Maelen was born and raised in the beautiful state of California. Studying International Economics at the University of California in San Diego sparked her passion for development. She still remembers the day in class when she learned about the different approaches to international development, particularly Muhammad Yunus’ pioneering work in microfinance. It quickly became clear that she wanted to be a part of it. After graduation, Maelen used her marketing chops to lead brand marketing at the largest youth development nonprofit in Silicon Valley, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. Curiosity then struck to see how nonprofits could drive greater impact by leveraging best practices from the private sector. Eager to learn more, Maelen switched gears and moved to Cisco to manage social media advertising, product placement, and major media partnerships. She is excited to blend her nonprofit and corporate experience to support social businesses that create economic growth and fulfill human needs.