Development Management

WENDY R. ACHO

**** ****** **** ****, **** Bloomfield, MI 48322 USA

+1-248-***-**** Mobile/Voicemail *********@*****.***

Dear Recruiting Executive:

Please accept this letter as an expression of interest, where I may be able

to leverage my experiences in the Middle East and North African financial

markets and apply them towards emerging and frontier markets. I seek to

merge my repertoire of transferable skill-sets in diversified corporate

finance and small-medium enterprise (SME) development with the broader

realm domestic economic issues, America's leadership in Foreign Policy

Diplomacy and America's role in International impending innovation and

interdependent age of finance, regulation, compliance, risk mitigation and

oversight.

I seek to merge my repertoire of transferable skill-sets in diversified

corporate finance and small-medium enterprise (SME) development. As the

global financial agenda is currently being discussed by thematic brain

trusts diagramming responsive financial architectural plans on mitigating

business costs and developing strategies to respond to emerging public

policy issues and trends, I seek to be part of the team devising smart

policies and responsible risk-management systems focused on retaining the

institution's sustainable competitive position.

As global models of multidimensional governance progress towards Basel and

Bretton Woods, I continue to aspire towards careers with global dimensions.

I seek to become part of a learning organization that values collaborative,

inclusive teams where the spirit of inquiry and innovation of ideas are

enabled to converge. I seek to be part of enduring teams with

complementing parity in performance and superior industry expertise,

differing from my own intellectual armor.

Leveraging off my experiences, I am interested in joining your team,

equipped with domestic and international business, global philanthropic

civil service experiences and as well as women-based initiatives that

pursue parallel participation from business, governments, regulators and

entrepreneurial innovation.

I seek your consideration as I come to you with two decades of diversified

financial experiences spanning international realms that encompass

developed, emerging, transition and (post)conflict economies. As a senior

financial and management consultant I possess experience in strategic

financial analyses, strategy planning, small-medium enterprise (SME)

commercial and entrepreneurial business development. As a seasoned banker

with retail, brokerage, wealth management and commercial banking experience

in domestic and international markets, I possess particular emphasis on

Middle East market landscapes and regional knowledge.

Equipped with solid functional experiences, possessing multifaceted

experiences in the finance industry, I ventured into an ambiguous and

reality-based landscape of post-conflict Iraq in 2007. Familiar with

Iraq's government and cultural nuances, I ventured into a hostile

developing nation that would ultimately stress-test my past business

practices to explore more "irregular" methodologies as pervasive business

normative for Iraq. I believe I possess a repertoire of transferrable core

competencies, such as customer-oriented values disciplines, situational-

interviewing techniques to better detail comprehensive and customized

solutions to exceed client metrics, and possess a holistic mind-set of

financial, international and cultural-comprehension as my capital.

Serving as Managing Director, Investment Strategy, I came to serve the

Department of Defense with two decades of deep banking experiences. The

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense sought after my turnkey experience

that focused on domestic women and minority entrepreneurship of small and

medium commercial enterprises (SMEs) to assess and drive new growth

opportunities and job creation methodologies, both organic and inorganic

opportunities, for Iraqi's emerging. I sought to build an output-based

economy, diversifying from the hydrocarbon industry, thus building a

sustainable strategy for development and comparative advantage within the

region.

In my role as Managing Director, Investment Strategy, with the U.S.

Department of Defense's (DoD) Task Force to Improve Business and Stability

Operations in Iraq (TFBSO-I), I assist in developing the investment and

lending strategy for the Iraqi industrial base. Together with the

Government of Iraq (GOI) and the U.S. Government (USG), I assist in the

business model development, implementation and execution of Iraqi

privatization efforts, regional urban development planning, as well as

attracting institutional and private global risk-based capital to launch

such economic development initiatives.

In my expanded role I was charged with aligning pools of institutional and

private global risk-based capital, connecting foreign capital to prime Iraq

epicenters to launch economic development initiatives. As well, additional

ad-hoc activities included hosting Advance Teams engaging targeted industry

audiences such as Private Equity (PE), Real Estate Development

Conglomerates, Arab Investors, Arab Institutions, U.S. and EU Investor

Consortiums.

Additional various ad-hoc professional experiences in Iraq engaged USG,

Baghdad, KRG, foreign embassy leadership presentations and program

collaborations exploring on Iraqi-authored Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),

Small-Medium Enterprise (SME), Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and State-

Owned Enterprise (SOE) privatization (production sharing agreements (PSAs))

with a plan to explore sovereign wealth fund (SWF) joint-strategies.

I departed banking as Vice President, Commercial Banking, LaSalle Bank

Midwest, subsidiary of ABN AMRO NA, Netherlands. My previously held

positions include service on visionary and launch teams focusing on

financial advisory, financing and corporate- social responsible initiatives

as well as minority and women's organizations.

I have cultivated extensive experience on International women's empowerment

business initiatives, non-profit and philanthropy boards, and hosting

citizen diplomat and U.S Congressional and Arab businesswomen delegations

to the USA and Middle East. My experience is in strategic financial and

market analyses, strategy planning, business development and

entrepreneurial philanthropy. As well, I have experience in vetting

processes. My client engagement extends from the USA, Lebanon, Qatar,

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq and London.

I am comfortable with ambiguity and open to reality-based limitations, able

to coordinate strategic imperatives to complement existing market platforms

and assist in building enduring programs. Upon request, I would be able to

provide you with detailed descriptions of my work on international women's

empowerment activities as well as research and vetting experiences.

I am a U.S. citizen. During my Iraq deployment I maintained Defense

Pentagon Interim Secret security clearances as a GSE-13 equivalent with

Geneva Conventions as well as Baghdad U.S. Embassy N2 - E status clearance

through 04/2008. I have completed U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center (CRC)

in November 2007. Upon request, I am able to provide you with a copy of

DoD Defense Contractor and Clearance forms, encompassing sensitive personal

data.

I have enclosed the required documents for your consideration. Domestic and

International Temporary Duty (TDY) travel and relocation are negotiable.

In advance, thank you for your consideration.

Wendy R. Acho

Wendy R. Acho

7328 Silver Leaf Lane West Bloomfield, MI 48322 USA

248-***-**** Mobile/Voicemail *********@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Senior financial and management consultant with over 20-years experience

in strategic financial analysis in domestic and international traditional

retail, brokerage services, wealth management, and commercial banking as

well as U.S. government economic development with particular emphasis on

domestic and Middle East markets.

