Meet our fellows

The fellowship experience forms a distinguishing characteristic of the LGT approach to venture philanthropy. Besides awarding grants, LGT Venture Philanthropy contributes to portfolio organizations by matching talented professionals who can help build capabilities on the ground and boost know-how.

All fellow profiles of 2023 at a glance

Fellow	I joined the LGT Impact Fellowship because…	My background
Aditi Khatri (India) Analytical and Strategic Support	…my focus is on using the law to empower underserved communities and vulnerable populations. With a strong legal background, I analyze complex social issues and create sustainable solutions. Though early in my career, I'm eager to learn from experienced mentors who share my passion for social impact. I approach every opportunity humbly, valuing collective efforts and diverse perspectives for meaningful change.	I have pursued BA.LLB(Hons.) from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi. Post finishing law school I followed a conventional route of working in a law firm. But somehow it did not excite me enough to stay in the same field for years to come. In May of 2022- I changed my stream and moved to a fairly unconventional career path that a law degree can offer me- programmes and policymaking. I chose to work with a strong sense of purpose and that kept me going.
Amé Lazaridis (South Africa) Fundraising and Marketing	…I am very passionate about the conservation of wildlife and nature and want to work in a position where the goal is beyond just a monthly pay-cheque. I also want to be part of a community of like-minded peers, to learn from, support and collaborate with in our joint effort and drive to make a difference.	I have completed my Bachelor and Masters in Law, majoring in Humanitarian law. From there I sought after impact related job opportunities and have worked in various roles in business development in South Africa, Catalonia and the Netherlands.
Banke Olukanmi (Nigeria) Partnerships	..having worked for a social enterprise for the last 4.5 years, I have witnessed firsthand the kind of catalytic change that impact focused organizations can create in helping to solve some of most complex and deeply rooted challenges faced in developing economies especially. The LGT Impact Fellowship will provide me with a very unique opportunity to further my impact journey as I continuously seek new learning opportunities and experiences that can help me contribute significantly towards bridging the poverty, income, justice, and equality gaps in emerging countries.	I have a Bachelors of Science degree in Economics and a Master of Science degree in Investment and Finance. My working experience over the past 9 years have spanned across different areas in the financial services and impact investment sectors including; investment banking mergers & acquisition, corporate strategy, corporate finance, fund raising and investor relations activities
Caroline Mwihaki Gathu (Kenya) Communications and Marketing	My motivation for joining the fellowship is cross learning through sharing relevant knowledge, skills, as well as my first-hand experience and knowledge on climate change and the nexus between climate change and other sectors while learning from other fellows on their experiences in the various professional fields.	I am a Development and Climate Change specialist with 15 years of practical working knowledge and hands on experience in developing and deploying interventions that seek to strengthen capacities and systems for Climate Change mitigation, adaptation and resilience building through tackling social, economic, and environmental challenges which undermine the wellbeing of the communities. I hold a master’s degree in international Relations an undergraduate degree in Development studies and a Diploma in Project Management. I have also attended several specialized trainings in addition to working closely with governments, donors, local and international NGOs and diverse local communities on Climate Change, Food Security, Agriculture and Disaster Risk Reduction.
