2014, Courtney is editing financial news for the Bloomberg news service in the Washington, DC, area.


LATE-2011 INTERNS

Kristha AboresKristha Abores – Research Associate
Kristha began her work at MicroCapital after gaining five years of experience in the financial services industry in the Philippines. She has a background in strategy, planning and analytics in retail banking. She developed a keen interest in microfinance after being introduced to it during the course of her studies. Kristha holds a bachelor’s degree in Management Engineering from Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines and an MBA from INSEAD. She joined MicroCapital in the hope of gaining a deeper understanding of microfinance and its role in alleviating poverty. In her spare time, Kristha volunteers at aidha, a Singapore-based nonprofit organization supporting migrant workers through financial education. She also enjoys singing, baking and traveling.

Emilia AkonomEmilia Akonom – Research Associate
While working on government and NGO projects for a major strategy consulting firm, Emilia has also been pursuing a management degree at Poznan University of Economics in Poland. Her interest in sustainable development and economic empowerment grew after her travel to north Thailand where she was exposed to individuals working with Burmese refugees. She firmly believes that microfinance and sustainable development have strong impacts on women’s social and economic empowerment as well as children’s well being. In her spare time she loves exploring new recipes, especially Asian, to cook amazing dinners. Furthermore, she is an avid traveler and keen on watching marine life and meeting inspiring people from different walks of life.

Ariana MalushiAriana Malushi – Research Associate
Ariana studied international finance and marketing at the University of Miami. She became interested in microfinance after traveling as part of the Semester at Sea program, through which she volunteered in eight emerging economies. She also interned for UniThrive, a microfinance organization that facilitates education loans. After graduating from the University of Miami in May 2011, Ariana came to Buenos Aires to teach English. Her hobbies are traveling, reading, photography and scuba diving.


MID-2011 INTERNS

Ashim KarAshim Kar – Research Associate
Ashim Kumar Kar has 14 years of work experience in public sector auditing, accounting and financial management and in research in university, NGOs and other research organizations. It is primarily through his work experience at BRAC in Bangladesh that he first became interested in microfinance. He has a PhD in Economics from Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki with his thesis focused on mission drift issues in microfinance. He also completed his Masters in Development Economics from the Australian National University, Canberra in 2001 in addition to his first Masters of Science in Economics from Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Ashim is currently working on a post-doctoral research project at Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki, Finland. Alongside English and Bengali, he also speaks Hindi fairly well and Finnish a little. In his free time, he enjoys reading classic literature, listening to music, watching documentaries and cycling.

Carol KimCarol Kim – Research Associate
Carol joined MicroCapital as a finance industry professional whose experience ranges from capital markets to public accounting, including working in the Debt Capital Markets group of Wells Fargo Securities. She learned about microfinance in pursuit of her interest in global and public finance. She is a firm believer in causes that equip and empower, and she believes that microfinance can be a critical medium to help the financially impoverished. Carol holds a bachelors degree in Economics-Accounting from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. During her spare time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, pilates and adding dishes to her cooking repertoire.

Nisha KoulNisha Koul – Research Associate
Nisha has four years of experience working with nonprofit organizations. She has an MBA in Rural Management from India’s Institute of Rural Management (IRMA). While working as a consultant with A F Ferguson & Company in India, she worked on microfinance, health, poverty and gender issues. In particular, she has worked with microfinance cooperatives and has extensive experience evaluating the progress of microfinance projects, recommending enterprise development strategies and implementing effective linkages between microfinance groups. While working with MicroCapital she hopes to investigate innovations and new developments in microfinance and enhance her understanding of the sector. She currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts, and continues to work in several areas of international development.

Rohan Trivedi – Research Associate
Rohan joined MicroCapital following an extended internship with ACCESS Development Services, an Indian nonprofit that provides technical assistance to Indian microfinance institutions. He has previously worked in Ghana with microfinance institution WomensTrust and has introductory experience in the financial services sector. At Wesleyan University, while completing a degree in Mathematical Economics along with a Certificate in International Relations, he found that microfinance can be a powerful tool for socio-economic development. He is interested in social performance management and the potential of microsavings. In his spare time he enjoys reading, drawing and playing ultimate Frisbee. UPDATE: As of 2014, Rohan is studying at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC.


