Tell us about your current role(s): I work as Manager, Insights and Impact at the United Nations Foundation’s Digital Impact Alliance. My job mainly entails conducting and managing research on how proven technologies such as messaging applications, and various open source software can best be utilized for social good. I started working at the UN Foundation two weeks after graduation as a Fellow. I learned about this fellowship opportunity through GHD’s job postings. In the past year and half, my role evolved to take on more responsibilities as a Manager.
How did your experience at GHD prepare you for this work? My current job felt like a natural transition from my academic coursework. I have always had an interest for tech for development or ICT4D. During my graduate program, I had the opportunity to do my summer internship and my capstone project in a related field. The former was about using mobile technology to provide psycho-social support to patients in rural Malawi, while the latter was about working with global non-profit Save the Children to conduct an assessment of a technological solution to deployment delays during emergency relief.
The opportunity to develop and follow my career interests, and the multiple qualitative and quantitative skills I received equipped me to effectively conduct my job and follow a career in what I am passionate about. In addition, the excellent career advice and mentorship helped me secure a job upon graduation. In fact, I first learned about my current job through my GHD professor and academic adviser.
What was your most memorable moment while a GHD student? I would say the retreat! The GHD program attracts people who care about making a positive impact in the world and communities around them. Being able to hear the story of each one of my peers and learning why they decided to follow a career in development was definitely my most memorable moment.
What advice would you give to current or future GHD students? For future GHD students – there’s no better place to study international development! For current students – make sure you take advantage of seminars, talks, and extracurricular activities going on around you. GHD is part of a wider Georgetown community and is located in Washington, DC!