Meet the Team

• Ale Cors
  Developed Payments for Ecosystem Services for communities in the tropical rainforest. Led operations team at YAXI, a P2P transportation marketplace. Loves the ocean, scuba diving, and her family.

Ale Cors   |   Operations Coordinator

Mexico City, Mexico          LinkedIn

• Arianna Miller
  Master of Public Administration; special interest in international development. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, but a very mobile individual! Enjoys French, reading, brunching, and wine tastings.

Arianna Miller   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Washington, DC, United States          LinkedIn

• Erin
  Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Chemistry. Social-entrepreneur fellow recipient and Chief Development Officer for "Smart Women's Securities". Passionate about art and running. Hopes to attend medical school in the future.

Erin   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Malverne, New York, United States

• Abdel
  Master's degree in Political Economy & International Relations. Participated as a Global Citizen fellow in Malaysia. Passionate about international development. Enjoys travelling and sports.

Abdel   |   Indonesia+Anglophone Country Liaison

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Lauren Finkenthal
  Undergraduate student at Georgetown University studying Africa, French, and Women's & Gender Studies. Passionate about social justice on a global scale. Enjoys cooking, singing, and debating competitively.

Lauren Finkenthal   |   Anglophone+Francophone C.L. & Team Lead, Senegal Pmt. Team

Washington, DC, United States          LinkedIn

• Leah
  Student at the University of Virginia, working towards a degree in Public Policy. Interests include vegan advocacy and sustainability.

Leah   |   Anglophone+Francophone Country Liaison

Reston, Virginia, United States

• Emily Silber
  Born in Connecticut. Bachelor's Degree in International Business, University of Connecticut. Master's Degree in Accountancy, GWU in D.C. Passionate about international relations/finance, travel, music, the beach, photography, and her pets.

Emily Silber   |   Accountant

Arlington, Virginia, United States          LinkedIn

• Siddharth
  Economics/Law student at UNSW-Sydney. Passionate about development economics and entrepreneurship. Cricket nerd who loves traveling, art and photography.

Siddharth   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Sydney, Australia

• Ting
  Bachelor's Degree in International Management, 2016. Currently learning French. Planning to go to graduate school to study Business.

Ting   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Virginia, United States

• Lauren
  Graduate of Elon University with a degree in International Studies and soon to be law student at Case Western Reserve University. Passionate about international development and women's empowerment. Loves hiking, history museums, and horseback riding.

Lauren   |   Anglophone+Francophone C.L. & Tm.Ld., Burkina-Faso Pmt. Team

Texas, United States

• Bethany
  Master's Degree in International Studies and Diplomacy from The School of Oriental and African Studies, London. Currently based in Western Kenya. Specialisms in African Politics and Political Social Media. Enjoys cycling and travelling.

Bethany   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Western Kenya & London, England, United Kingdom

• Wolfgang
  Retired from senior positions in I.T., and since retiring, has mentored companies in Germany and Canada. Helped some of Zidisha's country teams, which added a new and inspiring challenge. Enjoys swimming, diving, and traveling.

Wolfgang   |   Anglophone+Francophone Country Liaison

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

• Reema
  Raised in India, Reema moved to the U.S. recently. Keenly interested in meaningful & impactful contributions and understanding the myriad roles of finance in society. Relishes traveling, reading, and meeting new people.

Reema   |   Anglophone Country Liaison & Team Lead, Kenya Payment Team

California, United States

• Christie Young
  Graduate in International Affairs, based in Boston and working for a community solar company. Found Zidisha when writing a paper on micro-finance.

Christie Young   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Boston, Massachusetts, United States          LinkedIn

• Camille Smith
  Studying Finance and Spanish at Truman State University; studied abroad in Spain and Costa Rica. Interested in international development and microfinance; passionate about financial empowerment for women. Loves running, cooking, and reading.

Camille Smith   |   Anglophone Country Liaison & Team Lead, Anglo Liaison Teams

Kansas City, Missouri, United States          LinkedIn

• Shohini
  Studying Economics and Political Science at U.C., Berkeley, with an interest in microfinance and development​al​ economics.

Shohini   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Berkeley, California, United States

• Raquel
  B.A. in Business Administration; attended the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management certificate program in Microfinance. Has traveled to over 13 countries and has lived in India and Taiwan; recently got married in Italy.