. Proven ability to create and implement innovative client-focused

solutions. Holistic-minded driver of financial, commercial,

international capital.

. Excellent ability to expand market platforms through astute cultural

comprehension.

. Leads through building democratic, collaborative, inclusive teams with

complementing parity in performance and industry expertise.

. Greatest strengths include a focused ability to think in new and

unique ways while remaining adaptive to dynamic targets within

environs. An influencer, comfortable with ambiguity.

. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; fluent in English

and Aramaic

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

. Seasoned international banker in diversified corporate finance

. Small-Medium Enterprise (SME) International Economic Development

. Expertise working with U.S government with particular emphasis on the

Middle East and emerging/frontier markets

. Quantitative and Qualitative Market Analysis

Business Strategy Planning, and program implementation, monitoring

. Ensure data integrity and accurate reporting

. Vetting prospective risk-based capital clients and projects

. Iraq Research, Vetting, Leadership Experiences

. International Business Development

. Design and launch women-based finance initiatives and organizations,

domestically and globally; International Enterprising Women's

Empowerment Initiatives

. Entrepreneurial philanthropy and "philanthro-capitalism" initiatives

o Banking: Build, cultivate, liaise and create innovative-

signature initiatives and relationships with local and national

not-for-profits on community development and grant-

making strategies and programs; Develop and deepen innovative

philanthropic activities and partnerships with international

NGOs, Foundations, private charities and peers in diversified

finance and non-financial industry

o U.S. Government: $50M DoD assigned Commander's Emergency

Response Program (CERP) - team oversaw and funded Iraqi-civilian

endeavors and aid existing projects that directly employed

Iraqis to re-build schools, clinics, roads, water purification

facilities, small businesses, Agri-farmers, strengthen

humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts, co-op

with microlenders and MFIs, and civil society women initiatives.

. Native intelligence on U.S. corporate socio-economic diplomacy and

corporate-social responsible initiatives

. Served Civil Service appointments and Non-Profit Boards

. Hosted international Civilian Diplomatic, U.S. Congressional and

business entrepreneur delegations to the Middle East

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Millennium Consultants, West Bloomfield, MI

President, 2008

. Strategy and financial consulting guidance to private sector

clients interested in entering the Iraq business market landscape

through situational-interviewing techniques on how and where to

leverage private global risk-based capital in launching economic

development initiatives.

. Forecast and identify specific revenue opportunities in the

International Zone (IZ), U.S. Embassy, and Re-development Projects.

As well, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) from governates and

boulevard (re)development projects, airports, hotels, conceptual

build of new cities and prototypes and religious tourism.

. Build alliances and partnerships between domestic and global

entrepreneurs with Iraqi. Introduce Iraqi entrepreneurs in

financial advisory, financing and esoteric capital located in

neighboring countries of MENA and Europe.

. Communicate to senior management and in-theatre/Advanced Teams on

Iraq cultural nuances as well as vetting deals, knowledge of Iraq

privatization process of state-owned enterprises, investment law

(National Investment Commission), lease options, insurance/ risk

mitigation, capital mobility, repatriation,

expropriation/nationalization.

Transformation Advisors Group, LLC/U.S. Department of Defense,

Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Business Transformation (DUSD-BT),

Task Force to Improve Business and Stability Operations, Iraq

Managing Director, Investment Strategy; Senior Advisor, Banking and

Financial Networks

Washington, DC and Iraq 2007-2008

. Assist in developing the investment and lending strategies for

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Small-Medium Enterprise (SME),

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and State-Owned Enterprise (SOE)

privatization (production sharing agreements (PSAs)) with a plan to

explore sovereign wealth funds (SWF).

. Attracting institutional and private global risk-based capital to

launch such economic development initiatives as well as hosting

Advance Teams through Iraq.

. Articulated and gave input on approaches to various international

banking and anti-money laundering (AML) regulatory rules as well as

new western and Islamic trends in banking and finance. Focused

efforts on privacy, disclosure, fraud prevention, money laundering

and terrorist financing, USA PATRIOT Act.

. Assessed external team and coalition partners while proposed

collaboration with colleagues. Worked with Multilateral

Development Banks (MDB) and finance agencies to build joint venture

and ensure programs lead to economic and business development in

Iraq's emerging markets.

. Conducted real-time, quantitative analysis evaluations of Iraq's

landscape and prepared comprehensive market and provincial

governate landscape reports as well as an economic indicator

assessment per region aimed to attract investors and private equity

to delve into Greenfield, mergers and direct investment market

opportunities in Iraq.

. Developed and communicated reports and recommendations to the

highest levels of U.S and Iraqi government on economic trends,

strategic plans and optimize of the allocation of resources to

create financial market solutions that focused on two tiers:

decrease dependency on U. S Congressional Spend Plan and expand

Iraq SME entrepreneurial enterprises outside the oil sectors

through complimentary enterprises to encourage economic diversity

that support the hydrocarbon industry.

. Created, toured and consulted Provincial Reconstruction Teams

(PRTs) on commercial credit assessment techniques and built Credit

Memorandum outline to better vet PRT micro-lending decision-making

processes; conducted the same Credit Committee decision-making

system, internally, for Task Force members.

. Generated opportunities and developed strategic business

relationships in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and

Lebanon as well as the U.S. Embassy, Iraq and Washington, DC.

LaSalle Bank/ ABN AMRO, N.A (Standard Federal Bank, Standard Brokerage

Services), Troy, MI

Vice President, Targeted Business Development, Commercial Banking, 2000-

2007

. Conceptualized and developed vision, mission, strategy and

spearheaded implementation of the new business unit focusing on

small to mid size companies as well as real estate lending that

resulted in $80 million in additional revenue. Self-motivated and

work with minimal supervision.

. Researched, identified, and cultivated Commercial Lending

opportunities within Middle Eastern, Hispanic, Asian & women-owned

marketplace that increased "share of wallet" by 20%. Employ a

customer-oriented values discipline, utilizing situational-

interviewing techniques for comprehension of client's business as

well as the client's perspective to better detail comprehensive and

customized solutions to exceed client metrics.

. Originate loan production; Achieve individual loan production goals

while achieve budgeted production and profitability targets;

Implement effective marketing strategies to generate loan

production; Thorough understanding and application of loan

production processes and portfolio management.

. Developed and implemented cultural sensitivity training program to

address buying habits, religious mores, language, purchasing

trends, attitudes toward Credit/Debt, and primary lines of business

issues that increased market share and expanded scale.

