Making Cents International is a woman-owned small business and social enterprise that fosters human potential and advances economic opportunity. Making Cents provides services to USAID, private-sector companies, foundations, and other international donors in youth development; agriculture, food security, and nutrition; entrepreneurship and enterprise development; workforce development; financial inclusion; and monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning. My role as Making Cents' President and Co-Owner is to provide the overall vision, technical direction, leadership, and management of the company and to oversee its Technical Services, Operations, Finance, and Business Development divisions. This includes leading the development of company-wide, long-term strategic and annual operational plans and budgets; supervising an average of 15 concurrent prime contracts and subcontracts funded by various public and private clients; coordinating with clients and partners on all technical, financial, and administrative matters; and advancing company’s goals by cultivating relationships with new clients and partners and by representing Making Cents at global industry events. I also advise our financial inclusion portfolio and guide Making Cents’ Youth Economic Opportunities (YEO) Network, providing thought leadership for the annual Global Youth Economic Opportunity Summit, periodic in-person and virtual learning events, and related publications.

Served as the Chief of Party for the three-year Expanded and Sustained Access to Financial Services (ESAF) program in the West Bank and Gaza, an USAID-funded $36 million USD financial sector development program that works at all levels of the financial system.

Provided technical assistance to AED-led and partner managed programs implemented as part of the FIELD-Support Leader with Associates award. Supervised learning and knowledge management activities and developed pilot and associate award programs with FIELD-Support team on topics ranging from value-chain driven apprenticeship programs for youth to the use of mobile phones for financial service provision. Served as the HQ Project Manager for the USAID-funded microenterprise development-focused $100 million Agriculture, Rural Investment and Enterprise Strengthening (ARIES) project in Afghanistan and the $7 million Small and Micro Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) program in the West Bank and Gaza. Supervised Chiefs of Party and provided technical and administrative direction to the project teams. Acted as HQ liaison for all technical, contractual, and financial project activities. Developed budgets, managed procurement activities, including contracting and subcontracting, and ensured quality implementation.