EARLY-2011 INTERNS

Jacqueline FoelsterJacqueline Foelster – Research Associate
Jacqueline joined MicroCapital upon her completion of her Fulbright tenure in Cambodia where she examined the microfinance sector under the auspices of the Cambodia Microfinance Association. While in Cambodia, she also volunteered at Mith Samlanh, an NGO that works to develop creative and sustainable projects to reintegrate street-involved children into their communities. She fostered her interest in socio-economic progress while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in General Business and a minor in International Development at the University of Maryland. She anticipates that contributing to the MicroCapital team will allow her to further develop a comprehensive understanding of microfinance which she hopes to harness for a career in the strengthening of emerging markets. UPDATE: As of 2014, Jacqueline is working with the US-based Microfinance Information Exchange as a a social performance analyst.

Julie Moksim – Research Associate
Julie was managing a securities valuation team at State Street Corporation when she began the program. Julie grew up in Indonesia, Egypt and India where she gained an interest in third-world development and poverty alleviation. She attended Tufts University where she earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics as well as a graduate degree in urban and environmental policy and planning. Julie plans to return to Asia to work in the field of microfinance. She is interested in the direct impact of microfinance on women and children and hopes to explore current models to identify how debt repayment can be improved and sustained. Julie has travelled extensively throughout the world and enjoys hiking, scuba diving, snowboarding, photography, yoga and cooking.

Alex PatteeAlexandra Pattee – Research Associate
Alexandra joined MicroCapital while working as an advisor at Impakt, a boutique community investment consultancy based in Toronto, Canada. She is a graduate of the Queen’s School of Business and has extensive experience in the social sector, including consulting for a large Cambodian microfinance institution, working with the Guyana Red Cross, filming a documentary in rural China and receiving the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. She has been awarded an Associate Honorary Youth Membership from the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) and delivered a keynote speech at the XVIII ISPCAN International Congress in Honolulu, Hawaii. As a Research Associate she hopes to expand her knowledge of microfinance while contributing to the evolution and expansion of the industry. UPDATE: As of 2013, Alex is serving as an associate program manager for financial inclusion at Canada’s MasterCard Foundation.

Medha RaviMedha Ravi – Research Associate
Medha began the program following her completion of an internship in impact investing with Acumen Fund, Pakistan. Prior to that, she spent three months in Uganda with the Foundation for Sustainable Development where she implemented a sustainable project for a local microfinance organization. Before making a transition into development, she spent over three years working at KPMG, London in the Assurance & Advisory division. Medha holds a degree in Econometrics & Mathematical Economics from the London School of Economics. She is passionate about microfinance and views it as an innovative and critical tool in addressing social challenges. In her spare time, Medha enjoys reading, traveling and learning new languages. UPDATE: As of 2013, Medha is serving as Chief Financial Officer for Agora Microfinance in Mumbai, India.


LATE-2010 INTERNS

Diana BaideDiana Baide – Research Associate
Diana began the program as a recent graduate of Tufts University in the US state of Massachusetts. She majored in International Relations and minored in Economics with a focus on development. She studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, to delve into international politics and human security. During her senior year at Tufts, she developed an interest in microfinance through her final project, which focused on women and home-based enterprises in the informal sector in urban Brazil and Colombia. She hopes that her research with MicroCapital will further educate her on international microfinance in order to someday work in the field. UPDATE: As of 2015, Diana is a loan officer supporting educational facilities at New York’s Local Initiatives Support Corporation.

Witt GatchellWitt Gatchell – Research Associate
Witt began working with MicroCapital while pursuing a masters degree in International Finance, Trade, and Economic Integration at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies in Denver. After completing his undergraduate degree in Finance from Colorado State University, he travelled extensively throughout Southeast Asia and became interested in the ability of microfinance to alleviate poverty there. Since then he has worked with microfinance institutions in Kenya and Bangladesh. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, soccer, skiing, hiking and mountain biking. UPDATE: As of 2015, Witt is beginning his third year as a consultant for Andaman Capital Partners facilitating investment in Myanmar.

John Howard-SmithJohn Howard-Smith – Research Associate
John started working with MicroCapital while pursuing masters degrees both in business administration at the College of William & Mary and in international management at the Thunderbird School of Global Management. His path towards microfinance has been a varied one. He has traveled extensively throughout impoverished areas of Latin America, helped Honduran painters attain start-up capital for their own company and crafted a business plan for an Argentinean microfinance bank. Through these experiences, and others, he has seen the impact that a simple loan can have on a person’s life. John’s passion lies in microfinance in Latin America. More specifically, he is interested in learning about how government regulations in certain countries can become more favorable towards microfinance. In his free time he enjoys traveling, learning new languages, working out and playing the piano.