. Built customer loyalty through consultative selling rather than

transactional selling that increased portfolio by 25 %.

. Collaborated among formal and informal, cross-functional, multi-

cultural and international teams.

. Secured solid partnerships with Small Business Administration

(SBA), women's business initiatives, and local ethnic minority

Chambers of Commerce in joint seminars and speaking engagements

that grew and sustained client base. Cultivated, influenced, and

built strong mutual referral relationships among the inner circles

of business, philanthropic and government leaders, acting as an

advocate for women and minorities while expanding my networking

opportunities that cultivated and secured global business

expansion.

Michigan National Bank/National Australia Bank/ABN AMRO, Farmington Hills,

MI

Assistant Vice President, Premium Wealth Financial Services, 1999-2000

. Developed and launched new business unit, Premium Financial

Services, as member of elite management team by targeting the

emerging affluent clients with less than $1 million in liquid

assets that increased new acquisitions by 10%.

. Prepared management/sales reports for strategic planning, budget

preparation and execution plans as well as a sales function that

effectively executed a $500,000 budget.

. Identified, recruited, hired, managed and coached cross-

disciplinary Executive Team to optimize relationship management

that focused and increased vertical market share. Managed staff of

10 licensed brokers.

. Deliver a broad range of products such as tailored credit, savings,

investment, and protection products facilitated by comprehensive

financial planning schemes.

. Established alliances with estate attorneys, trust officers,

commercial lenders, and the esoteric community to syndicate complex

retail, investment, and insurance needs of high valued clients.

. Completed Certified Financial Planner (CFP) courses (1999-2000)

Standard Federal Bank, Standard Brokerage Services/ABN AMRO Brokerage,

Troy, MI

Registered NASD Representative, 1995-1999

. Served on launch team as a broker, and assisted in designing and

conducting investment product and cultural-change agent from a

Thrift to a Sale culture training for retail-wide bank training

. Developed customized financial plans for bank clients that

clarified immediate financial objectives with long- term goals to

align current financial resources with individual outcome goals.

. Explored various investment options and structured plans consistent

with clients' experience, obligations, resources and risk

temperament that enhanced returns. Researched/analyzed various

investment instruments including stock, bonds, mutual funds, CD's,

and insurance products to meet individual client objectives.

. Developed critical methodology for evaluating client's needs and

current investment position through extensive training in

legal/estate and tax planning while interpreting client tax

returns, annuity contracts life insurance, living trusts.

. Secured Series 6, 7 & 63, Blue Sky, Health and Life licensed broker

(1995-2004)

. Trained seven retail banking center staff on investment sales and

financial needs analysis.

National Bank of Detroit Bank, (JP Morgan Chase), Farmington Hills, MI

NASD Investment Counselor, Charterpoint Investment Center, 1994 -1995

. Sold an average of $3 million stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities,

and insurance products per year.

. Utilized consultative selling skills to map and analyze current

financial conditions, needs analysis assessment, develop and implement

strategic solutions as well as monitor portfolios.

. Design, develop and delivered short-term and longer-term solutions

engaging financial planning goals.

. Strong relationship building acumen augmented ability to aggressively

build committed client base, client-based referrals and drive revenue

growth.

. Comprehensive knowledge and experience in investment and insurance

instruments in a variety of complex scenarios. Coordinated seminars

with Mutual Fund Vendors, Accountants, Attorneys, and Social Security

Administrators.

. Trained five retail banking center staff on investment sales and

financial needs analysis.

Comerica Bank, Detroit, MI

Retail Service Representative, 1987-1993

. Proved solutions on retail banking activities by facilitating problem-

solving meetings.

. Identify opportunities to sell, cross sell, up-sell and refer to bank

specialist on more complex products & services.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

. Detroit Regional Chamber's Leadership Detroit Program - LD Class XXV;

2004-2005

. Completed Certified Financial Planner (CFP) courses; 1999-2000

. Secured Series 6, 7 & 63, Blue Sky, Health and Life licensed broker;

1995-2004

. LaSalle's Women's Leadership Advisory Council, partnership with

Northwestern University Center for Executive Women; 2005-2006

. Skill Path Inc. - Leadership & Communication; 2005

. R. Meredith Belbin, MA, PhD- Management Teams: Why They Succeed or

Fail; 2004

. The Global Etiquette- Africa & Middle East; 2003

. ABN AMRO Business Etiquette & Protocol Class; 2003

. Small Business Administration Women's Export Program/Global Diversity

Initiative; 2003

. Michigan Women's Business Counsel Certification Training; 2002

. Cohen-Brown Management Group's Sales Leadership; 2000

LECTURING AND SPEAKING

. Global Peace Initiative of Women (Geneva); US-Iraq Women's Summit;

Creating Our Common Future; 2006

. Mapping Arab Diasporas (MAPAD) International Conference; University of

Michigan-Dearborn Center of Arab American Studies; 2006

. University of Michigan School of Management; Women Building Community:

Activism & Leadership; 2003

INTERNATIONAL DELEGATION ORGANIZED AND PARTICIPATION

. U.S. Department of State and Office of International Visitors Women's

Leadership Program MENA; 15 business women from 8 emerging Arab

countries, 2007

. U.S. Department of Defense, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for

Business Transformation Iraq Industrial Revitalization Initiative;

Director, Task Force Business & Stability Operations, Iraq, 2007

. U.S. Senate Chiefs of Staff, business and humanitarian activists 35

citizen-diplomatic delegation to Lebanon after the Lebanon-Israel war,

2006

. Chairperson of the Arab Businesswomen Council, Her Highness Sheikha

Hissa al-Sabah, Woman in Business International Forum, 2005

. Michigan House of Representative's 22 member delegation socio-economic

tour of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states; under patronage of

