The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) is honored to welcome Rosita Najmi, Head of Global Social Innovation at PayPal, to its Advisory Council. Rosita’s expertise in economic equity and empowerment, fintech, and financial inclusion will be paramount in supporting CFI’s research agenda.
Rosita leads the Global Social Innovation Team at PayPal, which engages PayPal customers, employees, products, and business operations to advance social, economic, and environmental impact via democratizing financial services, improving the economic equity, empowerment, and financial health, increasing and diversifying global charitable giving, advancing climate equity and resilience, ensuring environmental sustainability, and strengthening communities through local grantmaking, volunteering, and pro-bono technical assistance. Previously, she was with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she led a range of fintech-related investments and bodies of work, including women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment. Before joining BMGF, she was at the Omidyar Network, The World Bank, and leading NGOs, including Accion, Mercy Corps, and America’s Promise.
Rosita joins a committee that includes four other members who were added since work commenced on CFI’s new strategy: Bob Annibale, Senior Fellow at SOAS University of London, David Ferrand, Independent Consultant, Joanna Ledgerwood, Independent Consultant, and Camilla Nestor, CEO of MCE Social Capital. Their expertise and guidance are invaluable to CFI, and we look forward to the contributions of our newer additions alongside longstanding members Jonathan Morduch, Professor of Public Policy and Economics at NYU, Mark Pickens, Senior Director of Financial Inclusion at Visa, Diana Taylor, Board Member of Citigroup, Brookfield Asset Management and Sotheby, Jennifer Tescher, President and CEO of Financial Health Network, and Paul Tregidgo, Former Vice Chairman of Debt Capital Markets at Credit Suisse.
CFI looks to its Advisory Council for guidance on strategic direction, input on new areas of research and partnerships, and occasionally providing support to specific programs. Composed of leaders from the financial inclusion sector and the financial industry at large, Advisory Council members have thought deeply about providing financial services to the poor and are focused on future challenges and opportunities.