I must admit that I am a bit obsessed with food. It is probably rooted in the food-centric Taiwanese culture where we greet one other by asking “have you eaten?” no matter the time of the day. Because of this love for food and my low tolerance for lacking it, I have a heart for those who are in chronic hunger due to poverty and other factors. I am thankful that in my career I get to work with organizations that have used finance to tackle these factors.
In my role as an underwriter at NFF, I perform due diligence aimed at understanding the risks faced by each client and related mitigations so that our debt funding support can be tailored accordingly. It is especially rewarding to be able to contribute to our clients’ ability to serve their respective communities more effectively.
Outside of work, I cook, host meals, try hole-in-the-wall eateries, and volunteer with food-related causes. One of my favorite commitments spanned over four years, when I was cooking once a month for 35 to 50 people to support my church’s on-going fundraising efforts to operate an orphanage in Kenya.
Bio: Athena is a member of NFF's underwriting team, supporting the vision and growth of its nonprofit and social enterprise clients. Prior to joining NFF in 2019, Athena worked in the impact lending function of VisionFund International and BlueOrchard Finance, both of which focused on microfinance institutions in developing countries. Athena received a Bachelor of Science from New York University and a Master of Business Administration from the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. In her spare time, Athena enjoys cooking, hosting meals, and volunteering for food-related causes.
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