Trevor KwongTrevor Kwong – Research Associate
Trevor entered the program as a junior at Cornell University majoring in Economics and Government. He first became interested in microfinance while working with a fair trade coffee cooperative in Nicaragua that also provides small loans to low income farmers. Having lived in Asia for most of his life, Trevor is interested in economic development and is convinced that microfinance is part of the solution. He enjoys playing football (aka soccer) in his spare time and is a fan of player Ryan Giggs.

Lindsey ShaughnessyLindsey Shaughnessy – Research Associate
Lindsey Shaughnessy entered the program while working as a coordinator at the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in New York City. She hopes that her work with MicroCapital will provide a more granular understanding of microeconomic decision-making in the developing world. She holds a degree from Carleton College, in the US state of Minnesota, where she majored in International Relations and minored in Chinese. During her undergraduate studies, Lindsey worked as a summer fellow at the Gender Advocacy Programme in Cape Town, South Africa, and as a summer fellow at Pro Mujer in Puno, Peru; and also studied Mandarin at Nankai University in Tianjin, China. She expects to earn her masters degree in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University later this year. Lindsey is especially interested in how corporate social responsibility and social impact investment shape microfinance programs. UPDATE: As of 2013, Lindsey is coordinating data for Innovations for Poverty Action in the US city of New Haven, Connecticut.


MID-2010 INTERNS

Conner BrannenConner Brannen – Research Assistant
Conner entered the program as a recent graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where she majored in economics and minored in international relations. She has cumulatively spent over a year in Sub-saharan Africa and is very passionate about economic development in the region. During her senior year, she completed an honors thesis which examined the impact of a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) in Tanzania. Conner hopes that her internship with MicroCapital will develop and expand upon her understanding of the microfinance field and economic development in general. Her other interests include playing ice hockey, soccer and cooking.

Matt CastnerMatt Castner – Research Assistant
Matt entered the program while working as an analyst at a small healthcare management and consulting firm. He plans to pursue a career in social business given its strong potential to affect large-scale sustainable change. He graduated from the University of Maryland – College Park with degrees in finance and psychology. His hobbies include reading about presidents, traveling, cycling, cooking and playing catch with his Jack Russell.

Matthew FoxMatthew Fox – Research Assistant
Matthew began his internship while living in Dominical, Costa Rica, where he was teaching English. He graduated from James Madison University in May 2009 with a BA in International Affairs, a concentration on Latin America and minors in Economics and Latin American Studies. His interest in microfinance stemmed from his research of international economic development. Having traveled throughout South America, he believes there are significant possibilities that microfinance has yet to achieve. He is particularly interested in the expansion of microfinance to rural areas in Central America. Through the internship he was looking to gain an introductory experience in microfinance that may potentially lead to a career in the field. Matthew enjoys traveling, reading, surfing, swimming and getting sunburned.

Julia KornJulia Korn – Research Assistant
Julia entered the program as a rising senior at Brandeis University, where she was majoring in Economics with a minor in women’s and gender studies. She became interested in microfinance while working as the economic empowerment intern for a community-based organization in New York committed to ending violence against women. She is interested in promoting gender equality, and she is also involved at her university with issues concerning worker’s rights. Through this internship she hopes to become better educated about poverty alleviation strategies so that she can help make the world a more equitable place. In her spare time she enjoys singing, going to the beach, puppies and spending time with friends and family.

Jennifer ShevockJennifer Shevock – Research Assistant
Jennifer entered the program after completing an MBA at EDHEC Business School in France. From her work at Thomas Weisel Partners, Esurance, KPMG and elsewhere, she has experience in the insurance, investment banking and internet start-up industries. Jennifer’s specialties include corporate controllership, external/internal audit and process and control implementation. Her hobbies include cycling, running, skiing, international travel, yoga, reading and cooking.


EARLY 2010 INTERNS

Christine ChangChristine Chang – Research Associate
Christine entered the program following her position as an associate in the mergers and acquisitions group of Goldman Sachs. She spent five years working in the New York and London offices where she helped companies evaluate their strategic financing and merger-related options. She is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with degrees in Biology and Management Science. She believes microfinance is a successful tool in the fight against poverty, as microfinance provides the financially excluded the means to empower themselves. Her other interests include traveling, yoga, rock climbing and scuba diving.

