Lauren Espejo

"Queens, NY native, Fil-Am graphic designer who loves art, culture, music and dance, sharing a good laugh in good company" 

Undergraduate School: St. John's University

Major: Graphic Design

Why Grameen America: I believe in designing to make a difference

Summer Projects: Develop "Branch in a Box" - design materials for all new branches

Random Fact: I've been dancing since I was 4 years old

Hobbies and Passions: Finding new music, dancing, running, checking out galleries & shows in Chelsea

Changemaker You Admire: Rachel Carson, for her incomparable contributions to saving the environment

Kim Rai
"Practice corporate law, while making time to provide legal services to those that cannot afford it"

Graduate School: Fordham School of Law

Undergraduate School: New York University

Major: Politics

Why Grameen America: Growing up in the South Bronx I am passionate about any effective initiative to eradicate poverty

Summer Projects: Work with pro-bono legal staff on contracts, leases, insurance

Random Fact: I know American Sign Language

Hobbies and Passions: Reading, Boxing, and Yoga

Changemaker You Admire: President Bill Clinton, I appreciate his story of coming from a single parent home and making something of himself, while constantly reinventing new ways to give back and help others who are less fortunate

Shereef Zaki
"Do-gooder rock-climbing math nerd who wants to be successful by helping other people be successful"

Graduate School: Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs

Undergraduate School: Bucknell University

Major: International Finance

Why Grameen America: I believe in Grameen America’s mission, model, the necessity of urban micro-business development and it’s a great team to be part of

Summer Projects: Research US microfinance landscape 

Random Fact about yourself: I love Vietnamese food

Hobbies and Passions: Rock climbing, running, visiting museums, hiding in coffee shops and reading dorky science books

Changemaker You Admire: Controversially, Mayor Bloomberg. He’s willing to take risks on programs to improve quality of life in the City

Yanyan Gai

"Beijing born, @Cornell edu, passionate changemaker soaking in NYC for the 1st time!"

Graduate School: Cornell University

Undergraduate School: Renmin University of China

Major: Nonprofit Organization Management/ Social Policy

Why Grameen America: It perfectly fits my career goal.

Summer Projects: Grant writing and market evaluation

Random Fact: Favorite discipline is cultural anthropology

Hobbies and Passions: Yoga

Changemaker You Admire: Ela Bhatt. Founder of SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association) which has changed the lives of thousands of Indian women

 Hope—You Know the American Dream is still Alive. 

Empowerment—You Value a Hand Up Over a Hand Out.

Community--You Recognize that Change Starts at Home  

Opportunity—You See the Entrepreneurial Spirit in All of Us. 

Future—You Vouch that Investment Today Creates a Better Tomorrow.

What Do You Love About Grameen America?

How did you hear about Grameen America?

I originally came across Grameen Bank while researching poverty alleviation in Latin America and Asia. Once Grameen came to America I was determined to work with the org, so here I am. I believe that Grameen can work anywhere in the world where there’s poor people who want to improve their situation.

Why were you drawn to get involved with microfinance/Grameen America?

Grameen’s approach, in my mind, makes practical sense in the fight against poverty. I do not support charging high interest to those with the less capacity to pay. This backward practice in addition to many others led me to seek out an economic system built on a more justified set of principles.
What is a favorite movie of yours? And how has it inspired your career path?

My favorite movie is “A Beautiful Mind”. It’s about an economist who went crazy trying to come up with an original idea. The concept of an original idea has been “my thing” from the beginning. I have always wanted to devise an economic system not constrained by theories of communism, socialism or capitalism —something new, something “Original”, something that will make hungry children and all the social ills that come from poverty extinct.

Who is one person whose career you greatly admire and why?

In addition to Muhammad Yunus, I would have to say John Nash. Both have been able to defy the odds and humble all those who didn’t see their vision. They both possess the audaciousness required to make the impossible possible by displaying the power of a determined idea.

What is one fact most people would never guess about you?

I’m really a mama’s boy.

Who is one person whose changemaking career you greatly admire and why? (Someone in addition to Yunus).

I would have to say Sean Carter [Jay-Z]. His early beginning as a street hustler was admirable in how he circumvented the ultimate end that comes with living that way of life—usually death or prison. Now he is a business man worth half a billion dollars. His understanding and application of practical business principles enabled him to adapt and prosper to an unprecedented level. All this with his integrity intact.


If you could be one superhero, which one would it be?

Hancock.

If you could create a tweet that describes your career path, what would it be? (140 characters or less).

Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week. #grameen #microfinance

"My father once told me that while I may not be able to change the world, I can change the world for one person. Ever since, I’ve set my sights on changing that one world at the very least."
- Audrey, Grameen U President

Why is it important that college students be part of the microfinance efforts and Grameen America specifically? What do they contribute to the sector?

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

College students are true agents for change. They demonstrate unrivaled commitment to making a difference and are particularly open to innovative and bold ideas. Engaging college students in the microfinance sector secures its place in the future as an effective approach to poverty alleviation worldwide.

How do you describe the Grameen U program to other students?

Grameen U is a student-run initiative intended to educate college campuses about domestic microfinance and to raise awareness of Grameen America’s pioneering work in the sector.

If students are reading this right now what is the first step in getting involved?

Take a walk around your neighborhood and acquaint yourself with one person in need. That’s all it takes. Sign up to be a Grameen U representative and start spreading the word that Grameen America can bring hope and opportunity to your community.

What are your top 3 goals for Grameen U?

1) Communicate the breadth and prevalence of poverty in the United States to as many college students as possible.

2) Demonstrate how domestic microfinance is an effective solution to unemployment and financial exclusion.

3) Educate students as to how they can “be the change” in their own backyard.

Given you’re a highly ambitious student, can you describe your typical school day?

As a student at Northeastern University, I am fortunate enough to participate in its cooperative education program. While I spent last semester waking up for 8 AM finance classes, living off of coffee and studying for midterms through the night, I’ve been spending this semester working from nine to five, attending conferences and Skyping with international loan officers at Root Capital.

What is one book or film that significantly influenced your path and why?

Tracy Kidder’s Mountains Beyond Mountains, a biography of Dr. Paul Farmer, co-founder of Partners in Health (PIH). PIH strives to provide the poor with first-rate medical care by establishing long-term partnerships with local organizations in countries such as Haiti, Rwanda, Peru PIH’s proactive, rather than reactive, approach to healthcare has greatly influenced my path to social change.


What is the wildest food you ever ate while travelling?

I’m going to be honest and say the riskiest thing I’ve ever eaten was a chocolate lollipop made by a sixth grader from Roxbury, Massachusetts, in order to support his microbusiness. You never know where their hands have been!

What’s a song that would be on the soundtrack of your life?

“A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke.

If you could create a tweet that describes your personal goals and career path, what would it be?

@grameenamerica "The only place where poverty should be is in museums."- Muhammad Yunus #socent #microfinance

Last Thursday (May 19, 2011) we had our first Spring Social event at the Trespa Design Centre hosted by Grameen America’s Young Professional (YP) committee. The event was organized to raise awareness about the great work that Grameen America is doing and also to fundraise for Grameen America borrowers. It was no doubt also a great networking event for young professionals who share a common mission of helping create a better world. Trespa Design Centre generously donated their space in Soho for the event and the cutting edge architecture and design was a big hit with our guests. We also had hors d’oeuvres and drinks supplied by Whole Foods and pizza from Harry’s Italian. Although this wasn’t the first YP event (each YP member takes turns organizing small events throughout the year such as the Bring Your Own Cause event at Delancey Lounge and presentations at Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and YPFP), this was the first collaborative effort on the part of the whole committee. It was by far our biggest and most successful Young Professional event to date, as over 100 people came to support Grameen America and our mission of empowering impoverished entrepreneurs through microfinance.


The evening began with an address from Event Chairs Narmeen Azad of Goldman Sachs and Anita Hossain from Deutsche Bank followed by Grameen America’s Katherine Rosenberg, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Seema Gohil, VP of Finance who spoke about the success of our current programs. There was also a silent auction with many great items such as Mets tickets, US Open tickets, a football signed by the NY Jets, Nike items and football, Equinox Monthly passes and a class at Murray’s Cheese. There were also interesting raffle items like America Museum of Natural History Passes, Living Social Coupon, and Jewelry from Prismera. While the event was set for 6-9pm, many people stayed after to continue chatting and listening to the great music provided by DJ Max Wave.


We would like to acknowledge the key organizers from the YP Committee who helped make this event such a success: Narmeen Azad from Goldman Sachs, Anita Hossain from Deutsche Bank, Nahiyan Chowdhury from JP Morgan Chase, Tanzeer Khan from Corporate Partners LLC, Adeep Huq from Credit Suisse, Emaan Mahmood from Credit Suisse and Jane Kim from Morgan Stanley. A special thank you also goes to Ariq Azad for putting together our event website. Thanks to all for making the event such a success!


For more information or to join the Grameen America’s Young Professional Committee, please contact Mugdha Gangopadhyay (Director, Strategy & Development). Also, stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter pages for more Young Professional Committee events in the near future!