Raquel   |   Accountant

California, United States

• Zack Burt
  Businessperson and technologist who embraces practical solutions for providing community.​ Loves art and learning new things.

Zack Burt   |   Country Expansion Lead

New York, New York, United States          LinkedIn

• Claudia
  Master's Degree in Physics & PhD in Engineering; works as a researcher in Italy, with short secondments in the UK & USA. Volunteer teacher of Italian; manages website of another non-profit organization; loves traveling, reading, and movies.

Claudia   |   Anglophone Country Liaison & Team Lead, Ghana Pmt. Team

Milan, Italy

• Joseph
  Master of Economics from the University of Queensland. Has a keen interest in development economics. Enjoys football, travel, and hiking.

Joseph   |   Anglophone+Francophone C.L. & Team Lead, Ghana Payment Team

Brisbane, Australia

• Grace
  Studying Economic Development and Finance at Messiah College. Passionate about poverty alleviation and expanding financial literacy. Loves to travel. Has lived in Panama, the Gambia, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and the United States.

Grace   |   Anglophone+Francophone C.L. & Team Lead, BurkinaFaso Pmt.Tm.

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, United States

• Emily
  Born and raised in Texas, but spent time in Taiwan and in Idaho, and pursuing a bachelor's degree in Non-Profit Management & History while at Zidisha. Passionate about supporting and empowering children & families. Loves hiking, skiing, and reading.

Emily   |   Anglophone+Francophone Country Liaison

Taipei, Taiwan &, United States

• Aleena
  A (mad) cognitive scientist turned designer, discovering how to empower creative human success. Revels in strategically welding minds and ideas for a more sustainable and equitable society. Reads voraciously and dances ballet.

Aleena   |   Team Lead, Media Outreach

Cupertino, California, United States

• Jwalin
  Currently attending E.V.H.S. Hopes to major in Economics in the future. Nationally ranked debater. Loves yoga, basketball, and music.

Jwalin   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

San Jose, California, United States

• Cameron
  Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and International Affairs at James Madison University. Grew up in various European countries. Interested in development economics, travel, and history.

Cameron   |   Anglophone+Francophone Country Liaison

Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States

• Pooja
  Studying Business Administration and Economics at UC Berkeley. Passionate about microfinance and helping internationally-focused nonprofit organizations.

Pooja   |   Accountant & Indonesia Liaison

Berkeley, California, United States

• Abdou
  Young finance professional from Senegal. Moved to Toronto in 2010. Spent most of youth travelling and saw firsthand the disparity of opportunities across the first and third worlds.

Abdou   |   Francophone Country Liaison

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Lee
  Born and raised in Singapore. Interested in education & economic development. M.S. in Applied Economics Candidate at Johns Hopkins University.

Lee   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Singapore &, United States

• Mary
  A rising senior at George Mason University, majoring in Global Affairs with a concentration in Human Security. Became interested in Zidisha after taking an Environmental Policymaking class focused on developing countries.

Mary   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Virginia, United States

• Linda
  Master's Degree in Global Studies & International Relations, with a concentration in Latin-American Development. Lived and worked in Guatemala for a year. Enjoys traveling, painting, and running.

Linda   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Massachusetts, United States

• Christina Sobota Kovacs
  Master’s degree in Refugee & Forced Migration Studies from Oxford. Background in human rights, particularly the rights of displaced persons. Interested in the language of rights, development and progress.

Christina Sobota Kovacs   |   Accountant

New York, New York, United States          LinkedIn

• Rebecca Wolfe
  Born and raised on America's West Coast. Studied sociology and social history. Passionate about amplifying the voices of the unheard. Loves running, reading, writing, and cooking.

Rebecca Wolfe   |   Entrepreneurs' Story Writer

Folsom, California, United States

• Ada
  Bachelor's Degree in Finance. Currently working as a finance executive in the automotive industry. Wants to pursue a career as a digital nomad. Has a heart for the marginalised. Enjoys travel and meeting people.

Ada   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• Hongji
  Born in China, now studying in the U.K. for a Master’s Degree in Development Finance. Tried to start a P2P program in China. Enjoys movies, reading, and chess.

Hongji   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Manchester, England, United Kingdom

• Amanda
  Master's in Business Administration. Worked for a microfinance network providing technical assistance and fundraising support to microfinance providers. Loves reading, the outdoors, and spending time with family.