Eric McKayEric McKay – Research Assistant
Eric entered the program as an undergraduate student at Arizona State University, where he was majoring in Economics and Mathematics. He became interested in microfinance while researching economic inequality and researched various implementations of microlending as a tool to alleviate poverty in the Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area. Eric is interested in the fields of international economic development and international finance. In his spare time, Eric enjoys reading, computer programming and playing basketball and racquetball.


LATE 2009 INTERNS

Radhika ChandrasekharRadhika Chandrasekhar – Research Assistant
Radhika entered the program as an undergraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley. She was double majoring in Economics and Business Administration, and is passionate about Third World development. For the past year, she worked in rural Honduran communities with Global Water Brigades to create sustainable solutions to water access and water treatment problems. In addition, she helped conduct research experiments in villages in Karnataka, India, with the Centre for MicroFinance. Through her internship with MicroCapital, Radhika hopes to gain more exposure to the field of microfinance and economic development, in general. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing, singing, playing sports and spending time with friends and family.

Diya ChopraDiya Chopra – Research Associate
Diya entered the program as a recent graduate of McGill University, where she majored in Sociology and Religious Studies. During her undergraduate career, she was actively involved in initiatives supporting women in entrepreneurship. This involvement sparked her interest in microfinance, as she focused much of her attention towards low-income women. To complement her academic research on microfinance, Diya travelled extensively throughout Asia, including India, Thailand, China, Philippines and Malaysia to see firsthand the challenges facing low-income societies and to better understand microfinance as an approach to poverty alleviation. Diya is fluent in French and Hindi and is currently honing her Spanish skills. In her free time, she enjoys music, cycling, travel photography and cooking big meals for her family and friends.

Kenny KlineKenny Kline – Research Associate
Kenny entered the program while working as a quantitative credit analyst at Bank of America. He has a BS in Applied Physics and a MS in Finance from Washington University in St Louis. His interest in microfinance stems from his experience in emerging markets and observation of how credit availability can impact the quality of life in both developed and developing nations. Kenny is looking to work in international development, specifically in the field of microfinance and social entrepreneurship. In his spare time he enjoys improv comedy, jazz piano and learning Persian.

Chris MaggioChris Maggio – Research Assistant
Chris entered the program as a senior majoring in Economics and minoring in Gender and Sexuality Studies at New York University. He has a strong interest in economic development and plans to earn his MPA with a concentration in International Development after graduating. He currently works part time at the NYU Human Resources Department and holds an internship with the human rights blog “Wronging Rights”. Some of his other interests include contemporary popular music, international soccer, graphic novels and Japanese animation.

Hio Kyeng McGuirkHio Kyeng McGuirk – Research Assistant
Kyeng entered the program with five years of experience as a lawyer in the financial services industry. She spent that time litigating securities arbitrations on behalf of Merrill Lynch where she obtained exposure to a wide range of financial and investment products. She holds a JD/MBA from Fordham University and a BA in History and Women’s Studies from Wesleyan University. Kyeng has always been interested in international development, as demonstrated by her consulting projects with the UNDP as a law student. Having obtained experience in the private sector, Kyeng renews her interest in international development and, specifically, microfinance regulation.

Stefanie RubinStefanie Rubin – Research Assistant
Stefanie is a graduate of Emory University, where she majored in Economics and Chinese. She became interested in microfinance while volunteering in a rural town in Costa Rica during her sophomore year of college. After returning to college, she founded The MicroCredit Club, which is aimed at raising awareness about microfinance by involving students in the process of making microloans to poor entrepreneurs in developing countries. Through this internship with MicroCapital, she hopes to learn more about microfinance and other innovative solutions to alleviate poverty so that she can one day make a significant contribution to the field of international development. In her free time, Stefanie enjoys learning new languages, traveling, extreme sports – like skydiving and bungee jumping – and playing with her golden retriever, Jake.

Elizabeth SouthworthElizabeth Southworth – Research Associate
Elizabeth entered the program with over 14 years of experience in the financial services industry. She spent 10 years at Bear Stearns & Co. where she specialized in international capital markets. Most recently, she was a Product Manager and Market Specialist at Marco Polo Network in New York City, where she worked closely with the Bolsa Nacional Agropecuaria S.A. in Bogota, Colombia, assisting them with strategic business initiatives. She holds a B.A. in American History from Wheaton College. She firmly believes microfinance is essential to alleviating poverty. Elizabeth is also a certified yoga instructor who enjoys photography, surfing and travel.