Arab American Chamber of Commerce, Dubai & Qatar, 2004

. Arab Women's Business Economic Forum, General Women's Union, the

Council for Arab Business Women of the League of Arab States and the

Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, 2003

. The Middle East Executive Women's U.S. Training Program (MEET U.S.),

U.S. Dept. of Commerce (DOC) and Middle East Partnership Initiative

(MEPI) to Michigan 17 member Arab businesswomen, 2002

BOARD POSITIONS AND SERVICE

. Co-founding Team Member, LaSalle Bank, Annual Cultural Diversity

Celebration Event, 2003-2007

. Co-founding Team Member, LaSalle Bank Women's Leadership Advisory

Council, 2005-2006

. Member, LaSalle Bank's Young Bankers Association, 2002-2007

. Commissioner, Michigan Community Service Commission, State of

Michigan, 2004-2007; lifetime term appointment with the Michigan

Community Service Leadership Advisory Council

. Second Vice Chairman, American Arab Chamber of Commerce, 2006-2007

o Treasurer, 1999-2006

o Co-founder& Co-Chair, AACC's Women's Council, 2000-2007

. Founder & Executive Director, American Middle East Economic Affairs

Committee Women's Business Committee, 2003-2007

. Second Vice Chairman, Chaldean Federation of America, 2003-2007

. Secretary, Chaldean-American Chamber of Commerce, 2004-2007

o Chairman, Chaldean American PAC, 2005-2007

. Executive Committee Chair, Chaldean Community Cultural Center, 2005-

2007

. Executive Board, World Medical Relief, 2005-2007

. Founding Member & Advisory Board, Asian Village of Detroit, 2006-2007

. Founding & Board Member, University of Michigan, Dearborn Director

for the Center for Arab American Studies, 2007

EDUCATION

Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Business Administration May 1991

Wendy R. Acho

7328 Silver Leaf Lane

West Bloomfield, MI 48322 USA

248-***-**** Mobile/Voice

*********@*****.***

Supplementary Professional Experiences Material

Prepared for:

September 2010

Position Consideration:

Audience:

Position Related Professional Experience

Requirements

Prepare a strategic

plan with Strategic Planning Experience:

particular emphasis Prepared and implemented strategic plans originating

on the first 12 domestically and expanded international to include the

months. Middle East and North African financial markets. The aim

Clear understanding to integrate all aspects of small-medium enterprise (SME)

and relevant development with development finance. Led international,

experience with cross-functional teams and co-prepared a strategic

international operations plan with private and public leadership;

gender development profit and non-profit industries and host nation.

and assistance Domestic Activity: Small-Medium-Enterprise (SME) in local

programs, policies business markets.

and stakeholders. International Activity: Small-Medium-Enterprise (SME) in

Program design, Middle East business markets.

implementation

plans, monitoring While political reform of entire societies is a slow

of Compact-funded process, utilizing capital in flexible and unconventional

projects and ways can serve as a driver. By virtue of entrepreneurial

activities. philanthropy/development economics, connecting

development finance expands access in emerging economic

landscapes, aiming for equality and parity.

I have been influenced by industry and academic

thought-leadership on the subject matter of reformulating

Development Economics, Foreign Assistance with/against

Foreign Investment, mainstreaming aid, and Shock

Therapy-Gradualism-hybrid Aid-domains. Emerging

knowledge on debt-for-development swaps and intelligent

urbanism.

I am a ferocious reader of current journals on

international markets and socio-economic trends; An avid

reader and practitioner of "philanthro-capitalism" that

resonates throughout my all of my professional and civic

experiences.

For-Profits:

As President, Millennium Consultants: Strategy and

financial consulting guidance to private sector clients

interested in entering the Iraq business market

landscape; how and where to leverage private global

risk-based capital in launching economic development

initiatives.

As Managing Director, Investment Strategy, Transformation

Advisors Group, LLC/U.S. Department of Defense, Task

Force to Improve Business and Stability Operations, Iraq:

Assist in developing the investment and lending

strategies for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),

Small-Medium Enterprise (SME), Public-Private Partnership

(PPP) and State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) privatization

(production sharing agreements (PSAs)) with a plan to

explore sovereign wealth funds (SWF).

As Vice President, Targeted Business Development,

Commercial Banking, LaSalle Bank/ ABN AMRO, N.A

(Standard Federal Bank, Standard Brokerage Services):

Assisted in conceptualizing and developing vision,

mission, strategy and spearheaded implementation of the

new business unit focusing on small to mid size companies

as well as real estate lending that resulted in $80

million in additional revenue. Self-motivated and work

with minimal supervision. Researched, identified, and

cultivated Commercial Lending opportunities within Middle

Eastern, Hispanic, Asian & women-owned marketplace that

increased "share of wallet" by 20%. Employ a

customer-oriented values discipline, utilizing

situational-interviewing techniques for comprehension of

client's business as well as the client's perspective to

better detail comprehensive and customized solutions to

exceed client metrics.

As Assistant Vice President, Premium Wealth Financial

Services, Michigan National Bank/National Australia

Bank/ABN AMRO: Developed and launched new business unit,

Premium Financial Services, as member of elite management

team by targeting the emerging affluent clients with less

than $1 million in liquid assets that increased new

acquisitions by 10%. Prepared management/sales reports

for strategic planning, budget preparation and execution

plans as well as a sales function that effectively

executed a $500,000 budget. Identified, recruited, hired,

managed and coached cross-disciplinary Executive Team to

optimize relationship management that focused and

increased vertical market share. Managed staff of 10

licensed brokers.

As Registered NASD Representative, Standard Federal

Bank, Standard Brokerage Services/ABN AMRO Brokerage:

Served on launch team as a broker, and assisted in

designing and conducting investment product and

cultural-change agent from a Thrift to a Sales culture

training for retail-wide bank training.

Non-Profits: Design, Recruit, Implement & Monitor

Programs- Domestic and International:

Founder & Executive Director, American Middle East

Economic Affairs Committee Women's Business Committee

(AMEAC); built vision, mission, board development plan,

board of director's responsibilities (plus rules and

etiquette), statement of commitment, bylaws, covenant not

to compete, and conflict of interest, US and MENA,

2003-2007

U.S. Department of State and Office of International

Visitors Women's Leadership Program MENA; 15 business

women from 8 emerging Arab countries, DC and MI, 2007

U.S. Department of Defense, Deputy Under Secretary of

Defense for Business Transformation Iraq Industrial

Revitalization Initiative; Director, Task Force Business

& Stability Operations, Iraq, DC and MI, 2007

U.S. Senate Chiefs of Staff, business and humanitarian

activists 35 citizen-diplomatic delegation to Lebanon

after the Lebanon-Israel war, Lebanon, 2006

Chairperson of the Arab Businesswomen Council, Her

Highness Sheikha Hissa al-Sabah, Woman in Business

International Forum, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, 2005

Michigan House of Representative's 22 member delegation

socio-economic tour of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

states; under patronage of Arab American Chamber of

Commerce, Dubai and Qatar, 2004

Arab Women's Business Economic Forum, General Women's

Union, the Council for Arab Business Women of the League

of Arab States and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and

Industry, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, 2003

The Middle East Executive Women's U.S. Training Program

(MEET U.S.), U.S. Dept. of Commerce (DOC) and Middle East

Partnership Initiative (MEPI) to Michigan 17 member Arab

businesswomen, MI, 2002

Position Related Professional Experience

Requirements

Provide technical

leadership for Small-Medium Enterprise (SME) and Public Private

gender sector Partnerships (PPP) Cooperative Experience:

efforts related,

including a focus Domestic Activity: Decade of community and civil service

on partnerships, on Michigan state commission, leadership posts on

private market business and profit/non-profit boards, co-venture with

based solutions, Fortune 500 firms to fundraise for philanthropic

and fiscal causes/events, guest speaker/panelist on business forums.