Amanda   |   Accountant

Berlin, Germany

• Liliane Cheung
  Master's degree in Finance, working in banking with a passion for social entrepreneurship and microfinance. Participated in the social entrepreneurship train journey Jagriti Yatra in India. Enjoys travelling, cooking, wine & cheese.

Liliane Cheung   |   Francophone Country Liaison

Paris, France          LinkedIn

• Ammar
  Engineering student interested in writing, coding, and cinematography. Joined Zidisha as soon as he heard about it, to play a small role in changing others' lives. Loves to write, code, and create videos.

Ammar   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Karachi, Pakistan

• Tony Liao
  Born in Beijing, now working in corporate strategy for Canadian financial institution. Passionate about financial empowerment in developing nations and all things microfinance. Always looking for ways to contribute in international development.

Tony Liao   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Toronto, Ontario, Canada          LinkedIn

• Aditya Jayanthi
  From outside Washington D.C., currently working as a strategy consultant in Germany. Interested in meaningful contribution towards fostering international development. Bachelor's Degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Aditya Jayanthi   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Frankfurt, Germany &, United States          LinkedIn

• Emily
  Presently pursuing a law degree. Previously worked in non-profit management and health research & policy. Passionate about traveling, music, and photography.

Emily   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

• Abhisek
  From California; studying Business Administration and English at the University of California, Berkeley. Interested in poker, basketball, and spending time with friends.

Abhisek   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Berkeley, California, United States

• Will
  Student majoring in Business Administration; plans on pursuing a career in the non-profit world. Loves people, and aims to bring hope and joy to others' lives.

Will   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Williamsburg, Virginia, United States

• Martha
  Web Designer / Graphic Designer for non-profit organizations. Interested in microfinance and international development. Enjoys gardening, traveling, biking, and spending time with family.

Martha   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Washington, D.C., United States

• Namu Hichilo
  (Namu is a non-borrower in a Zidisha borrower country, allowed on Staff by special exception from the Director.) He has a software engineering background and is passionate about technology, history, and Africa.

Namu Hichilo   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Lusaka, Zambia          LinkedIn

• Fanny
  Born in Lyon, France. Vegetarian feminist, trying to fight against prejudice and inequalities in everyday life. Loves to travel. Bachelor's Degree in International Economics. Intending to study for a Master's Degree in Development Economics.

Fanny   |   Francophone Country Liaison

Brussels, Belgium

• Alex
  Funds-Management Accounting graduate, with a passion for economic development. Enjoys travelling, running, and an awesome podcast or two.

Alex   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Sydney, Australia

• Sonia Henriquez
  Graduate of American University with majors in Business Administration and International Relations. Over 10 years’ experience restructuring commercial loans and mitigating risk. Passionate about helping others, reading, traveling, and music.

Sonia Henriquez   |   Accountant

Ashburn, Virginia, United States          LinkedIn

• Rukmini Sarkar
  Originally from India, grew up in Jakarta and Dubai, and studied in the U.S. Currently a management consultant, working in the Middle East. Passionate about micro-finance and the empowerment of women.

Rukmini Sarkar   |   Indonesia Liaison

United Arab Emirates &, United States          LinkedIn

• Shikha
  Student at UC Berkeley, studying Business Administration and Economics. Passionate about dancing, loves music, and enjoys socializing.

Shikha   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Berkeley, California, United States

• Sharon
  Lawyer, writer, and researcher based in Australia. Majority of various work undertaken revolves around human rights, social justice, and non-profits. Loves reading, surfing, and enjoying life's little moments.

Sharon   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Sydney, Australia

• Elseline
  From the Netherlands, and based in the U.S., Elseline has a background in International Development and Social Work. She believes in supporting economic empowerment initiatives. Elseline speaks French and Spanish, and loves travel and the outdoors.

Elseline   |   Anglophone Country Liaison & Team Lead, Mexico Pmt. Team

Washington, D.C., United States

• Jasmine
  Graduate of The College of New Jersey in Music and Interactive Multimedia Studies. Passionate about making a difference in the world. Enjoys film soundtracks, loves animals, and also interested in raising awareness for disability rights.

Jasmine   |   T. L., Media Outreach

Bridgewater, New Jersey, United States

• Charlene Higgins
  Graduate student completing Master's in Community Development Policy & Practice. Program Manager for an initiative that supports refugees and immigrants to develop sustainable agriculture businesses. Passionate about building equitable communities.