MID-2009 INTERNS

Laura AndersonLaura Anderson – Research Associate
Laura entered the program with 12 years of experience working in investment management where she specialized in emerging market debt. Most recently she was an Assistant Portfolio Manager for Western Asset Management. Laura is a CFA and holds a master’s degree in International Management from Thunderbird and Bachelor of Commerce in International Business from McGill University. Her interest in microfinance stems from her experience in emerging markets and belief in the importance of extending access to financial services to poor people. In her spare time Laura is a professional mountain bike racer and small business owner and enjoys horseback riding, playing classical piano and cooking.

Jaclyn BerfondJaclyn Berfond – Research Assistant
Jaclyn entered the program while completing the International Organizations MBA program at the University of Geneva. She is looking to work in international economic development, specifically in the field of microfinance and social enterprise. Prior to coming to Geneva, Jaclyn was a Research Associate at the Council on Foreign Relations, a US-based foreign policy think tank, where she researched issues of political economy. Jaclyn has also spent some time in finance, working in client service at a private wealth management firm. Jaclyn holds a BA in International Relations and Economics from Boston University. Originally from New York, Jaclyn loves exploring new cities around the world. UPDATE: As of 2013, Jaclyn is serving as a senior associate at Women’s World Banking in New York City.

Sally LevySally Levy – Research Assistant
Sally had a successful accounting career in Australia before an extended stay in Africa lead her to pursue a new career in international development. She spent time in Ghana as a project accountant and began studying for a Masters of International Development at RMIT in Melbourne. Since gaining her degree in 2006, she has worked with various International NGOs. Her most recent role was as a Disaster Coordinator with the American Red Cross and prior to this worked as a Program Manager with Plan International Australia. She now wants to combine her financial skills and international NGO experience within the microfinance arena. Sally has lived in Asia, Africa and North America and has traveled extensively around the world. She also enjoys photography and reading.

Goda ThangadaGoda Thangada – Research Assistant
Goda entered the program as a junior majoring in Anthropology and Mathematics at Columbia University. She grew interested in economic development while volunteering for an education project for poor children in Hyderabad, India. She strongly believes that both education and microfinance lend a great deal of dignity and opportunities to poor people. Anticipating a career in academic research, she hopes to refine her research skills and her understanding of microfinance through her internship with MicroCapital. In her spare time, Goda enjoys learning languages and reading classic as well as more obscure world literature.


EARLY 2009 INTERNS

Andrea ChuAndrea Chu – Research Assistant
Andrea is currently a sophomore at Wellesley College. She is planning to major in psychology and economics and became interested in microfinance through her interest in finance and her experience of volunteering in Chimbote, Peru. She entered the internship program to learn more about the microfinance sector. Born and raised in Orange County, Andrea loves the beach, traveling and eating new foods.

Yanni HaoYanni Hao – Research Assistant
Yanni has been working as a consultant for Stax Inc., having previously worked at the National Opinion Research Center. To date, she has published in several top-tier academic journals, and holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Chicago. She sees her pro bono work with Prisma MicroFinance and MicroCapital as a unique and meaningful way to leverage her analytical skills in the fight against poverty. In her spare time, Yanni enjoys reading and traveling.

Ryan HogarthRyan Hogarth – Research Assistant
Ryan entered the program while studying Spanish with NGO Fairplay in Cusco, Peru. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and a minor in Anthropology from the University of Victoria in Canada. He also has a Professional Certificate in Global Affairs from New York University. In January 2008, Ryan undertook an internship with the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh where he conducted a research project on the management structure of the bank for his undergraduate thesis. He hopes to continue researching microfinance in graduate school and pursue a career in the field after graduation. In the (northern) summer months, Ryan manages a crew of twelve tree planters in northern British Columbia. He enjoys traveling, playing soccer for VicWest FC, skiing, hiking, fishing and trying to play the guitar. UPDATE: As of 2015, Ryan is serving as a research officer on the Green Growth Team at the Overseas Development Institute, a UK-based NGO.

Bharathi Ramasubramania – Research Assistant
Bharathi entered the internship program while studying Business and Finance at the University of Massachusetts. Prior to coming to Boston, she briefly worked in the IT industry in India and holds an undergraduate degree in engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS, Pilani) in India. She is interested in the concept of microfinance as a means to fighting poverty. Through this internship she hopes to increase her understanding of the microfinance industry and is also looking at a potential career in the field of development finance. She enjoys music, reading and occasionally likes to dabble in theatre.

