Introducing myself and my journal: Words to Spark Change

About Me:
I currently serve as the Director of Partnerships & Business Development at Prosperity Candle, an innovative social enterprise that implements a market-based solution to poverty alleviation through empowering women entrepreneurs to build sustainable candle-making businesses in some of the most distressed regions globally, including Iraq and Haiti and with refugees in the US.

I have developed a unique blend of strategic partnership building, non-profit fundraising, and business acumen, having worked on global/gender equity programs and corporate partnership development for the United Nations Association of Greater Boston (UNA-GB) and the Girl Scouts in Washington DC. I graduated from Ithaca College, where I received a B.A. in Journalism, and recently completed a Certificate in Professional Fundraising at Boston University. I am led by a deep belief that when you invest in a woman, change happens, and has seen the direct impact of women-led social entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. In particular, my time spent in Kenya and South Africa drives my belief in social enterprise and shared prosperity all along the supply chain.

I currently serves on Boston’s International Women’s Day Steering Committee and the Boston Acumen Fund chapter, is a co-leader of the youth group at my church, and loves spending my free time hiking, boxing and horse-back riding across the globe.

My Passions:
gender equality, market-based approaches to development, girl's education, dance, helping others find THEIR passion

My Challenges:
how to create a financially viable for-profit social enterprise that is building businesses for women in challenged regions globally

My Vision for the Future:
a place when women and men respect each other and work together to create transformational change that benefits the common good

My Areas of Expertise:
strategic partnership building, networking, fundraising, communication skills, women's economic empowerment, women's orgs, CSR