Emmanuel Block (France) Scaling Community Health Senior Associate	...it is a great opportunity to deepen my expertise in the impact sector, working hands on with governments to make a tangible and lasting social impact. It also offers a pathway to transition into a new sector while forging valuable connections within a network of like-minded changemakers	As a proud generalist I have had a broad range of experience and roles in the impact ecosystem. I have supported scaling up social businesses, worked as an impact investor, as a fundraiser within an NGO, and, most recently I have supported government agencies on result-based financing programs for early childhood development
Jasmin Higo (Germany) Senior Health Financing Fellow – Financing Alliance for Health	… it provides me with the opportunity to combine my passion for addressing global health challenges with my background in the private sector, specifically in finance, enabling me to leverage both realms in order to deliver social impact and contribute to scalable and sustainable solutions within the field.	I hold MPA in Economic and Financial Policy from Cornell University and have worked in the private sector, multilateral organizations, various NGOs, and research institutions. ▪ Impact Evaluations, policy analysis, data and geospatial analysis, project management and training and capacity building at the World Bank in the US ▪ Financial analysis, sustainable financing, and controlling for SIEMENS in Germany and Canada ▪ Strategic partnership building, quantitative and qualitative research, and geospatial analysis for Harvard’s Growth Lab, various NGOs, and the UN agency Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Javan Pyne (British Caribbean) Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC)	… I am an advocate of lifelong learning and ‘paying things forward’ and particular areas of interest are within FinTech, ESG and the impact investing / venture philanthropy space. This Fellowship is a unique opportunity for me to work with a B-Corp certified financial institution in addition to becoming a member of the wider LGT Impact Fellows network of individuals passionate about causing paradigm shifts and effecting meaningful change.	The financial services sector spanning retail, investment banking and investment management space. My GRC consultancy experience includes secondments at fund managers such as Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. More recent experience includes working for an independent healthcare centric foundation (Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Foundation) within their endowment/impact investing team and the UK’s development finance institution, British International Investment Plc (formerly CDC Group Plc)
Jonathan A. Van-Dyck (Kenya) Project Management Fellow	… Its goals align with my "African Dream" of using technology to reduce hardship, improve healthcare delivery, and minimize corruption in African. I am convinced that its vital role and tangible impact on the continent is noble and instrumental in advancing healthcare, education and environmental sustainability across Africa. I am committed to contributing towards realizing this dream for millions of individuals through my work with the Fellowship.	I am a digital transformation enthusiast with a postgrad in IS Management. I have 15+ years of experience in project management, IT security, and digital banking. I have worked across international organizations, financial services, consultancy, and retail, gaining valuable experience. My odyssey as a project manager has led me to manage projects of diverse scales, involving multiple stakeholders and global collaboration. I am passionate about using technology to improve businesses and society. With each endeavor, I seek to weave a captivating tale of progress, injecting life into stagnant processes and breathing vitality into outdated systems.
Njoki Gachwe (Kenya) Investment Associate at LGT Venture Philanthropy Foundation	… I deeply care about making a difference in the lives of people who need support. It's a chance for me to use my skills and passion for social impact in a meaningful way, working with inspiring social enterprises to address important global issues in the healthcare, education and environment sectors. Through this fellowship, I hope to contribute to creating a more equitable and sustainable world.	I am a Corporate Finance professional with over 5 years of experience in Financial Advisory Services at Deloitte where I developed expertise in conducting due diligence analysis, financial modelling, business valuations, feasibility studies, and business plan preparation across diverse sectors such as financial services, manufacturing, FMCG, healthcare, hospitality, and education. Prior to this, I spent a year in India at Tata Consultancy Services where I coached over 1,000 graduate recruits on soft skills. I hold a post-experience Masters in Finance degree from London Business School and a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from Strathmore University in Kenya. I am also a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPA-K) and have completed CFA level 1
Peace Nima Kadondi (Uganda) Project Management	…It is a platform to create lasting impact is sectors where there is plenty of room for it. Having worked in the global south for over 10 years in the fields of philanthropy, innovation, leadership, humanitarian, and international development, joining the Fellowship is an amalgamation of my professional and lived experience to serve and extend my learning on how best to bring innovative solutions to local problems at scale.	I’ve had the privilege of wearing different hats while solving problems on the Africa continent in; international development, African philanthropy, innovation, leadership, and the humanitarian space
Siddharth Sivashankar (India) Business Finance Specialist	… it provides me a platform to aid impact organizations through my finance & business expertise. It gives me the opportunity to work with organization that aligns with my mission and values in a sector I am passionate about. It also provides an incredible opportunity to connect with likeminded professionals .	I am a finance graduate with a specialization in International Finance, and have cleared the CFA Level 1 Exam. My professional career started at Aurigin, a Investment Banking Platform where I worked with 100+ Impact entrepreneurs and advisors to best understand their funding requirements and best present their company to institutional investors. I did my first fellowship at Indian Impact Fund Lok Capital where I worked for their portfolio company Akshayakalpa, an organic food company that enables farmer livelihoods. I played a focal role in the company’s Series B Fund raise, long term financial planning and data driven business insights.
