In Their Own Words

Ayesha Aziz Khan is CEO of Summit Power International, Bangladesh’s largest independent power producer. She speaks with Sumeet Thakur of IFC about her leadership approach.

Krish Kumar has been chief financial officer of the city of Durban, in South Africa, for 20 years. He speaks with Lisa Da Silva of IFC about lessons from his career and what keeps him motivated.

IFC colleagues Mary Porter Peschka and Satyam Ramnauth talk about changing views about the private sector in development, especially in challenging markets.

Mining executive Nick Cotts and civil society leader Steve D’Esposito reflect on the importance of understanding one’s critics.

Gina Barbieri manages dispute resolution processes at IFC’s Compliance Adviser Ombudsman. She speaks with Mimi Keita of IFC’s Infrastructure and Natural Resources Advisory team about engaging with communities.

Abdoulaye Magassouba is Minister of Mines and Geology in Guinea, a country rich in bauxite, aluminum, and iron ore. He speaks with Namrata Thapar of IFC about building a sustainable mining industry that benefits all.

Pro-Natura International Founder Marcelo de Andrade speaks with Hector Gomez of IFC about how they came to work together to protect the Brazilian Amazon through sustainable investing.

Tran Triet of the International Crane Foundation and IFC’s Richard Caines speak about their efforts to create a protected area for endangered cranes in an industrial hub in Vietnam.

American Bird Conservancy President Mike Parr speaks with Lori Anna Conzo of IFC about changing mindsets around conservation and how the IFC Performance Standard on biodiversity known as PS6 has revolutionized the market.

Tribal sovereign wealth fund trustee Mark Podlasly helps indigenous communities benefit from mining and infrastructure projects. He speaks with Merrick Hoben, from the Consensus Building Institute, about trust building in challenging situations.

International Union for Conservation of Nature Director Frank Hawkins is an expert in the birds of Madagascar. He speaks with IFC wind energy specialist Sean Whittaker about how their professional lives have become intertwined.

[In Spanish] Stephanny Arroyo Arce is a jaguar scientist who works in Costa Rica for the conservation organization Panthera. She speaks with Belen Castuera of IFC about balancing biodiversity and development.

Hannah Graham was 18 years old and starting her second year of university when she was abducted and murdered by a stranger in September 2014. Hannah’s father, John Graham, speaks with his friend and IFC colleague Robin Sandenburgh about how he and his wife Sue have sought to carry on Hannah’s legacy. One way has been to promote women’s safety through his work. Learn more: Hannah Graham Memorial Award

As CEO of the Lima Stock Exchange, Francis Stenning has made sustainability a priority. He requires all Peru-listed companies to report on their environmental, social, and governance practices as a way to help investors make good choices. He speaks with Ralitza Germanova of IFC about why this is important to him.

At 35, Inderpreet Wadhwa left his job in Silicon Valley to build a business around his passion for clean energy, becoming the first entrepreneur to sell solar power commercially in India. He speaks with Nikunj Jinsi of IFC about the risks he took to launch his company Azure Power.

Harvard professor Jane Nelson grew up on a farm in Zimbabwe and became a banking executive before forging a new career path in corporate social responsibility. She speaks with Veronica Nyhan Jones of IFC about the value of connecting people with different points of view.