Charlene Higgins   |   Team Lead, Mexico Payment Team

Concord, New Hampshire, United States          LinkedIn

• Jan Tovarys
  First-year management student at Bath University. Passionate about making a difference in the world. Enjoys playing drums, running, football and watching Woody Allen movies.

Jan Tovarys   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Prague, CZ & Bath, United Kingdom          LinkedIn

• Francesca Centurione
  Born and raised in Italy and living in New Jersey. Master's Degree in Economics; European Master's in Social Innovation and Social Business. Interested in Financial Inclusion and the non-profit sector. Loves reading and travelling.

Francesca Centurione   |   Indonesia+Anglophone C.L. & Team Lead for 2 Indo C.L. Teams

Nutley, New Jersey, United States          LinkedIn

• James Liao
  I'm a California Bay Area electrical engineer turned startup business person. Looking forward to working with this great team and learning more about global microfinance, but most of all hearing all the stories through Zidisha!

James Liao   |   Indonesia+Anglophone Country Liaison

San Francisco, California, United States          LinkedIn

• Krishna
  Commerce and Law Student at UNSW-Sydney. Passionate about hip-hop music and basketball. Just trying to do his bit in making the world a better place.

Krishna   |   Anglophone Country Liaison

Sydney, Australia

• John Fay
  Social entrepreneur focused on clean energy solutions for low-income communities. Holds a PhD from University of Cape Town, an MBA from Cornell Johnson School and B.A. from Duke University. Enjoys sports, particularly ice hockey and lacrosse.

John Fay   |   Trustee

Lusaka, Zambia         LinkedIn

• Ronald Cheng
  Software engineer at Dropbox, previously worked at Facebook and Samasource, a social enterprise that connects people living in poverty with life-changing work opportunities via the Internet. Graduate of Computer Science at Columbia University.

Ronald Cheng   |   Trustee

California         LinkedIn

• Whitney Holmes
  Partner with Dorsey & Whitney specializing in securities law. Helped pioneer legalization of P2P lending in the US as legal counsel to Prosper.com. Formerly Chair of the Securities Law Subsection of the Colorado Bar Association's Business Law Counsel.

Whitney Holmes   |   Legal Adviser

Denver, Colorado         LinkedIn

• Yun-Fang Juan
  Entrepreneur, data scientist and software engineer, expertise in social networks, machine learning, social impact and crowdfunding. Creator of Facebook Ads, now CEO of Fundastic, a company devoted to bringing transparency to small business lending.

Yun-Fang Juan   |   Adviser

Cupertino, California         LinkedIn

• Paul Graham
  Cofounder of Y Combinator and Viaweb (today Yahoo! Store), essayist and author of On Lisp, ANSI Common Lisp, and Hackers and Painters. Invented the algorithm that inspired today's email spam filters. PhD in Computer Science from Harvard.

Paul Graham   |   Adviser

Mountain View, California         LinkedIn

• Kevin Hale
  Partner at Y Combinator and advises their companies on user experience and design. Cofounded Wufoo, one of the earliest Y Combinator companies ranked by Jakob Nielson as one of the best application UIs of 2008 and later acquired by SurveyMonkey in 2011.

Kevin Hale   |   Adviser

Mountain View, California         LinkedIn

• Eric Wu
  Cofounder and CEO of Opendoor.com, an online real estate technology company. Previously, Eric founded Movity.com, which was acquired by Trulia.com in 2011 and is an advisor and investor to nonprofits and startups throughout San Francisco.

Eric Wu   |   Adviser

San Francisco, California         LinkedIn

• Haroon Mokhtarzada
  Cofounder of Webs.com, now VP of Digital Innovation at Vistaprint. Angel investor with a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. Serves on American Express Open’s Digital Advisory Board and UN Foundation Global Entrepreneurs Council.

Haroon Mokhtarzada   |   Adviser

Washington, D.C.         LinkedIn

• Paul Duan
  Cofounder & Chief Scientist at Bayes Impact. Formerly Lead Data Scientist at Eventbrite and cofounder of Obelisk Technologies. He has been featured in the WSJ, Kaggle and Healthcare Data Consortium.

Paul Duan   |   Adviser

San Francisco, California         LinkedIn