Jennifer is the shareholder relations deputy manager and started working at the Fund in 2012.
1- How did you get into inclusive finance?
I really got into inclusive finance by chance. To be honest, it was not an area I knew about at all! The company I had been working for went bankrupt and my agency proposed me a job at the NGO ADA. That is when I first heard about microfinance / inclusive finance and I immediately taught myself more. I must say, I really liked the idea of contributing to poverty reduction and having a job with a real meaning and a clear impact.
So I decided to take the job and after 12 years in the sector I am still convinced it was the right decision.
2- What are your responsibilities at LMDF?
We are a small team of 6. This means that all of us wear a few different hats. My responsibilities are quite varied. I am in charge of shareholder relations (retail), of the communication and marketing of the Fund, and of administration.
Having different responsibilities is something I quite like, because this means that there is not a typical day and very importantly, it is never boring. Every day is different and I am able to work with all the team members and learn even more about the sector and how their departments work.
Personally, I have no financial background at all. I must say that initially, I was a bit scared of working in finance (when I was younger I actually wanted to be an air stewardess), but having a small team has given me the chance to pick up a lot of knowledge. I am certainly not an expert in finance now, but I have come a long way. Over the years, I learnt quite a lot and I am still learning more on a day-to-day basis.
What excites you the most about your job?
There are a few things I really like about my job.
The first thing is the ultimate goal of what we do. Being able to contribute to poverty alleviation in some of the poorest countries of the world is something that has become important to me. My job does have a positive impact on others’ lives and this is great.
Something else I like is our team, and how we work together. We tend to help each other out wherever we can and we communicate very easily (in fact I am always helping my teammates with their Luxembourgish!). We also have a very stable team which makes it feel like a second family, and this is very important to me: to feel good around the people I spend 8 hours a day with.
Also, LMDF allowed me to grow. When I started, nearly 10 years ago, I was an administrative and communication assistant. I was given the opportunity to train myself, to learn new tools like publishing and creative apps, …
What about the future?
That is a good question! If you come back in 5 years, you would probably still find me at LMDF. I plan to continue to learn more about the sector, to develop myself and see how far the Fund can go with its mission.