Zoran StanisljevicZoran Stanisljevic – Research Associate
Zoran has over 9 years of combined experience in investment management, capital markets and investment banking. He has held positions at some of the largest investment institutions globally, from being a trader at State Street Global Advisors to Assistant Vice President at Wachovia Securities within the firm’s corporate investment banking division. Upon entering the program, he is a consultant. He learned of the microfinance industry while attending an Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business forum. Zoran has always had a strong personal interest in promoting poverty alleviation in developing countries through the use of microfinance in a sustainable business development and economic empowerment capacity. Zoran holds a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from Boston University and an MBA from Suffolk University. In his free time, Zoran is an avid tennis player, skier, mountain biker and outdoor enthusiast with an ambition to trek the regions of Mount Everest and Mount McKinley. UPDATE: As of 2013, Zoran is serving as the Executive Director of Cambridge Research Associates in the US city of Charlotte, North Carolina.


LATE 2008 INTERNS

Greg CaseyGreg Casey – Research Assistant
Greg entered the program while studying economics and mathematics at Hamilton College in New York. His interest in microfinance began during a summer course at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Since then, he founded the Hamilton College Microfinance Club, which aims to raise funds from the Hamilton community and lend that money to individuals and small businesses in the nearby city of Utica, New York. During this internship, Greg hopes to learn more about the business aspects of the microfinance industry.

Lori CurtisLori Curtis – Research Assistant
Lori is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh with an MSc Ecological Economics and of Saint Mary’s University with a BA in International Development Studies and Political Science. Lori has worked as an english teacher in South Korea and as a junior socioeconomic consultant at Jacques Whitford in Halifax, Canada. Lori currently lives in London, UK and entered the Prisma Intern program to gain experience in the microfinance sector. She has always been interested in working in development, specifically with sustainable development and economic empowerment. Lori has travelled through Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central America, North America and a little bit of Asia. She loves writing, camping and anything that means she’s close to the water.

Jeff ErfeJeffrey Erfe – Research Assistant
Jeffrey currently works as a Junior Surrey Fellow in the Office of Tax Analysis at the U.S. Treasury Department. He graduated with honors from Stanford in 2007 after studying economics and math. After writing a senior thesis on the effect of remittances on the consumption and saving patterns of migrant Indian households, he began to more seriously consider remittances and other financial instruments as sustainable sources of poverty alleviation. Eventually, Jeff hopes to work for an MFI in Southeast Asia. He enjoys reading, cycling, dj-ing and talking politics.

Scott EverettScott Everett – Research Assistant
Scott entered the program while serving as Business Systems Manager for Kaplan Financial. He is doing pro-bono web consulting for Chicago Microfinance and also works with Chicago Fair Trade and more recently, ACCION Chicago. His interest in microfinance began when he saw the transformative effects it had on international fair trade artisans who were selling goods locally. He holds a B.S. in Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh, and although he has been working in IT for most of his professional career, he plans to begin working full time in microfinance in 2009. Scott hopes that the work with Prisma will help him better understand where the industry is headed and how he can help promote poverty alleviation utilizing microfinance. In his free time, Scott is a semi-professional photographer, a DJ and an avid outdoors enthusiast.

Iyanna HolmesIyanna Holmes – Research Assistant
Iyanna entered the program while working as a Financial Analyst for a major financial institution where she is involved in a variety of debt and equity transactions. She received both her B.S. (2001) and M.B.A. (2003) from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. In 2002 she traveled with Semester at Sea while studying the economic, political, and social environments of the 10 countries she visited. In 2004 Iyanna traveled to Ghana where she saw first hand the impact that microfinance can have on people’s lives while volunteering with a Ghanaian NGO. With the experience from this internship, Iyanna hopes to turn her passion for eliminating poverty in developing countries into a career. She is an adventurous traveler, a novice salsa dancer and an aspiring entrepreneur.


MID-2008 INTERNS

Ryan Benson – Research Assistant
Ryan graduated from Tufts University with a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering. He entered the program as a masters degree candidate in Public Policy at Johns Hopkins University, with a focus on international development. After finishing graduate school, he plans to pursue a long and fulfilling career in microfinance. He enjoys sailing, running and playing Risk. UPDATE: In 2021, Ryan began as a senior consultant at Deloitte.

Jocelyn Cheng – Research Assistant
Jocelyn entered the program following her position as an Analyst at Goldman Sachs, where she spent two years working in investment banking in the New York and Buenos Aires offices. In her position at Goldman, she focused on the Natural Resources and Latin American spaces. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s joint-degree Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business. Her interest in microfinance started in undergraduate studies and was furthered through an internship with a grassroots MFI in Puno, Peru. She is fluent in Spanish and Cantonese Chinese.

