Madison, WI — Maureen Scott, Madison, has joined WorldWise Microfinance as its first Executive Director. Scott, who is from Uganda, and who had previous international development experience with the US Department of State, steps into the Executive Directorship as WorldWise transitions from an all-volunteer organization to staff-led enterprise.
Scott relocated to Madison with her husband following the closure of USAID. She brings international experience in operations, technology, and strategy, having supported senior diplomatic leadership at the U.S. Mission to the African Union through the U.S. Department of State. She also managed an agricultural innovation initiative in Uganda that secured funding from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Scott is co-founder of Meetinghouse Consulting, which supports international business development and investment opportunities in emerging and frontier markets.
Scott holds a Master’s Degree in Information Capability Management from Cranfield University, UK, and a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Makerere University, Uganda.
Her career has included stops in Addis Ababa, (Ethiopia), Bogota, (Colombia), Kampala, (Uganda), Washington, DC (USA), and Shrivenham (UK). Board President and WMF founder Tom Eggert, who made the announcement, said “Our organization has always relied on volunteers, but when we saw the opportunity to add someone with Maureen’s experience and knowledge, we accelerated plans to transition to a more sustainable structure. Under Maureen’s leadership, we will both broaden and deepen our impact on women’s empowerment and poverty alleviation in rural, underserved communities in the Global South. Maureen’s experiences and insights are exactly what we need now, and we’re excited to welcome her to this leadership role.”
For her part, Scott said, “”I’m honored to take on this opportunity at WorldWise and build on the strong foundation already established. What particularly inspires me is our success in working through local partners to create economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs. I look forward to strengthening these partnerships, building our organizational capacity, and helping WorldWise grow thoughtfully while staying true to its mission.”
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ABOUT WORLDWISE MICROFINANCE
WorldWise Microfinance is a 16-year-old Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit committed to helping individuals develop economic self-sufficiency through small loans. Operating around the world, WorldWise Microfinance provides individuals (primarily women) who lack access to the traditional banking system with small loans. These loans help individuals lift their families from poverty by starting and running small businesses. Started as a class project at UW-Madison in 2010 with just $3000, WMF now has loan programs in the Philippines, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi, and has helped more than 2,000 individuals take the first steps out of poverty.
For more information about WorldWise Microfinance and its ongoing work, visit www.worldwisemicrofinance.org
[Maureen Scott, photo, attached)