management of

public expenditures Joint-ventured with major firms such as Ford Motor

for gender and Company, through my commercial development activities, to

services. recruit peer corporate-citizens, mobile fundraise, serve

Identify specific and volunteer on various civic community engagements via

donor, government, our corporate contributions work (CSR).

private sector, and Collaborated among formal and informal, cross-functional,

NGO emerging multi-cultural and international teams, internally and

sources of funding, internationally.

and assess their Secured solid partnerships with Small Business

current usage and Administration (SBA), women's business initiatives, and

potential for local ethnic minority Chambers of Commerce in joint

gender related seminars and speaking engagements that grew and sustained

services and reform client base.

interventions. Cultivated, influenced, and built strong mutual referral

Co-operation and relationships among the inner circles of business,

alliances with philanthropic and government leaders, acting as an

Multi-Disciplinary, advocate for women and minorities while expanding my

Multi-Cultural, networking opportunities that cultivated and secured

Multi-Functional global business expansion.

Domestic, National

and International

Teams. International Activity: Cultivated extensive experience

on international women's empowerment business

initiatives, hosting citizen diplomats, charged with U.S

Congressional and Arab businesswomen delegations to the

USA and Middle East, guest speaker/panelist on

international business and women's forums. Did not seek

charity, but I envision altruism in entrepreneurialism.

Iraq Department of Defense: Conducted assessment of Task

Force to Improve Business and Stability Operations'

external team and coalition partners.

Worked with Multilateral Development Banks (MDB),

microfinance institutions (MFI) and finance agencies to

build joint ventures and ensure DoD programs lead to

economic and business development in Iraq's emerging

markets.

Co-developed with USAID Governance & Provincial

Reconstruction Teams; Iraq Middle Market Development

Foundation (IMMDF); Organization for Economic

Co-Operation & Development (OECD) MENA; United Nations

Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI); USAID and Tatweer

program.

Attracted institutional and private global risk-based

capital to launch economic development initiatives.

Focused on SWF, esoteric practitioners and sophisticated

investors as "access givers" and "solution makers,"

forming the larger international development consortia.

Hosted Advance Teams through Iraq.

Generated opportunities and developed strategic business

relationships in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi,

Qatar and Lebanon, London as well as the U.S. Embassy,

Iraq and Washington, DC.

Position Related Professional Experience

Requirements

Assist identify,

develop and Identify, Develop and Implement Partnerships Experience:

implement

partnerships for Domestic Activity: Entrepreneurial, Philanthropy and

the gender sector. "Philanthro-Capitalism" initiatives include, but not

limited to:

Develop an initial Banking: Build, cultivate, liaise and create

assessment that innovative-signature initiatives and relationships with

identifies local and national not-for-profits on community

opportunities, development and grant-making strategies and programs.

partnerships. Develop and deepen innovative philanthropic

activities and partnerships with international NGOs,

Foundations, private charities and peers in diversified

finance and non-financial industry.

Design and launch women-based finance initiatives and

organizations, domestically and globally; International

Enterprising Women's Empowerment Initiatives.

International Activity: Diversified corporate finance and

small-medium enterprise (SME) development with the

broader realm of International Development Finance, thus

converging with Diplomacy and International

Development-Foreign Aid.

U.S. Government: USG $50M DoD assigned Commander's

Emergency Response Program (CERP) - team oversaw and

funded Iraqi-civilian endeavors and aid existing projects

that directly employed Iraqis to re-build schools,

clinics, roads, water purification facilities, small

businesses, Agri-farmers, strengthen humanitarian relief

and reconstruction efforts, co-op with microlenders and

MFIs, and civil society women initiatives.

Sourced from angel investors, sovereign wealth funds and

conscious-minded capital (CSR, Islamic finance,

micro-enterprise, Green, gender, youth)

Developing the investment and lending strategies for DoD

and JVs with OPIC on client objectives.

Created, toured and consulted U.S. Provincial

Reconstruction Teams (PRTs & ePRTs) on commercial credit

assessment techniques and built Credit Memorandum outline

to better vet PRT micro-lending decision-making

processes.

Conducted Credit Committee decision-making system,

internally, for Task Force members.

Proactively collaborate with TFBSO advisors McKinsey &

Co. and Grant Thornton Business Advisors.

Position Related Professional Experience

Requirements

Best Practices.

Identify and Lessons Learned- Best Practices Experience:

promote lessons Building a culture of engaged, leadership spirit:

learned/good Environments remain dynamic/ambiguous, thus require

practices to actively seeking constant feedback from peers,

strengthen stakeholders/shareholders and superiors alongside

knowledge and reassessing progress-to-plan, frequently. Giving away

capacity related to power empowers multi-functional teams, thereby

gender. eliminating the need to micromanage/silo-management.

Engaged, leadership Domestic Activity: Evolving and consolidating bank

spirit. environments of US-owned franchise by international banks

while staying focused on business imperatives.

Together with my immediate supervisor, we were monthly

guest speakers to new bank analyst class on business

development, building a referral base, business outreach

and engagement, corporate-social responsible (CSR)

mandates.

Developed and implemented cultural sensitivity training

program to address buying habits, religious mores,

language, purchasing trends, attitudes toward

Credit/Debt, and primary lines of business issues that

increased market share and expanded scale.

Intimate knowledge of Michigan and national business

landscapes and business-persons to effective deploy

business development and CSR investments.

Served on advisory board to counsel boards and start-ups

on: As with my AMEAC model. As Founder and Executive

Director of the American Middle East Economic Affairs

Committee (AMEAC) Women's Business Committee, 2003-2007,

I built vision, mission, board development plan, board of

director's responsibilities (rules and etiquette),

statement of commitment, bylaws, covenant not to compete,

and conflict of interest.

At Standard Federal Bank/ABN AMRO NA (ABN) I served on

launch team as a broker and assisted in designing and

conducting investment product and cultural-change agent

from a Bank Thrift to Sales culture training for

retail-wide bank training.