Winifred Mwikali Kyalo (Kenya) Product manager	… I love the fact that the solutions that I get to come up with have social impact and can effect change directly. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to do that. The career growth aspect is also important as I hope to be challenged, learn and grow in the Fellowship program.	I have a Psychology and a software development background. I worked as a counsellor at Mater Hospital for 2 years then transitioned to software development from 2022.

All fellow profiles of 2022 at a glance

Fellow	I joined because	My background
Atandi Anyona (Kenya) Communications Associate	… I am driven by positive tangible societal impact which aligns perfectly with LGT’s goals. Moreover, I believe the LGT Fellowship will be an optimal stepping stone to fine-tune my skills in an organization whose work I am passionate about, as well as expose me to new expertise in the communications and conservation field. Impact Report	Environmental Conservation, Communication and Content Creation. I am a passionate environmentalist and impact ambassador with a firm conviction on the importance communication plays in creating and disseminating information which is necessary in effecting behavioral and societal change.
Sreejan Dutta (India) LGT VP Associate Fellow	… I am passionate about leveraging my existing skill set to create a positive impact in the world especially in the context of the growing wealth gap and climate change. Impact Report	While pursuing my Mechanical Engineering degree from the Indian Institute in Technology Roorkee, electives in finance and economics helped me develop an interest in pursuing a career in investment management. Subsequently, I did my Master’s in Finance degree from HEC Paris and received my CFA charter. I have over 8 years of experience in management consulting, credit analysis and PE/VC. In my latest role I was working as the Mergers & Acquisition Lead with an early-stage e-commerce roll-up venture based in India.
Lilian Kahara (Kenya) LGT VP Associate Fellow	… LGT offers a platform for me to use my skills, knowledge and the little privilege I have to identify and support solutions created to uplift the disadvantaged through investments and follow-on creation process. Impact Report	Actuarial Science, Risk Management, Real Estate Investment and Impact Consulting.
Evelyn Kaumba (Kenya) Monitoring & Evaluation Manager	… I wanted a platform that could allow me to explore my capacities on a global scale by providing technical knowledge and expertise to organizations that change the lives of different communities. I also yearned to learn new skills and lessons from the LGT VP networks with an aim of improving myself for better career growth. Impact Report	My academic background is in Monitoring and Evaluation. Over the last 12 years, I have effectively and efficiently implemented Monitoring Evaluation and Learning plans in different non-governmental organizations (NGOs), INGO’s and government parastatals. I am proficient in developing robust M & E plans with results frameworks with logical frameworks, measurable outcome & impact indicators and theory of change across different thematic areas including Health, Agriculture, Climate Change, Environment and education. Further, I have experience in conducting research, impact evaluations and studies. In addition, I have vast knowledge in documenting lessons, case studies and stories of change.
Lutho Mbonambi (South Africa) Special Projects Associate	… My vision and mission is to contribute to inclusive economic and social upliftment in Africa. I feel the burden (and privilege) to solve African problems and improve people’s lives. To be a part of developing innovative and sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty and create a more equitable society. This is me at my core and this is what I understand LGT Venture Philanthropy to be about. The LGT Impact Fellowship is the perfect opportunity to live this out authentically. Impact Report	I am an economic development professional with an entrepreneurial spirit. I have a deep passion for economic inclusion and believe that business is a powerful yet underleveraged vehicle for driving social impact. I obtained a Master’s in Economic Development from the University of Cape Town and thereafter worked as a management consultant at Genesis Analytics - Africa’s leading economics advisory firm. My experience cuts across strategy development, research and data analysis as well as monitoring and evaluation. This has largely been in the development sector, working to address pressing global challenges as they relate to decent work, gender equality and climate change. I also have personal entrepreneurship experience in the South African context, both in the digital and township economies. Most recently, I have worked as owner-operator at a bridal fashion digital tech start-up as well as assistant general manager at a township butchery and grill based in Inanda, Durban.
