When Melissa Baez first started her career at Accion, she didn’t anticipate all the different places and paths that her job would take her. After pivoting from her finance career at a large investment bank, she moved to West Africa. “My passion for creating opportunities in low-income communities was spurred during my first position with Accion as an advisor for one of our MFI partners in Benin. During my years there, I saw firsthand how the availability of financial services helped entrepreneurs grow their businesses and families overcome hardships. This experience was a turning point in my career path and remains an important motivator today.”
Now, after 15+ years of advisory work with financial service providers around the world, Melissa knows that the most impactful financial products and services aren’t just those that are available; they must be built to meet the unique needs of the people we serve. This is especially true when it comes to reaching women who have faced disproportionate challenges during the pandemic. “To ensure women are equally part of the economic recovery, we need to put ourselves in the shoes of the women that we are trying to reach. When we prioritize understanding a woman’s wants and needs and keep her at the center of product design and services, we can build effective solutions that truly make a difference in women’s lives.”
Melissa also spent time working in Haiti, which reinforced her belief that inclusive financial services must be developed with clients at the center. Agriculture makes up an important part of the Haitian economy, and two-fifths of Haitians depend on farming, but small-scale subsistence farming is particularly vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters. “Every year, natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes can wipe out a whole region’s crop and therefore people’s livelihoods. Smallholder farmers need a means to protect themselves against the shocks of natural disasters brought about by climate change. Financial products, like crop insurance, are an essential safety net for those who are most vulnerable.”
To other women who want to make an impact, Melissa says, “The best decisions I’ve made in my career have been those I didn’t see coming — whether it was an opportunity to move to West Africa, start up a new unit in Accion, or take a new leadership role in HR. Follow your passion and be ready for opportunities when they present themselves.”