The ABN bank experience led to the development and launch

of Michigan National Bank's Premium Wealth Financial

Services. As member of management team, targeting the

emerging affluent clients, we identified, recruited,

hired, managed and coached cross-disciplinary team of

licensed brokers and internal bank partnerships to

optimize relationship management that focused and

increased vertical market share.

International Activity: Aligning stated goals to actual

problems; identify stakeholders; set objectives while

prepared to make trade-offs; co-op team with host country

teams; constant project performance updates and dialogue.

Equipped with regional native intelligence and matters on

U.S. corporate socio-economic diplomacy and CSR

initiatives in Iraq and the MENA region.

Communicate to senior management and in-theatre/Advanced

Teams on Iraq's cultural nuances as well as vetting

deals, knowledge of Iraq privatization process of

state-owned enterprises, investment law (National

Investment Commissioner), lease options, insurance/ risk

mitigation, capital mobility, repatriation,

expropriation/nationalization.

While traveling through developing countries, I gained

deep understanding of various environs through

connected-compassion.

Through evolutionary self-discovery, I developed a unique

style and expertise on cultural comprehension.

Comfortable with ambiguity and open to reality-based

limitations, I was coordinating strategic imperatives to

complement existing market platforms, assisted in

building enduring programs and organizations.

Position Related Professional Experience

Requirements

Provide leadership

on Managing Managing Conflicts - Negotiations Experience

Conflicts and Domestic Activity: While disagreements and conflicts are

Negotiations. natural occurrences, managing dynamics brings opposition

sides closer together.

Tensions between management and peers are managed

discreetly, seeking clearer clarification by each party

of the disagreement, and then bringing back the focus on

our goal to find common-resolution(s).

Peer-peer issues are typically finessed directly among

peers, but on occasion management is sought. It is done

privately and detaches all non-involved actors/peers.

Respectful and address immediately to limit/prevent

collateral damage of the situation, retain logical

analytics on the real issue, relationships and the

optics- reputation/credibility.

Reach across silo-mentalities in an international

organization across continents.

Often business stated goals do not align with actual

goals or real-time execution, henceforth harmonizing a

hybrid approach to meet goals, especially on non-profit

boards and start-up women-empowerment advocacy groups.

International Activity: On the global landscape my

experience spans the developed, emerging, transition and

post-conflict economies focusing on non-military

assistance and integrating nationals into the private

labor market. Ambiguous and reality-based landscapes do

not allow for spontaneity but thorough analysis and time

to play-out a wide range of scenarios, options, outcomes

and combinations of irregular methodologies.

On leading and managing women advocacy groups from 22

Arab countries and North Africa, I had engage disparities

among nations, respective national and policy position on

gender full participation, gender labor laws, labor

market reforms and labor law reforms to my

women-delegations' stated goals.

On business, civilian and political/diplomatic

delegations on socio-economic tours, I had to navigate

cultural comprehension levels, cross-border activity

international regulations and linking

ministerial-to-client deals.

On Pentagon Iraq experience, the scale and scope of

complexity was at tension's-peak that stress-tested my

holistic repertoire of business skills. Steps taken in

preparation of goals include: While entering a hostile,

transition nation, remain flexible, agile and limit

(neutralize) bias mind-set.

Became familiar with Iraq history, cultural nuances,

government make-up, political parties, sectarian/ethnic

divides and real-time theatre realities; deep

clarification of all parties' perspectives (assists in

gaining creditability, as well).

Foreign commercial interests required me to be versed on

regional issues to host nation, versed on confessional

and proxy hostilities, versed on political risks, versed

on deteriorating security situation, versed on economic

and regulatory hurdles, versed on foreign ownership and

property rights guidelines.

Foreign commercial interests required me to constantly

update communications on host nation's government power

vacuum/ deadlocked, privatization of state-owned

enterprises (SOEs), capital mobility, repatriation,

expropriation, Judiciary dispute processes, tax

regulations, alongside the evolving Iraqi Investment Law.

Foreign commercial interests required me to navigate

their deals' challenges through host nation bureaucracy,

ministries, government committees and find an internal

sponsor to carry on my client's deal among ministers.

Foreign commercial interests required me to guide them on

strategy, financial consulting, market research; private

sector clients required me to forecast and identify

specific revenue opportunities, Public-Private

Partnerships (PPP), governate (re)development projects,

conceptual and prototype designs and religious tourism

regions. On condition of hosting foreign capital's

advance teams, I built alliances and partnerships between

global entrepreneurs with Iraqi entrepreneurs.

Assess national goals and economic development plan

divergences between host nation to U.S. government;

Balance State Department and Pentagon economic

development objective and execution strategies.

Position Related Professional Experience

Requirements

Plan, organize, and

assist in research, Field Research Origination Experience:

analysis, Domestic Activity: Two decades of international banking

opportunities/const sales experiences:

raints, risks/risk Researched, identified, and cultivated Commercial Lending

management opportunities within Middle Eastern, Hispanic, Asian &

strategies and women-owned marketplace that increased "share of wallet."

projects related to

the gender sector. Employed a customer-oriented values discipline, utilizing

situational-interviewing techniques for comprehension of

Broadly include clients' business scope of activity and portfolio/risk

monitoring program management.

progress, managing Originate loan production; Achieve individual loan

funding streams, production goals while achieve budgeted production and

and assessing, profitability targets; Implement effective marketing

synthesizing, and strategies to generate loan production; Thorough

reporting program understanding and application of loan production

impact. processes and portfolio management.

International Activity: Pertains to Iraq, MENA, global

bank lending

Conducted real-time, quantitative analysis evaluations of

Iraq's landscape and prepared comprehensive market and

provincial governate landscape reports; prepared economic

indicator assessments per governate; provided regular

updates on Iraq investment law, business regulations

in-progress - report focused on USG, GOI and private

capital audiences.

Sought active knowledge of clients and the landscape

which the deposits/lending would be executed, either via

DoD-Spend Plan or bank loans.

Employed my Due Diligence Checklist, which included

conferring with inter-agencies such as The Office of

Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) U.S. Treasury Department.

Utilized street knowledge, references, cross-checks

internally and data base such as Lexus Nexus, local State

company registrations.

Gathered research from First Research and aggregated

information from internet searches.

Vetted Iraqi SME entrepreneurial enterprises/deals from

USG PRTs to "qualify" securing grants from DoD budgetary

spend plan ($50M Congressional appropriation).