Sahar McTough (Kenya) LGT VP Associate Fellow	… I wanted to benefit from the opportunity to grow and strengthen my personal and professional career through exposure to LGT’s portfolio organizations in unfamiliar and multifaceted environments. The valuable opportunity presented by LGT to gain hands-on experience with a range of organizations in different fields will undoubtedly enrich my entrepreneurial skills and build my capacity for the next stage in my professional career. Impact Report	Over the past 4 years, I have pursued a career in fundraising, business development and advancing human rights in both the non-profit and private sectors, most recently at Book Bunk Trust, a non-profit organization restoring the iconic McMillan Memorial Libraries in Nairobi. Prior to this, I worked for NIRAS Africa and KPMG as a Business Development Associate and several community- focused NGOs tackling a range of human rights issues in Kenya and Senegal. I have a MA in Human Rights from the LSE and my interests include sports, experimental baking and everything about cats.
Eric Muriuki Mugambi (Kenya) Finance & Grants Fellow	… I want to share my time and skills to actively contribute in making a lasting positive impact especially in the developing world. The LGT Impact Fellowship offers a perfect opportunity to work with organizations that are driving innovative, scalable and sustainable interventions that are creating a positive impact with the aim of achieving the SDGs. The fellowship will also nurture my passion for social and economic empowerment and serve as a stepping stone for me into the social impact investment space where I hope to pursue a long and fulfilling career. Impact Report	I hold a Bachelors of Business Science degree in Financial Economics, currently working on the dissertation for a Masters of Science in Development Finance while also pursuing ACCA. I’ve worked in finance and grants management for a local community health NGO gaining a practical outlook of how important it is to not only have social impact investments but to ensure their sustainability so as to grant the communities better outcomes for generations to come. I have also more recently worked in the mass media and service industries in accounting and finance functions.
Eric Mutisya (Kenya) Chief of Staff	… I am passionate about health, wellness and working health systems. I believe LGT Venture Philanthropy shares my values in both helping people access quality affordable healthcare and also in helping improve health systems in the developing world. I also want to learn from the people I shall interact with. Impact Report	I have worked in senior management roles both in Kenya and Uganda, mostly in the pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution industries. I have interacted with policy makers, healthcare providers and not-for-profit organizations involved in health. I have also been involved in designing and implementing digital health platforms in both Kenya and Uganda. My strengths are in operations, business development and general management oversight. I have an accounting and finance training, with certification in quality systems. Currently, I am pursuing an MBA in healthcare management at Strathmore University, Kenya.
Mercy Okaalet (Uganda) Policy Officer	… LGT while it strives to provide financial support to its portfolio organizations, it also aims to assist in the creation of innovative and sustainable goals for the communities they serve. This Fellowship is a good next step for me because it will not only provide the professional space for me to contribute my aforementioned skill set, but it will refine my expertise as a public health practitioner, encourage collaboration with a global network of stakeholders, and afford the opportunity to improve the health and lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. Impact Report	I am an infectious disease Epidemiologist whose major initiatives have been in the area of syndromic surveillance, outbreak management, and healthcare-acquired infections. I have experience in public health emergency preparedness, particularly in the planning and implementation of critical measures for disaster prevention, management, and response. Prior to my work in communicable disease surveillance, I worked as a research assistant for a culturally appropriate cancer prevention and education program for refugee women, where I evaluated the barriers to cancer screening and assessed the significance of the lay health worker model for the development for culturally appropriate intervention programs.
Bill Oloo (Kenya) LGT VP Associate Fellow	… In my view, it offered an excellent opportunity to contribute towards the improvement of the quality of life of economically disadvantaged individuals. In particular, those who lack perennial access to basic needs such as healthcare and education. Impact Report	I have 7.5 years of experience in finance; having worked at leading financial institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, I have been able to gather financial advisory, private equity and capital markets experience along the way.