Sarah KnappSarah Knapp – Research Assistant
Sarah entered the program while studying at Emory University in Atlanta, majoring in History and Latin American Studies. She became connected to microfinance through an interest in sustainable poverty alleviation. The experiences of living in an Argentinean soup kitchen and studying in a microfinance seminar have expanded this interest. Sarah is involved with Emory’s undergraduate microenterprise club and as a tutor for immigrants and refugees in English and financial literacy. She loves the Spanish language, skiing and the outdoors.

Diana YangDiana Yang – Research Assistant
Diana graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Business Administration. As a Global Trade Consultant at Deloitte she advises and provides solutions to clients for dealing with their international customs and trade issues. She is inspired by microfinance and considers it to be a sustainable solution that empowers those in poverty. Through her internship Diana hopes to increase her knowledge of the microfinance industry and determine how she can contribute to this growing movement. She enjoys cooking, staying active and traveling and is thrilled to be visiting Latin America in the fall of 2008.


EARLY 2008 INTERNS

Anthony Busch – Research Assistant
Anthony entered the program as a junior at the University of South Carolina pursuing a double major in International Business and Finance. During 2008 he studied at Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan, through the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship program. He previously spent a year in Syria studying Arabic at the University of Damascus and interning at the United States Embassy in Damascus. Through conversations with Rotarians in his sponsoring district, he began to realize the potential of microfinance in eliminating the cycle of poverty and sees it as a way to satisfy both his desire to serve the public good and his interest in the private sector. Anthony commands an advanced proficiency of Arabic, and his interests include traveling, photography, a love of Ohio State football and lots of tennis.

Melissa DuschaMelissa Duscha – Research Assistant
Melissa Duscha has a BA in Comparative Religion from the University of California at San Diego and a Japan-Focus MBA from the University of Hawai’i/Japan-America Institute of Management Science. Melissa has traveled extensively through Africa and previously lived in France and Japan. It is through her travels which included many encounters with micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries that she first became interested in sustainable development and especially microfinance. She speaks Japanese and French and is currently living in Shanghai studying Mandarin. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she loves beautiful weather and mantis boxing.

Stephen SonStephen Son – Research Assistant
During Stephen’s two years as an Advisory Services Associate with KPMG in San Francisco, he helped clients bring their internal audit functions in line with regulatory standards. Stephen graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with degrees in Business Administration and Political Science and hopes his background can be meaningfully put to use in the field of microfinance. Stephen is a native Southern Californian who loves sunny days, but he also enjoys the occasional trip to places like South America or Scandinavia.

Jennifer LeeJennifer Lee – Research Associate
Jennifer entered the program following her position as an Associate at Lehman Brothers, where she spent three years working in capital markets as Lehman’s US Treasury and Treasury Futures strategist. She is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with dual degrees in Chemistry and Management Science. Her goal is to increase her knowledge of the microfinance industry and pursue a new career with a focus on social responsibility. She is greatly inspired and attracted to microfinance as an innovative, sustainable solution to the challenge of poverty. Jennifer also enjoys traveling and dancing and is proficient in Spanish.

Mary FuMary Fu – Research Associate
Mary entered the program as a field interviewer for the RAND Corporation. She is a UCLA graduate with dual degrees in International Development Studies and Psychology. She had always been interested in poverty reduction through empowerment and sustainable development. By interning at Prisma, Mary hoped to acquire a deeper understanding of the role of microfinance in lifting and keeping people out of chronic poverty. She was born in China and has traveled throughout much of Latin America, including Chile, Peru, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. She is fluent in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. Mary plans to pursue graduate studies in policy analysis in the near future. She enjoys surfing and dancing tango.

Steven CraigSteven Craig – Project Manager
Steven is a project manager at Digital Insight, an Intuit company. Steven manages technical implementation projects for US-based banks and credit unions. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California at Davis while working as a Senior Loan Officer in Digital Insight’s consumer loan contact center. His interest in microfinance started in undergraduate studies and has grown with subsequent research of the field. In the future, Steven would like to pursue an MBA and focus his career on entrepreneurship and global business.


LATE 2007 INTERNS

Amy Rennison – Research Associate
Amy is currently a consultant and research analyst for NGOs and ethical investment firms. She has 13 years experience in the financial services sector in marketing and communications, including board level experience. She completed her MA in Imperialism and Post-Colonial Societies at London University in 2007 (having her completed her BA at Oxford University in 1993) focusing on Africa and has managed to fit in stints working on projects in Zimbabwe and Madagascar throughout her career. She is British, but currently lives in Zurich, Switzerland. Her aim is to combine her practical development and academic skills with knowledge of microfinance and ethical investment in the world of mainstream financial services.

