I started developing a keen interest in economics and theories of distribution, inclusive growth and social justice in high school. My choice to pursue a Joint Honours degree in Economics and Anthropology from McGill University came naturally to me as both my parents were professors at McGill and my three siblings studied there. Indeed, our house felt a bit like a McGill residence with my parents serving as dorm parents to all of us, including some of my brother’s best friends (also McGill students from out of town) who stayed with us. At one point there were eight students living in the house (including girlfriends and boyfriends). It was a memorable time!
The Joint Honours program was attractive to me because it was small and its esteemed professors were very accessible. I was privileged to be guided and mentored by Prof. Athanasios "Tom" Asimakopulos and Prof. Richard “Dick” Frank Salisbury. Their ways of teaching economics and anthropology laid the foundation for a lifelong career in global development, public policy and business strategies.
During my studies, I took a year off to reflect. I travelled to Africa and spent a year learning about economic development challenges and African cultures, and I pursued internships that gave me real-world experience and a sense of purpose. This was very formative and helped solidify my decision to pursue a career in international development.
After graduating, I started working for the Centre d’étude et de coopération internationale (CECI, headquartered in Montreal). I was stationed in Nepal for six years, first as a volunteer and later as country manager. I was responsible for initiating the organization’s activities in several Asian countries, and for raising funds and growing their programs. We worked on local development projects in water supply, microfinance, and social services. It was a fantastic experience that taught me a lot about entrepreneurship and management and was very meaningful at a human level.
I went on to pursue a Master’s degree in Business Administration at INSEAD. From there I worked for McKinsey & Company as a strategy and management consultant, before joining the World Bank where I held various executive roles related to social development, infrastructure, and macroeconomic policy, in South Asia and Africa.
Since 2016, I have been based in Nairobi, leading GE’s Government Affairs and Policy function first in Africa and then globally (outside the US), engaging governments and international organizations on public policy, growth strategies and specific transactions of the GE energy, healthcare, and aviation businesses.
There is solid continuity between my formative years and where I am today: my McGill education, practical experiences and internships were critical catalysts for my career. For students considering a similar path in international development, I highly recommend pursuing experiential learning opportunities where you can translate theories into practice and ground yourself before processing complex ideas in an academic context.