Shivani Shukla (India) Health Financing Fellow	… it provided me with an international platform where I could assist in operationalizing development in healthcare in the global south. I got the opportunity to apply to and work for an organization that strongly aligned with my own mission, vision and values. Impact Report	I am a post-graduate in Health and International Development with a specialism in Applied Development Economics from the LSE. After graduating from BITS Pilani with a B.Pharm (Hons.), I kick-started my professional life with an academic career in healthcare and biomedicine which gave me objective, logical and factual capacity to look at problems. I interned at Imperial College London, worked with the Indian Institute of Science in immuno-engineering, and Columbia Business School for their Digital Health Program. I then had to opportunity to drive social development while working with Karnataka Health Promotions Trust, Enzia Ventures and recently with the United Nations ESCAP. With experience of working in different organizational environments, I see myself as a passionate individual with a vision to contribute to the betterment of society.
Prasad Wagh (India) Project Manager – ERP Implementation	… I always wanted to be a part of your organizations’ workforce as it promises to be a place wherein the learning curve is great & hard work is appreciated. I have always looked towards organizations like yours. I believe with the right atmosphere at the workplace, one can achieve much more than working at an unappreciative workplace. This is one of the biggest reason why your organization tops my priority list. I assure you that I have the zeal to give 100% towards my work & bring a noteworthy contribution to this organization. Impact Report	Prasad Wagh is a development professional with a proven record of project management and building relationships, managing projects for multiple locations, designing strategies, and successful execution of projects at the ground. Skilled in building cross-functional teams, demonstrating exceptional communication skills, and making critical decisions during challenges. An adaptable and transformational leader with an ability to work independently as well as in a team, creating effective presentations, and developing opportunities that further establish organizations goals.
Xinxi Wang (China) Health Financing Fellow	… The LGT Impact Fellowship feels like a “Magical Lab” to experiment with new possibilities in the impact area, which offers me a great opportunity to make career transitions in three dimensions simultaneously - sector, function, and geographical coverage. Impact Report	Cici is a development economics professional with experience covering international organizations, consultancy, think tanks, NGOs, and media. Her interests lie at the intersection of economic growth, sustainable development and social innovation of emerging economies. Prior to joining LGT Impact Fellowship, she worked with the World Bank as an urban economist consultant under Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Global Practice.
Sylvia Warren (USA) Advisor to the CEO	… After nearly a decade at Dalberg, I am eager to explore opportunities outside of strategic advisory, and specifically, to work at a social enterprise that is implementing solutions that positively impact peoples’ lives and reduce inequities. The LGT Impact Fellowship offers a great opportunity to do so, bringing together highly driven and capable portfolio companies with the support and expertise of LGT Venture Philanthropy and Lightrock. Moreover, I have closely followed and admired Salauno’s work since I moved to Mexico City four years ago, and I am excited to contribute to the team and support their ambitious mission. Impact Report	I have 10+ years of experience developing strategies, building partnerships, improving operations, leading research studies, and measuring impact for a range of philanthropic, government, non-governmental, and corporate clients. Most recently, I was an Associate Partner at Dalberg Advisors, a leading global strategy consulting firm focused on social impact. The majority of my work centered around health and climate, with a focus on equity. In particular, I worked closely with Ministries of Health and local partners to develop strategies that support community and health system strengthening, maternal and child health, the scale-up of life-saving products and services (e.g., medical oxygen, neonatal care), and the design of sustainable financing solutions. Over the past two years, I also supported several projects focused on understanding and mitigating the health impacts of Covid-19. Before Dalberg, I worked for Oxfam in Haiti, where I designed and spearheaded an evaluation of a three-million-dollar post-earthquake relocation program. I hold a bachelor's degree in Statistics (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from Harvard College.

Atandi Anyona (Kenya)

Communications Associate

… I am driven by positive tangible societal impact which aligns perfectly with LGT’s goals. Moreover, I believe the LGT Fellowship will be an optimal stepping stone to fine-tune my skills in an organization whose work I am passionate about, as well as expose me to new expertise in the communications and conservation field.