20 alumni
Ana Irys De Menezes Silva GOV 2013-14 | Brazil
Where do you work ? I am an economist focused on the challenges of climate change to well-being , and an entrepreneur excited about digital services for financial inclusion . I am a Co- Founder of CloQ and currently a Chevening Awardee at the University of East Anglia , UK . CloQ is a fintech startup with the mission of simplifying financial inclusion to the low-income population of developing countries and reducing financial vulnerability . Our objective is to provide efficient , cheaper and easily accessible formal credit for the low-income population , including the unbanked , based on concepts of microcredit . We are creating a mobile-only application which is especially designed to be easily accessible and will allow consumers to request and receive loans within minutes at any time .
How did IOB experience affect your life / career ? IOB positively influenced my career path and life on many fronts . Firstly , it enabled me to access first-class research on development issues , which gave me the strong academic foundation necessary to venture financial solutions for development . Secondly , I benefited from the exchange of ideas with inspiring professors and colleagues , which sharpened my critical view and career aspirations . Finally , my period at IOB was a life-changing opportunity to be exposed to many cultures and backgrounds ; and to learn from and be friends with talented professionals from all over the world .
If you were the director of a research fund , what is a research question that you would agree to finance ? Economic vulnerability is an issue that is very close to my heart and to which , I believe , more efforts should be directed . Vulnerability , as an aggregate of exposure , hazard and intensity , inhibits talents and damages the economic prospects of poor families . Many are the sources of vulnerability , for instance financial exclusion , environmental threats , and so forth . Therefore , providing solutions to enable vulnerable populations to become actors of change themselves should be every society ’ s top priority . Efforts to reduce vulnerability are crucial to ensure that future generations will be able to identify , express and make use of their talents , regardless of where they come from .
Exchange to change September 2017