Vetted unsolicited and solicited institutional and

private global risk-based capital to launch SME-PPP

economic development initiatives as well as vetting and

hosting corporate Advance Teams through Iraq.

During my consulting practice (the "linkage

value-creation") has witnessed $60 million in foreign

capital retreat from Iraq. Since Iraqi Investment Law

(neither Number 13 2006 or February 2007) continues to

fail in clarifying issues, privatization of state-owned

enterprises, land rights, capital mobility, repatriation,

expropriation, Judiciary dispute processes, political

risks, tax regulations, alongside confessional, proxy

hostilities and current elections remain obstacles I

remain abreast n communicate regularly to multi-national

companies (MNCs) and clientele.

Position Related Professional Experience

Requirements

Assist in writing a

variety of USG Assist on USG Program Report and Reviews Experience:

programming related Domestic Activity: International non-profit Boards and

documents and Committees required regular reporting to Host Nation

technical reviews. Government economic offices

International Activity: US Government (USG), Government

of Iraq (GOI)

Developed and communicated reports and recommendations to

the highest levels of U.S and Iraqi government on

economic trends, strategic plans and optimize of the

allocation of resources to create financial market

solutions.

USG & GOI reports focused on two tiers: decrease

dependency on U. S Congressional Spend Plan and expand

Iraq SME entrepreneurial enterprises outside the oil

sectors through complimentary enterprises to encourage

economic diversity that support the hydrocarbon industry.

Assisted in DoD Iraq Task Force Team preparation and

presentations:

U.S. Congressional 9010 Briefings to Congress -Generated

perspectives, plans to create financial market solutions

that focused on two tiers: decrease dependency on U. S

Congressional Spend Plan and expand Iraq SME

entrepreneurial enterprises outside the oil sectors

through complimentary enterprises to encourage economic

diversity that support the hydrocarbon industry.

Contributed to weekly DoD Battle Update Assessment (BUA)

meeting reports, (Commander's meeting that lends

transparency to all engaged in region and across Iraq -

later consolidated for the Special Inspector General for

Iraq Reconstruction(SIGIR)) on international financial

flows of capital; joint venture opportunities with local

Iraqi private, domestic enterprises in the form of equity

acquisitioning; Greenfield-type FDI, whereby foreign

capital would seek to build new factories, industries and

commercial enterprises.

Position Related Professional Experience

Requirements

Policy, Regulatory Policy, Regulatory Guidance, Compliance Experience:

Guidance, Domestic Activity: All bank activity conducted under

Compliance. strict U.S. guidelines on domestic and cross-border risks

Use of judgment in

determining the International Activity: MENA financial sector remains

intent, and in very fragile; credit and liquidity remain scarce; lack of

interpreting, regulation on capital controls over "surge" capital

revising and inflows; and evolving national development

oversight over plans/strategies on FDI-SME-PPP.

existing policy and Articulated and gave input on approaches to various

guidance related to international banking and anti-money laundering (AML)

the design and regulatory rules as well as Islamic Finance trends in

implementation of banking and finance.

gender mechanisms, Focused efforts on privacy, disclosure, fraud prevention,

including money laundering and terrorist financing, USA PATRIOT

public-private Act.

partnerships. Such opportunities afforded regular interaction with USG,

GOI and foreign military hierarchy as well as

multi-national company CEOs, which contributed to report

data and bi-lateral MNC project updates.

Regular updates and coordination was made to the Senior

British Military Lieutenant in Iraq.

Possessed access to senior executives and development

experts in business, academia, NGOs and the

entrepreneurial philanthropy community managing

commercialization, privatization, governance, trade and

public sector reform.

Proposed FDI-SME-PPP Policy Design:

Professor Kenichi Ohno, an economist teaching at the

National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo

(expertise: Policy Design and Implementation in

Developing Countries - Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia,

Thailand, Zambia) most influenced my personal and

professional narrative. It is a narrative founded on a

resume of FDI-SME-PPP ideas on peace, business and

economic development as cross-ownership strategies that

embolden self-sufficiency.

Holding to the premise, in Iraq my vision held that

foreign direct investments (FDIs), alone - large

infrastructure development of ports, oil/hydrocarbon--

were the National Vision, not the National Economic

Strategy. Economic development had to engage a more

sustainable, self-sufficient entrepreneurial plan of

SME-PPP (public private partners).

While nation-states are fighting their individual

"economic wars," the emerging and transitional global

economies are witnessing sharp commitment to enabling

SME-entrepreneurial risk, which ultimately multiplies

into societal solutions. It endows a societal consortium

of the next generation of change-agents mentored by

today's empowered village capitalists.

My work in Iraq also focused on sovereign wealth funds

and institutional wealth to explore Iraq-SME

opportunities. I found many Angel investors served as

'stewards of capital' and philanthro-capitalists on

small-medium firms, hence such funding was placed towards

the promotion of human rights, alleviating global

poverty, health as well as reforming societies from the

bottom (barefoot economies, frontier markets, failed

states). Prolonged non-advocacy would monetize such

risks, hence bearing a mosaic multiplier of hardship.

The future lies on our vested investments in human

capital and capital in coordination with managing capital

risk structures through effective investments in

enterprise innovation investment funds.

Plans discussed included building SME-focused economic

agencies, government assisted investment programs and an

SME education.

Position Related Professional Experience

Requirements

Support work of the

Director's Office, Support work of the Director's Office, Mission and Field

Mission and Field Teams Experience:

Teams. Domestic Activity: my family's entrepreneurial

Miscellaneous Data. experiences

Stemming from my family's entrepreneurial experiences

alongside my 20-year professional activism, my

small-medium enterprise (SME) strategies have been based

from my banking experiences.

I believe the backbone and lifeblood of any local economy

are the independently-owned businesses, whereby every

dollar produced and spent locally impacts three to seven

different complementary businesses and supports

sustainable job creation.

Serving as an economic multiplier, entrepreneurs are the

emerging, enduring middle class.

International Activity: Iraq one-off ad-hoc activities

and non-infrastructure projects

Iraq afforded me a magnitude of one-off ad-hoc activities

and projects seeking TFBSO assistance/counsel, such as:

Met with Ministry of Tourism to define clear property

titles for business investors I escorted into Iraq;

shared regional themed-tourism (religious/cultural)

projects and proposed a "Strategic Venture Philanthropies

Tourism;" Subsequently, a parallel initiative would

emerge to compliment the underlying SME business premise.