Steven CraigSteven Craig – Research Assistant
Steven is a project manager at Digital Insight, an Intuit company. Steven manages technical implementation projects for US-based banks and credit unions. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California at Davis while working as a Senior Loan Officer in Digital Insight’s consumer loan contact center. His interest in microfinance started in undergraduate studies and has grown with subsequent research of the field. In the future, Steven would like to pursue an MBA and focus his career on entrepreneurship and global business.

Elizabeth NelsonElizabeth Nelson – Research Assistant
Elizabeth began her internship as a rising junior at Dartmouth College working toward a double major in Government and Philosophy. Her academic focus has been primarily within the intersection of foreign policy and political philosophy, but her recent research as a Presidential Scholar in the Government department at Dartmouth has sparked her interest in the relationship between the public and private sector in potentially providing solutions to global problems. Through her internship at Prisma, Nelson hoped to gain a fuller understanding of the history, mechanics and major issues in micro-investment, with a particular eye towards clarifying her views on the nature and degree of the government’s involvement in MFIs. After college, she plans to pursue a career in international development, but is unsure whether her work will lead her to governmental, NGO or private organizations. On campus, Nelson is an active member of the Navigators Christian Fellowship, and she volunteers as a mentor for local high school students.


MID-2007 INTERNS

Michael WarmingtonMichael Warmington – Research Associate
Mike graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK with a BA in economics and with a master’s degree in international development from the University of Bath. Since then he has worked for an NGO based in the UK running international exchanges and is now eager to start a career in the microfinance industry. In addition to some current research he is also working on for the MicroLoan Foundation, an MFI based in London, in his spare time Mike enjoys playing squash, reading and live music. UPDATE: As of 2014, Mike serves as the microfinance partnerships manager at One Acre Fund, which supports 180,000 African farmers with services such as microcredit and market linkages.

Nicole BrownNicole Brown – Research Associate
Nicole Brown graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Economics. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Policy at the University of Chicago with a focus on poverty/inequality and health policy. Her interest is in microfinance and this stems from her involvement in several community based organizations. She is exploring job opportunities in international development. She is proficient in Spanish.

Chryssa RaskChryssa Rask – Research Assistant
Chryssa is a rising senior at Tufts University in Medford, MA. She is a double major in international relations and economics, from which her interest in microfinance has grown. Adding to her interests in development economics and social entrepreneurship was the summer and semester she spent abroad in China, studying Mandarin Chinese, history, and culture. In the future she hopes to combine her knowledge of China with her knowledge of microfinance to start her career. In her free time she is an active member of the Tufts Varsity Sailing Team, and enjoys spending time outside and on the water.

Jonathan RollinsJonathan Rollins – Blog Master Apprentice
Jonathan entered the program as a junior at Bowdoin College double majoring in Economics and Mathematics. His passion for international development comes from his experiences with Bridges to Community, an organization that concentrates on community development in Nicaragua. Jonathan spent a semester in Madrid, Spain where he studied international finance and the Spanish language. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, singing and playing monopoly.

Quentin Ruiz-EsparzaQuentin Ruiz-Esparza – Research Associate
Entering the internship program as a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Quentin was an economics-Spanish double major. Microfinance, a relatively new subfield in his economics studies, has piqued Quentin’s interest because of its role within Latin America and potential to economics. Quentin’s primary motivation for studying economics is to understand policies’ effects on societies, and how economics might assist the poor. Quentin is also active within his school’s student government and on-campus Christian ministry Reformed University Fellowship.

Monica SharmaMonica Sharma – Research Assistant
Monica entered the program as a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is working toward a major in both economics and international studies, as well as studying Spanish and Hindi. Monica is interested in a career dealing with international or regional/local development, and she will soon be starting research under her Econ professor regarding the progress of credit unions in select Latin American countries. She was originally planning on being an art major before recently switching over to this field. Coming from the suburbs of Chicago, Monica is in love with the city, and is an unwavering Sox fan.

Shane XuShane Xu – Blog Master Associate
Shane Xu entered his internship as a senior at the
University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, majoring
in mathematics and business administration. He is
excited about the potential of accelerating microfinance
education and participation through the web, and he is
planning to apply for a Kiva fellowship.

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