Two Paths: Describe two different and distinct paths you could see your career taking long-term. How do you see your two paths unfolding? How do your paths tie to the mission of NYU Stern? What factors will most determine which path you will take?

My career vision is to empower lower and middle-income populations in Costa Rica, and eventually, Latin America by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital. My passion for microfinance stems from the belief that investing in one individual creates a ripple effect, extending value creation throughout the community. The path I pursue will leverage my intellectual strengths and fulfill the philanthropic vision of microfinance, while creating value for my employer. With this in mind, following my initial few years at the IFC, there are two alternatives I can pursue.

First, I can switch to a career at a microfinance organization such as Accion International. Through my involvement with Foundation for Women, I partnered with Accion to identify viable business plans and provide loans to low-income entrepreneurs in San Diego, successfully setting up seven small businesses. As such, I am intimately familiar with Accion’s structure and operations. At Accion, I would take the lead in establishing a permanent microfinance infrastructure in Costa Rica, a country where they currently do not have a presence.

Alternatively, I could stay with the IFC, progressing to the role of Director of Latin America. In this position, my long-term career objectives will be met, as I will be working to attract and retain investments for microfinance operations in the region, and will have the networking framework to achieve extensive results in terms of the expanse, reach and return on investment in Latin American microfinance operations.

Either path will help achieve my objectives, and mirror Stern’s mission of discovering solutions that create value for business and society, as I will be working in a high-potential yet overlooked region, spurring economic development and creating lasting opportunities for its impoverished communities.

Further, Stern’s emphasis on nurturing leaders is also consistent with my goals. I believe microfinance effectively conducted means investing in the current generation’s entrepreneurial spirit, and providing them with financial resources and mentoring and practical educational tools. In this way, microfinance has the potential to breed leaders who can employ, influence and inspire coming generations within their communities to forge a path towards economic prosperity. The distinctive nature of microfinance requires change through collaboration, and emotional as well as intellectual leadership, which is one of the pillars of Sterns mission. My experience developing [ABC Healthcare]’s business operations in an emerging market and working in microfinance has revealed the importance of leading with emotional intelligence when inspiring future leaders and challenging the status quo, a central component in my career objectives.

Ultimately, I will pursue the path where I can most extensively impact the health of a society’s economy by creating sustainable change, while maintaining a healthy level of intellectual stimulation from the work itself and my network of peers and mentors. In addition, the independence to take intelligent risks, and act swiftly in times of uncertainty and change are two elements of professional autonomy that will influence the path I choose, as they impact the materialization of my long-term goals. Above all, my ideal long-term career will have the perfect balance of intellectual growth and humanitarian focus, thereby enabling me to most effectively serve the Latin American community.