Human Rights Minister and Refugee Council on progress

updates;

Toured most of Iraqi towns and cities speaking to locals,

mayors and governors to assess realities;

Worked on the Nineveh Plains economic development plan of

U.S. Congressional $10 million funding for Iraq's

Ethno-Religious Minorities;

Assist Iraqi Establishment for Scientific Efficiencies

Development in global academic partnerships

As I see it, it is obligatory; Women in Finance and

Leadership have a role to play as agents of change to

assist in empowering women and advancing

self-sufficiency, globally. Through my personal and

professional narrative, I have built a resume of ideas on

peace, business and economic

development as cross-ownership strategies that embolden

self-sufficiency.

My exhaustive narrative holds that Peace and Development

Finance are a powerful socio-economic collaborative that

can build millennial-business-intelligence; whereby

advancing innovative civic strategies to shape, innovate,

and activate Peace policies.

Peace is held as the world's Common Denominator.

I am a U.S. citizen. During my Iraq deployment I

maintained Defense Pentagon Interim Secret security

clearances as a GS-13 equivalent with Geneva Conventions

as well as Baghdad U.S. Embassy N2 - E status clearance

through 04/2008. I have completed U.S. Army Combat

Readiness Center (CRC) in November 2007. Upon request, I

am able to provide you with a copy of my DoD Contractor

and Clearance forms, encompassing sensitive personal

data.

Position Related Professional Experience

Requirements

My Personal

Narrative. My Personal Narrative on Gender Mandate activates

Gender Mandate. Development Finance/Gender Economics - Interdependence of

Gender Economics globalized finance.

and Gender

Empowerment Domestic Activity: Launch, support and advise domestic

Initiatives. women businesses and business-groups; served on bank's

Vulnerable, women's leadership group; served on Michigan community

Displaced, Refugee service commission.

populations. International Activity: Organized, facilitated and

Dimensions of hosted international businesswomen groups from State

Post-Conflict, Department MEET-MEPI, State Department Office of

Transition, International Visitors Women's Leadership Program MENA,

Emerging and women forums to USA, hosted prominent women leaders to

Frontier State USA, invited as speaker or guest to MENA women's forums.

Economy.

Iraq-DoD: Instead of Baghdad development, I thought to

map-backwards, focusing inward, first. Targeting tribes,

provinces and native small entrepreneurs through village

development programs, whom are the heart of

purchasing-power-prowess of an evolving, self-sustainable

middle class, were DoD Task Force priorities in

rebuilding Iraq for-the-Iraqis by-the-Iraqis, first.

Initially, DoD-joint contracting command initiative

called "Iraqi First" awarded contracts to Iraqi

businesses.

An Iraq-Strategy not a FDI or expat-strategy: Alongside

global private risk-based capital, a stipend U.S. funds

(CERP) served as strategic philanthropy initiatives

(altruism with entrepreneurialism) to launch, run and

support Iraqi SMEs. Aid dollars combined with

geostrategic local realities provided basis for a

socio-economic, poverty-lifting development mandate.

Why Women:

One of the geneses of intercontinental

development-philanthropy is gender economics, which aims

to eradicate inter-generational cycles of poverty.

Familial nuclei are our women. Conflict, impoverished

and failed-state economies have left women as

head-of-household. Many are unskilled and lacking access

to capital as well as markets. This perpetual poverty

plagues the family as she is left widowed or caring for

maimed spouses with compiled obligations to elderly

parents, raising children and the household, itself.

Modeling the Way: For over four decades Hillary Clinton

espouses women advocacy as not only a moral imperative

but an economic one, as well. Her gender-emergence was

launched with her university senior thesis on poverty and

community development. As Secretary of State she has

made women's advancement a core part of her

national-security efforts; and on every Official DoS trip

she makes meeting local women a mandatory agenda item.

This imperative has been solidified by appointing Melanne

Verveer as the first U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global

Women's Issues. Civil Service Affairs in conjunction

with global Development Finance, Diplomacy and

International Development define the Clinton "smart

power" agenda.

Wife/Mother is cognizant that children make up the

majority of the world's population; and they play an

iconic role in the global struggle for parity, prosperity

and succeeding futures. Hence, this paradigm is a

Imperative as much as it is an imminent Moral Imperative

or a Millennial Imperative. The solution is

innovation-earmarked private funding.

Wife/Mother is responsible for familial health and

nutrition. As well, illiteracy is the front-line battle.

A self-sufficient wife/mother is more likely to encourage

education of her daughters and sons as well as longer

schooling. One of the most important unintended

consequences of this feminine-hegemony milieu is how it

lends to nurturing our boys' impending maternal instincts

and perceptions on male-female

parities-in-participation. Currently, the United Nations

Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO) 2003 report on the Middle East North Africa

(MENA) cited in 2000 illiteracy among MENA girls/women

over age 15 was 40.2%.

Further, ancillary benefits to strategic gender economics

and gender empowerment initiatives elevate wife/mother to

an informed advocate against at-risk practices, such as

gender education inequalities, child brides, child labor,

child soldiers, gender violence, female genital

mutilation (FGM)/circumcision, selling daughters into

sex-trade or (sexual) human trafficking, forced

prostitution, honor killings, and recent recruiting as

suicide bombers among a few practices.

Billions of people around world suffer in silence;

afflicted with illiteracy, lack of access to education,

inadequate food supplies, poverty, death from curable

diseases, and overall unjustified human inequities.

Estimates claim global illiteracy representing almost 85%

of the world's inhabitants, to-date.

Marginalization of this modern imperative means that

wife/mother's responsible budgeting agendas will continue

to stifle self-sufficiency. Women are the private

sector, thought partners and business partners with

government, the business-enabler, who are still grappling

with women's rights and securing land rights, for

example.

My work in the MENA region has led to me believe that in

building legacies for generations, women-enablement

requires education, empowerment, and innovative finance

enablers towards societal-entrepreneurial excellence.

The 325 million people living in the Arab world are

responsible for more than 200 million youth under age 24.

Consensus scenarios analyses would consent that access to

capital is merely an arithmetical problem facing

contemporary millennia of global women. Women are the

dynastic reservoir of "shared visions (values)."

While political reform of entire societies is a slow

process, utilizing capital in flexible and unconventional

ways can serve as a driver. By virtue of entrepreneurial

philanthropy connecting development finance and financial

innovation can expand access in emerging economic

landscapes, aiming for equality, parity and

self-sufficiency.

Most recently, the IMF Managing Director, Dominique

Strauss-Kahn cited, war can justifiably be called

"development in reverse."

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